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‘Unapologetically Bold, Unabashedly Beautiful‘ … It’s the slogan that that became synonymous with the now defunct Johnson Publishing Company’s iconic beauty brand, Fashion Fair Cosmetics for decades.
Fashion Fair is now co-owned by two former Johnson Publishing execs, Desiree Rogers – one time Obama-era White House social secretary – and Cheryl Mayberry-McKissack purchased the company at auction earlier this month.
The 60-year old Rogers told the Chicago Sun Times that she didn’t want to see it go:
“We just could not let this incredible iconic brand get away from us, so we went in there, and we were so lucky, blessed, to be the winners.”
Rogers and Mayberry-McKissack who had previously worked together along with Linda Johnson Rice to try to save the struggling publishing company. The duo purchased Black Opal, another line geared toward women of color back in June.
Don't miss my @Suntimes #ChicagoChronicles EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW w/@IamTHATDesiree & #CherylMayberryMcKissack, new owners of @BlackOpalBeauty, @FashionFair, on building a beauty empire in CHICAGO: ‘A lot of people are rooting for us’ https://t.co/DeKw4iupGr #BlackOpal #FashionFair pic.twitter.com/jjiOQe8M9u
— Maudlyne Ihejirika (@maudlynei) November 18, 2019
Rogers left the White House in 2010 amid controversy over an couple making their way into a White House State Dinner without an official invitation. The Secret Service would ultimately take blame for the snafu, but media pressure forced Rogers out. She became CEO of the struggling Johnson Publishing several months later.
Meantime, Mayberry-McKissick, who has run her own consulting firm for nearly two decades said she jumped at the chance to partner with Rogers.
“I felt there were so many opportunities here, both in the industry, and even with this brand. People buy differently now. Women buy differently.”
Good luck ladies, we’re rooting for you!
(Cover photo: April 13,2009 file photo, President Barack Obama walks with White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers at the White House Easter Egg Roll. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
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