Creator, Cosmetologist, Entrepreneur
Meet Breanna Thomas
Breanna Thomas (she/her) is a first-generation Jamaican-Canadian communications student at Ryerson University. Her creative art forms are boundless. They vary from videography, photography and cosmetology to complement her journey on being a creator. From a young age, she was inspired by young artists, who have astonishing ideas, the confidence to broadcast their visions, and the creative impact to make their creations hold value in the eyes of the short-sighted.
Thus, her exploration produced an immense love for the arts ...
... It gave her the drive to create a cosmetic line, a YouTube channel, a nail business, become a Flaunt It Creative intern and so much more. Therefore, she continuously advances her knowledge and skills to evolve herself and her brand.
Art has helped Breanna express messages she cannot explain. To her, art is not only a craft but a significant form of communication. She aspires to innovate the media industry to maintain and amplify minorities' authenticity.
Due to society’s structure, minorities often aren’t highlighted
.... correctly or highlighted at all. Coming from a community with limited access to tools to guide her on her artist journey, she paved her path with the help of Flaunt It Movement. She believes it is critical to give minorities space to be themselves without dimming their light to satisfy individuals of authority that lessen their charisma/identity.
Although her favourite Disney princess is sleeping beauty, she will not be sleeping her dreams off. Thomas will be making her dreams become a reality.
"Beauty Unfiltered"
Short Film, Portrait Photography — Artist Statement
The Flaunt It Movement has given me the resources to create something I enjoy and take much pride in doing. I took part in this opportunity to display the unheard beauty secrets and standards much of society has little insight of.
People of Colour, Black women especially, face intense discrimination in comparison to other individuals due to their intersectionality of being a woman and a minority. In today’s society, “beauty” is Eurocentric, white-washed, and overall not in favour of anyone who is not Caucasian. BIPOC women often feel that they have to alter themselves to feel or look “beautiful”. However, beauty isn’t interchangeable. Beauty shouldn't be based on one race because more than one exists. Therefore, I created an art piece where two women explain how society’s beauty standards have affected them and how they interpret beauty. Ultimately, they shared what beauty means to them.
The models have their faces “split” in half, one side natural and the other side accentuated to fit the Eurocentric beauty standard. Furthermore, atypical interview questions were asked to deepen the conversation and add impactful insight throughout the cinematic film. Halfway through the video, the other side of their face is revealed to illustrate the contrast between their natural state and the state that is accepted or deemed as beautiful. Not to mention, the overall video has an eerie documentary feel as it relates to experiences women of colour encounter in a society that is against them.
The last scene is inspired by goddesses because BIWOC is often put on the back burner; it is time they feel elevated. The models were asked to come to this shoot wearing and share what makes them feel their best, this piece displays them in their element. In addition, the poses were designed to explain the statement “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” & “the eyes of the deceived.” The side by side eyeshot demonstrates how often only half of women of colour stories are shared in the media, as half of their face is covered. Consequently, this film's purpose is to share the other half of their stories with no filter. Beauty is what you make it and I want to help make women of colour mainstream, the standard, and ultimately feel comfortable to express their beauty.