Photo by Erin Brethauer.
In 2017, Grammy award winner Alicia Keys introduced the world to a proud and fierce 10-year-old: Kheris Rogers. Posting on Instagram, Keys introduced Kheris by saying, “I love this beautiful girl @kherispoppin and I love her mission! Keep shining.”
That mission is empowering girls with confidence through Kheris’s clothing line, Flexin’ In My Complexion. Frequently teased for her dark complexion, by classmates and teachers alike, Kheris began wearing her clothes to draw attention to how outside beauty is not synonymous with true beauty, stating,
“Beauty has nothing to do with the outside. It has to do with your inside by being nice, smart, creative. Being beautiful means confidently knowing that you’re enough just the way you are. When I look at myself in the mirror, I say nice things like, ‘I am smart. I am kind. I am confident.’ It’s empowering.”
The brand’s name is inspired by Kheris’s grandmother, who used to state the slogan to empower Kheris and her family members. Within three years, Kheris’s line became part of many fashion shows. In 2019, she was awarded the Princess Diana Award for creating positive change. In 2020, at age 13, she became the world’s youngest fashion designer to showcase at New York Fashion Week by advising on a line by Old Navy and POPSUGAR.
At 10 years old, I became the world’s youngest fashion designer to showcase at NYFW. At 13 years old, I advised on the new collection for @OldNavy and @POPSUGAR in stores now! Sounds like Black Girl Magic 🥳 pic.twitter.com/PBlH7n4odt
— Kheris Rogers (@KherisPoppin) August 13, 2020
Today, Kheris continues to utilize her clothing line to empower girls everywhere, while also being active in protests for Black Lives Matter and continuing to advocate for acceptance of Black girls’ natural beauty.
Follow her on Twitter @KherisPoppin