Sleek MakeUP has celebrated 13 years of its iconic i-Divine eyeshadow palette range by releasing an inspiring campaign film featuring three Black British changemakers.
Journalist and author, Yomi Adegoke, Queer creative, writer, performer and LGBTQ+ advocate, Darkwah Keyi-Darkwah, and financial wellness coach Bola Sol represent the unmistakable presence in the UK and beyond of bold Black British changemakers, all of whom exude the spirit of “I am Divine”, the name of the campaign film.
Founded in the heart of East London in 1985, Sleek’s mission then and now is to create makeup that addresses the gap in the market for people of colour. The brand is known for delivering high impact colour products that show up, unapologetically, on all skin tones.
In the film, directed by Otis Dominique, the trio discuss what it means to be the change they want to see, and the role makeup plays in their self-expression and self-care.
“…makeup means being able to express my mood without moving my lips.”
Multi-award-winning journalist and author of bestselling book Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible Yomi Adegoke explains: “Inspiring change is in my mind as much about what you do behind closed doors as it is what you do online and on the streets. We need to have difficult conversations to effect meaningful change. These conversations often require a great deal of empathy – something the changemakers I admire the most tend to have in spades.”
Darkwah Kyei-Darkwah’s work and passions have always centered around uplifting and platforming the voices of historically marginalised communities. They said: “Makeup and activism go hand in hand for me. They’ve both helped me feel better and more confident in myself, my voice and sharing them with the world. I thought about things I could do to help me feel better and doing makeup just felt natural. I was painting on my strength and while doing so, speaking out against the injustices, aggressions and microaggressions that I and people like myself have faced for years.”
For Mathematics and Finance graduate and founder of Refined Currency which upskills women in all things finance, Bola Sol is more subtle in her moves. She said: “To me, activism means speaking up even if the timing seems inappropriate. And makeup means being able to express my mood without moving my lips.”
For many, looking good is synonymous with feeling good and Sleek MakeUP has not been slacking. The i-Divine ultra-blendable eyeshadow palettes in six distinctive colour combinations offers new shades, new and improved vegan formulation and intense colour pay-off to take you from day to dusk.
Now more than ever, in these trying times, this campaign serves to remind everyone that they are divine.
i-Divine Palette £8.99 is available across retailers.
Watch the campaign film
Visit the Sleek MakeUP website.
