Five Creative Powerhouses Bring Fashion, Beauty, Celebrity Style and Business to the 2026 Black Business Day Expo
The Black Business Association (BBA) will present its featured Main Stage Spotlight panel, “State of Fashion, Beauty, Style and Representation in Business Across Los Angeles, California, and the United States,” during the 4th Annual Black Business Day Expo on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at The Proud Bird in Los Angeles.
The one-hour panel begins at 2:00 p.m. and will spotlight influential professionals shaping fashion, beauty, entertainment, media and entrepreneurship while celebrating Black excellence, business ownership, creative leadership and economic empowerment.
Los Angeles has long stood at the intersection of fashion, beauty, television, film, music and celebrity culture. Behind the red carpets, television characters, custom suits, memorable hairstyles, editorial images and major entertainment productions are creative professionals whose artistry helps shape what audiences see around the world.
This Main Stage conversation brings several of those accomplished professionals together to discuss not only their creative achievements, but also the business behind the creativity—from entrepreneurship and personal branding to career longevity, representation, mentorship, intellectual property and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Featured Moderator: Lela Christine
The discussion will be curated and moderated by Lela Christine, Publisher of Fab Five Lifestyle Magazine and Goddess Couture News, and a graduate of FIDM | ASU.
A Los Angeles-based independent publisher, media strategist, social impact leader, event curator, concept creator and designer, Christine brings more than two decades of fashion-industry experience to the conversation. Her professional background also spans television and film, executive communications, nonprofit leadership, public relations, media strategy, creative brand development, publishing, event production and storytelling.
Her career reflects the increasingly interconnected world of modern creative business, where fashion, beauty, entertainment, technology, media and entrepreneurship are no longer separate industries but powerful components of a larger creative economy.
As moderator, Christine will guide a conversation designed to go beyond celebrity names and glamorous careers to examine what it actually takes to build, sustain and expand a creative business.
Flow with Lela Christine:
https://flow.page/theworldoflelachristine
Why This Conversation Matters
Fashion and beauty are much more than what audiences see on the surface. These industries create careers and businesses across design, manufacturing, retail, styling, hair, cosmetics, entertainment production, marketing, media, technology and entrepreneurship.
Among the topics the Main Stage Spotlight will explore:
- Building sustainable fashion and beauty businesses
- Working with celebrities, television, film and entertainment productions
- Turning creative talent into entrepreneurship and ownership
- Understanding representation and opportunity behind the camera
- Building professional relationships, reputation and longevity
- Preparing the next generation for careers across the creative economy
Featured Panelists
Angela Dean | Celebrity Fashion Designer, Founder of Deanzign & Shaped By An Angel
Angela Dean has built an extraordinary career at the intersection of celebrity fashion, Hollywood and entrepreneurship.
The internationally recognized designer and FIDM graduate has created designs for an impressive roster of entertainment icons, including Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Regina King, Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Jada Pinkett Smith, Paris Hilton, Nancy Wilson and Katy Perry.
Dean’s career includes numerous memorable fashion moments. She designed Madonna’s celebrated bullet-bra bustier look and contributed designs to Essence magazine’s historic 30th Anniversary collector’s cover. She also created the dramatic red silk taffeta gown featured in Paris Hilton’s “Can Can” fragrance campaign.
Adding to her legacy, a gown Dean designed for legendary vocalist Nancy Wilson was donated to the Smithsonian, illustrating how fashion can transcend a single celebrity moment and become part of cultural history.
Today, Dean continues developing her creative legacy through Deanzign and Shaped By An Angel, expanding decades of fashion knowledge into entrepreneurship and lifestyle branding.
Websites:
https://deanzign.net/
https://shapedbyanangel.com/
Woody Wilson | Bespoke Menswear Designer & President, Woody Wilson Bespoke
For more than two decades, Woody Wilson has built a distinctive reputation in Los Angeles menswear through bespoke tailoring, individual expression and luxury craftsmanship.
His celebrity and entertainment clientele has included Anthony Anderson, Bernie Mac, Eddie Murphy, Steve Harvey, Ricky Bell, Smokey Robinson, Kevin James, Guy Torry and Ice Cube, in addition to professional athletes and notable NFL players.
Wilson’s signature approach centers on what his company describes as an “Architectural Fit”—creating clothing around the proportions, personality and presence of the individual.
His career demonstrates that bespoke menswear is about much more than creating a suit. For actors, entertainers, athletes, executives and entrepreneurs, clothing becomes part of personal branding and the way an individual communicates before saying a word.
Wilson brings an important entrepreneurial perspective to the panel, representing independent designers and custom clothiers who have successfully built businesses while serving the entertainment, sports and executive communities.
Website:
https://woodywilson.com/
Tashiba Jones-Wilson | Celebrity Fashion Stylist, Costume Designer & Founder of Matte Argyle
With more than 25 years of experience, Tashiba Jones-Wilson has developed a multifaceted career spanning celebrity fashion styling, costume design, television, retail, visual merchandising and entrepreneurship.
