Brooklyn Public Library on Aug. 7 named Temika Walker the winner of its first-ever Glow and Grow pitch competition, awarding her with $1,200 for her brand B4 UR SKN.
B4 UR SKN is a natural, plant-based skincare line that uses fruit butter and cold-pressed oils sourced from the Amazon rainforest.
Glow and Grow is a Brooklyn Public Library program created to elevate emerging beauty entrepreneurs through skills training, resources and networking that foster innovation and inclusion.
“Winning the Glow and Grow Pitch Competition is an unforgettable moment that celebrates not just B4 UR SKN’s growth, but the legacy of my Guyanese roots, the power of clean beauty, and the generations of women who made this dream possible,” said Walker.
Finalists also included Karyne Tinord, founder of Kay de Tres, a beauty school specializing in painless braiding and Jessica Walker, founder of Baddie Glow, a natural skincare line.
All three pitched their ideas live before an audience of family, friends, colleagues and a panel of judges, including Brooklyn native Lisa Price, founder and president of Carol’s Daughter, and Dana Bly, founder of Pardon My Fro. The program also featured a panel discussion on cultural legacy, entrepreneurship and the future of the textured hair industry, moderated by HUE Affair curator Ylorie Taylor.
To qualify for the competition, applicants had to attend at least three Glow and Grow workshops covering topics like trend forecasting, digital marketing, visual identity and the role of AI in beauty. Participants must also identify as Black or of African descent, own or operate a beauty business in Brooklyn and maintain an active website or social media presence.
Glow and Grow was developed through Brooklyn Public Library’s Incubator program, which supports innovative ideas from library staff and community members, with funding from the Charles H. Revson Foundation. HUE Affair, a cultural and commercial hub for Black-owned businesses, partnered with Brooklyn Public Library to bring the event to life.
BPL’s Business and Career Center offers a range of programs for entrepreneurs, including the PowerUP business education and pitch program, and workshops for small business owners and nonprofit leaders. More information is available at bklynlibrary.org/business.
