Fall 2024 recipients are in: Beauty Changes Lives x amika
amika has always championed diversity and inclusivity, but as we grew increasingly aware of the inequities within the beauty industry, we knew we needed to do even more to close the gap in the salon and beyond. that’s why we teamed up with Beauty Changes Lives to launch the Friend to Hair scholarship program which allows us to give back to the community that raised us–because we wouldn’t be amika without our salon roots! through this program and partnership, we award full-ride scholarships to 8 aspiring cosmetology students annually. we’re excited to announce the Fall 2024 scholarship winners–these aspiring stylists are definitely ones to watch so follow along on their journeys to the chair!
meet the recipients
name: Tyshenna Phillips (she/her)
based in: Dallas, Texas
student at: Aveda Arts and Sciences Institute
follow Tyshenna’s journey: @_empowhairment_
“In the long-term this scholarship will help me open an eco-friendly and sustainable salon where I’ll be treating individuals with different hair and scalp concerns and connect with individuals in the industry that have a passion for trichology.”
name: Jasmine Peoples (she/her)
based in: Roswell, Georgia
student at: Paul Mitchell Esani
follow Jasmine’s journey: @cheveubyalexandraj
“My passion is for me to open a salon specifically for children with developmental disabilities. I’ve had the grace and honour of working with these kiddos for 6-7 years. I was giving therapy to children with autism and working that field wasan eye opener. I was able to help a lot of kiddos with just the basic daily living skills.”
name: Jeniffer Puentes (she/her)
based in: Knoxville, TN
student at: Paul Mitchell the School
“About a year ago my mother asked me to do her hair and it truly just sparked the flame inside me. I realized it feeds my soul to be able to talk with people while giving them a boost of confidence in transforming their appearance.”
name: Kalawika Navarro (they/them)
based in: Toledo, Ohio
student at: The Salon Institute
“I never saw myself in the hair world until this year. Working for a team that helps guests feel heard has reignited my passion for knowledge and expansion in my field. We have a diverse clientele base who count on us to treat them as equals.”
what past winners have to say
we checked in with our Spring scholarship winners and Jordan shared these kind words about their experience: “amika’s Friend to Hair scholarship has been an amazing answer to my prayers. it’s providing me the opportunity to live out a dream and I can see my future career ahead of me! along with others in my life, amika has shown me how the gift of generosity can change everything! I can’t begin to measure the impact of amika’s generosity because it goes far beyond financial. this gift has allowed me to solely focus on academics, help others become more knowledgeable with amika’s scholarships, and experience so many cool opportunities!"
Getchine, a winner from the Spring 2024 cohort shared: "amika’s Friend to Hair scholarship has helped me in a tremendous way. I was able to attend school full time at Arrojo Cosmetology School in NYC and fully focus on my studies without the worry and stress of working multiple jobs and taking out a loan. I’ve gone down that path before, and I’m very appreciative of the chance I got to put all my energy into my craft and studies. happy to say, I graduated with the highest GPA in my class! the scholarship even afforded me the opportunity to get my license in New Jersey as well and now I’m licensed in 2 states. how amazing is that?!I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to fully pursue my passion. I can honestly say I wake up everyday excited to go to work and get my hands messy. from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank you for this head-start in my career!”