Her journey into entertainment began with an extraordinary first client—Grammy-winning music legend Chaka Khan.
Jones-Wilson later contributed her fashion and costume expertise to major television and entertainment productions including Black-ish, Insecure, Family Reunion, LA’s Finest and America’s Got Talent.
She has also worked with Tina Knowles through the celebrated Wearable Art Gala, an event bringing together fashion, visual art, philanthropy, celebrity culture and community impact.
A FIDM graduate, Jones-Wilson combines entertainment-industry experience with an extensive understanding of retail and visual merchandising. She is the founder of Matte Argyle, further demonstrating how creative professionals can translate industry knowledge into entrepreneurship.
Her commitment extends beyond fashion. Jones-Wilson also serves on the Young Life Los Angeles regional advisory board, supporting youth and community leadership.
Website:
https://matte-argyle.myshopify.com/
Shirlena Allen | Emmy & Guild-Nominated Celebrity Hairstylist
Shirlena Allen brings decades of beauty, entertainment and entrepreneurial experience to the Main Stage.
The Emmy and Guild-nominated celebrity hairstylist, producer, educator, media host and entrepreneur has worked with recognizable personalities including Kim Kardashian, Ciara, Brandy, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Vivica A. Fox and Macy Gray.
Her professional expertise encompasses celebrity hairstyling, television and film production, beauty education, entrepreneurship and creative entertainment experiences.
Her television career includes Black-ish, and her accomplishments demonstrate the essential role professional hairstylists play in visual storytelling. Hair can help establish a character’s personality, cultural identity, historical period and overall screen presence.
Through Liquid Kutts Haircutting Party and her additional entrepreneurial and educational endeavors, Allen has expanded her artistry beyond traditional production work and into experiences that combine beauty, education and business.
Website:
https://www.shirlenaallenhair.com/
Angie Wells | Celebrity Television & Film Makeup Artist
Angie Wells brings another powerful dimension to the panel through her extensive career in television, film, celebrity beauty and music.
A three-time Emmy nominee, Grammy Member and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Wells has contributed her artistry to major productions including Black-ish, Insecure, Hunters, Frasier, Mudbound, Harriet, Sylvie’s Love, Promising Young Woman, Cheaper by the Dozen and Gifted Hands.
Throughout her career, Wells has worked with major talent including Mary J. Blige, Carey Mulligan, Cynthia Erivo, Yara Shahidi, Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin and Clive Davis.
Professional makeup artistry in television and film extends far beyond traditional beauty. Artists help directors and performers establish character, period, emotion and authenticity. Their work becomes an important part of the storytelling audiences ultimately experience on screen.
Wells is also an accomplished recording artist, demonstrating the possibilities available to creative professionals who build careers across multiple artistic disciplines.
Website:
https://www.angiewellsmusic.com/
Decades of Creativity, Celebrity and Business Experience on One Stage
Collectively, the moderator and panelists represent decades of experience across fashion design, bespoke menswear, costume design, styling, hair, makeup, television, film, music, publishing, media and entrepreneurship.
Their professional journeys have intersected with cultural icons including Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Steve Harvey, Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube, Mary J. Blige, Cynthia Erivo, Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Brandy and many others.
But the celebrity names tell only part of the story.
Behind those accomplishments are years of developing expertise, navigating competitive industries, establishing relationships, protecting professional reputations, building businesses and remaining relevant as fashion, entertainment and consumer culture continue to evolve.
That experience is what makes this conversation especially valuable for emerging designers, beauty professionals, students, entrepreneurs and established creatives seeking their next opportunity.
Read More About the Moderator and Panelists
Explore the panelists’ careers, businesses, professional work and digital platforms in one place.
Connect with the moderator and panelists here:
https://flow.page/bbabusinessfashionreportedit
Come Experience the Main Stage Spotlight
The present of business is happening now. The future is being created next.
The community is invited to come down, listen, learn, network and experience this special conversation on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Whether you are a designer, hairstylist, makeup artist, stylist, student, entrepreneur, entertainment professional, business owner or someone who simply loves fashion and beauty, come discover where you fit into the equation.
The Proud Bird
11022 Aviation Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
FREE Admission • FREE Parking
Connect, Register & Follow
Black Business Day Expo 2026 — Registration & Event Information
https://bbala.org/events/black-business-day-expo
About the Black Business Association
https://bbala.org/about/who-we-are
Black Business Association Official Website
https://bbala.org/
BBA Social Media: @blackbusinessassociation
Follow @blackbusinessassociation across BBA social media platforms for Expo news, business resources, programs and opportunities.
Special Event Report
By Lela Christine
Publisher, Goddess Couture News
Goddess Couture News:
https://goddesscouturenews.com/
Join Goddess Couture News on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@GoddessCoutureNews
Follow Goddess Couture News on social media and join our community as we spotlight fashion, beauty, style, culture, business, wellness, creative leadership, and the people shaping what’s next.
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