Sher & Jess on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sher & Jess. Check out our conversation below.

Sher & Jess, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Jess: I recently purchased a new camera as an investment in my creative endeavors. I have been loving the quality of the videos and the ability to bring my ideas to fruition using better equipment.

Sher: I have a podcast, The Ignorance Project, that I use to host a platform free of judgment where people can learn and ask difficult questions. I’m using this platform to lean into community, and have recently added a component called All My Love Sher where I encourage my followers to connect with their community and remember that even if we have differing beliefs, we can still interact with love and kindness.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We’re Sher + Jess, the duo behind melanated24k, a beauty and lifestyle platform rooted in representation, honesty, and community. What started as two friends testing makeup together has grown into a space where we intentionally showcase products on deeper skin tones, highlight inclusive and Black-owned brands, and have real conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and why that matters.

What makes melanated24k special is that we don’t approach beauty as a one-size-fits-all experience. We care just as much about formulation, undertones, and accessibility as we do about storytelling and cultural impact. Our content is designed to be informative without being intimidating. Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast or someone who’s never felt fully seen in the industry.

Beyond reviews, we’re focused on education and visibility. We use our platform to amplify brands doing the work, challenge industry norms when inclusivity feels performative, and create content that feels relatable, thoughtful, and rooted in lived experience. Right now, we’re expanding into more long-form conversations, beauty news, and deeper product breakdowns with the goal of making beauty feel like a space you belong in, not one you have to prove yourself in.

At the core of everything we do is community. melanated24k isn’t just about makeup, it’s about showing up fully, being honest, and creating space for people who’ve historically been overlooked to be centered, celebrated, and heard.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Jess: I was very creative before the world told me who I had to be. I loved making art using different textures and thinking outside of the box. My dad would call me a “starving artist” growing up. I ended up taking a career path that was mapped out for me based on security, and while I am thankful, I have been working on getting back into the creative mindset with the hope to eventually phase out of my current career into the arts.

Sher: Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a dreamer. Recently, I’ve been tapping back into that energy because I realize the world does not have the power to define who I am and who I choose to be. That realization has been liberating!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Jess: I’ve had several moments of wanting to quit our current makeup page. Not because I think it’s not worth the continued effort, but because I felt like circumstances I couldn’t control were keeping us from progressing and it became exhausting. My mindset has shifted so I am more focused on putting the information out and making a change to the beauty industry even if it is on a smaller scale.

Sher: Prior to doing makeup with Jess, I was doing makeup on my personal page. I noticed my content stopped getting increasing engagement and decided to take a step back out of frustration. Now I understand those are moments you have to keep pushing through if you want to grow. Growth is not always easy, it’s often frustrating and takes a lot of consistency.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Jess: Melanated 24K! It is my way of contributing to our community, even if in a small way. The support for Black-owned and inclusive brands helps to keep businesses that value diversity and care about the community they are supporting in business. I would like to spend my money where it is valued.

Sher: Both Melanated 24K and The Ignorance Project are projects I am committed to! I believe in giving back to the community and using my platforms to continue to leave positivity in the world even long after I am gone.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Jess: I would quit doing things that included the consideration of how other people felt or what they thought I should do, and I would just enjoy fully being myself.

Sher: If I knew I had 10 years left, I would immediately stop doubting myself and lean into everything that gives me joy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: melanated24K
• Facebook: Sher + Jess
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@melanated24k?si=ECP_zIHBGsfLRiL4
• Other: Email: melanated24K@gmail.com
  TikTok: melanated24K

Image Credits
Mauriá Moore