Entries are now open for the Sunday Times Style magazine competition in collaboration with the Black Writers’ Guild for aspiring Black fashion and beauty journalists.
Announced in Sunday’s magazine guest-edited by Booker prize winner Bernardine Evaristo, the competition’s winner will receive mentoring and have six pieces commissioned in Style.
It is open to women and womxn who are Black-British and under 25, and will be judged by Bernardine Evaristo, Lorraine Candy, and Emma Paterson, literary agent at Aitken Alexander Associates.
Aspiring journalists are asked to write an 800-word personal fashion or beauty essay in response to the question set by Evaristo: Fashion and beauty are going through a revolution. What does that statement mean to you?
The Black Writers’ Guild said: “We are delighted to be supporting The Sunday Times Style in finding new talent from our culture for their fashion and beauty pages. The representation of Black people in all areas is really important to us and this is a great opportunity for the next generation to take their space.”
Launching the competition, Sunday’s edition of Style magazine was published with Black photographers, stylists, make-up artists and creatives helping to create the issue, which features many emerging and established Black fashion designers.
The magazine highlighted many young trailblazers chosen by guest editor Evaristo, including the pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason to the poet and young laureate for London, Theresa Lola, to the queer activist and trans performer Travis Alabanza.
Bernardine Evaristo said of the edition: “It is a groundbreaking celebration of Black women and womxn. You may never have heard of them before, but you will be hearing a lot more about them in the future. I believe every one of them deserves wider attention.”
Lorraine Candy, Editor-in-Chief of Style said: “This is my final issue as Editor-in-Chief of Style and I am proud to leave the magazine on such a career high. At this pivotal moment it is important we make a commitment to including the voices of Black women in fashion and beauty titles.”
Entries will close on 23.59 on September 26, 2020 and details on how to enter can be found at: thesundaytimes.co.uk/stylexbwg.
