The Sunday Times’ Style Magazine, in collaboration with the Black Writers’ Guild, is hosting an exciting competition for aspiring Black fashion and beauty journalists. The contest, which is in its second year and which asks fashion and beauty journalists to write a personal essay, offers the winner “six months of mentoring from members of the Style team. Over this period they will have a minimum of three pieces commissioned and published in the print or digital editions of Style, and receive a two-week paid internship at the offices of The Sunday Times.”

Last year’s contests was notably won by Nigeria’s Ranyechi Udemezue, with a “sharply observed” piece on the impact of TikTok on a new wave of fashion influencers. In addition to publication, Ranyechi was mentored by Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo.

The 2021 judging panel comprises of Style Magazine editor Laura Atkinson, as well as the Nigerian poet Theresa Lola and author Bolu Babalola, in addition to the co-founder of Black Writers’ Guild Nels Abbey.

The Contest:

“Write an 800-word personal fashion or beauty essay. The piece should be written in the first person and have a clear, unique angle. The winner will be someone with a keen eye for trends, journalistic flair and a demonstrable interest in the subject. We want to see how you engage with the worlds of fashion and/or beauty on a personal level, whether that’s a piece on your obsession with bold nail colours or your secret 3am online shopping habit. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 to 25 who is Black-British/Irish and of African or Caribbean descent. You must not be employed as a fashion or beauty writer or earn your main revenue from fashion or beauty journalism.”

Deadline: October 1, 2021

For details on submission guidelines, go here.