It’s not a lack of talent or ambition that keeps aspiring professionals from breaking into beauty; it’s access. As the industry increasingly relies on social media, creators, and digital communities to shape brand growth and influence, success is becoming as much about who is in the right rooms, and when, as it is about skill.
In an effort to expand access into the business for emerging beauty professionals, Iced Media and Cosmoprof North America have partnered to launch Open Fellowship with support from Boardroom Beauty, a media collective that supports underrepresented women in the industry.
The initiative will provide selected fellows with complimentary admission, transportation, and lodging to attend CPNA, the business-to-business beauty exhibition that brings together professionals across the global beauty supply chain. Beyond the event itself, participants will enter a multi-year fellowship that provides mentorship, curated networking opportunities, industry exposure, and additional programming.
“Cosmoprof North America has long served as a platform for discovery, connection, and opportunity across the beauty industry,” said Liza Rapay, Vice President and Head of Cosmoprof North America, in a press release. “What makes Open so meaningful is that it is rooted in both industry need and authentic conviction.”
Open Fellows will be selected annually and may include beauty professionals and creators as well as marketers and digital operators entering the industry without legacy networks or built-in visibility. The program will support three fellows over the course of a three-year mentorship, with new additions per year.
“These professionals are often closest to the communities, cultural shifts, and consumer behaviors shaping our industry,” said Leslie Ann Hall, Founder and CEO of Iced Media, in the press release. “Open was created to help exceptional talent access the rooms, relationships, and opportunities that can shape their futures, and to help our industry become smarter, more representative, and better equipped for the future.”
Additional support for fellows will include office hours with Iced Media executives and industry leaders, networking opportunities, and access to thought-leadership programming, as well as exposure to brands, retailers, founders, and investors—all designed to support long-term professional growth.
The launch of Open reflects a larger commitment to nurturing more intentional talent pipelines while lowering the traditional barriers to entry. As brands increasingly invest in fellowships and accelerators, Open signals that more voices and perspectives will receive more visibility than is often granted.
Applications for the inaugural Open Fellows class close on June 9, with selected fellows announced on June 18.