Mikki Taylor Verified ★ Editor's Choice

Mikki Taylor is a renowned beauty and style authority, author, and media veteran who served as the Beauty and Cover Director

Taylor normalized spending money on professional hair care. She encouraged women to see their hair as an accessory and a crown, not a burden.

Her approach was rooted in intimacy. She famously secured a groundbreaking cover featuring a makeup-free Whitney Houston—a bold move that showcased the singer’s raw, natural beauty and vulnerability. It wasn't just a photo; it was a statement. It told millions of readers that they did not need to mask themselves to be worthy of the cover, or the spotlight. mikki taylor

During her time at Essence , Taylor was responsible for more than just aesthetics; she was an architect of self-image. Her work went beyond choosing lipstick shades, focusing instead on She is credited with evolving the way Black women were portrayed in mainstream media, moving away from Eurocentric standards and toward a celebration of authentic heritage.

“He came back?”

: She cast and styled iconic covers featuring figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, and the Obama family’s first national magazine cover in 2008. Advocated for Diversity

: She is a highly sought-after speaker at empowerment seminars and corporate retreats, where she discusses leadership, personal branding, and the intersection of lifestyle and career. Mikki Taylor is a renowned beauty and style

By doing her job excellently for 33 years, she proved that a magazine dedicated to Black women was not a "niche" publication, but a vital institution. She made little Black girls seeing themselves in magazines feel beautiful, and she made the rest of the world realize they had been missing out.