When it comes to defining beauty, Black girls have always had the vision. Now, they’re getting the tools.
Black Girls Code and The Doux just announced a powerful new collaboration: the Black Beauty AI Challenge—a nationwide contest inviting Black girls and young women to reimagine beauty, style, and culture through the lens of artificial intelligence. It’s not just about content creation. It’s about coding the future.
“We risk being overlooked—or worse, misrepresented—if we don’t guide what AI learns from us,” said Maya Smith, CEO and creative director of The Doux. “This challenge is about taking control of that narrative. It’s about teaching girls to run the code.”
Beauty Meets Algorithm
Participants aged 13–25 will create original 60–90 second AI-generated videos that showcase their personal take on what Black beauty looks like. No coding background? No problem. The challenge offers an accessible entry point, using free tools like Kaiber.ai, Runway ML, Luma Labs, Pika, CapCut, or Canva—proving you don’t need an engineering degree to shape AI, just a perspective worth sharing.
Videos will be judged in two categories:
- Youth Track (ages 13–17)
- Young Adult Track (ages 18–25)
Up for grabs: $1,500 for People’s Choice, plus additional awards down to 4th place and honorary mentions, including gift cards from The Doux.
AI, Identity & Imagination
At the heart of this challenge is a mission bigger than beauty. It’s a cultural intervention in the AI era. Cristina Mancini, CEO of Black Girls Code, summed it up: “We show girls and young women that technology is theirs to shape and connect to their lived experiences—because the future of AI is being written right now.”
Finalists will be showcased on Instagram, TikTok, and celebrated at an MLK Day 2026 gallery pop-up in NYC, putting the voices of young Black women in front of the industry—and the culture.
The Brands Behind the Vision
Black Girls Code, founded in 2011, has trained thousands of Black girls and young women to not just participate in tech—but lead it. From workshops in app development to AI literacy, their culturally relevant approach is shaping a new generation of digital builders.
The Doux, meanwhile, is no stranger to making statements. With its ’90s hip-hop flair and cult-favorite products like Mousse Def and Big Poppa, the Atlanta-based brand brings authenticity and creativity to every curl—and now, to the AI conversation.
Together, they’re flipping the script. Because the future of beauty isn’t something to consume—it’s something to code.
