The Jessie Mae Hicks Legacy Award in Beauty Entrepreneurship

• Glenetta Bierria

• • • Glenetta Bierria has a long history of beauty entrepreneurship. Her mother was an instructor at Hicks Beauty School, and Jessie Mae Hicks was her mentor. Her career in ethnic hair care has lasted 69 years. In 1971, recognizing the lack of young Black women in beauty pageants, Glenetta established several pageants, including the Miss Juneteenth pageant, the Mr. Esquire pageant, and the Miss Black San Antonio pageant. Her commitment to her community also includes the establishment of the annual “Hair-a-thon,” where local barbers and stylists come together to provide free back-to-school beauty services for children of color in foster care in the San Antonio area. Her guiding principle is “Not Popularity, but Passion,” and Glenetta strives to live by this motto every day.

• Davette Mabrie

• • • Davette Mabrie has empowered young people in the profession of natural hair care in San Antonio since 1992. She established Davette’s of Beverly Hills and is a frequent guest speaker regarding her award-winning work. Davette was the first person in Texas to call for a separate braiding license for natural hairstyle professionals. She was also the first to call for the acceptance of natural hairstyles in professional spaces, promoting the passage of the Crown Act. She created the San Antonio Natural Hair Society, dedicated to teaching the history of natural hairstyles and promoting styles and care. Davette shows the world that it is possible to stay true to your roots and have a successful career.