The YWCA’s partnership with the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation is back, and this year’s “Pretty Empowered” events brought together hundreds of girls for a day built around confidence, curiosity, and real-world learning.
The program first started in Chicago in 2022 and has slowly grown into something bigger, with YWCA sites around the country hosting their own versions. On Oct. 18, more than 730 girls, most between 9 and 14, spent the day trying new things, meeting new people, and getting a closer look at careers they may not have considered yet. This year’s focus was “Beauty in Belonging,” and the girls moved through sessions centered on everything from wellness to STEM to leadership.
Thanks to support from the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation, local chapters brought in experts to show how different parts of the beauty industry work behind the scenes. Some girls learned about cosmetic science, others got a look at supply chain logistics or store-level operations. STEM careers were a big part of the day, too, especially as women still make up only 26% of the STEM workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The initiative isn’t just meant to introduce careers. It’s also about how girls see themselves and how they walk into a room, how they lead, how they imagine their futures.
“By centering wellness and STEM education, we’re helping young women see themselves as leaders, innovators, and changemakers,” said Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA in a recent interview with Black Enterprise. “We’re proud to partner with Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation to create spaces where belonging and empowerment go hand in hand.”
Events took place at eight different YWCA locations, from Atlanta to Greater Los Angeles to several cities in Florida. Some groups did yoga and wellness sessions; others jumped into hands-on science activities or leadership discussions. Each local chapter ran its own schedule, but all carried the same message, girls deserve room to grow and access to people who believe in what they’re capable of.
“Ulta Beauty is proud to continue our partnership with YWCA through Pretty Empowered, an initiative that reflects our shared commitment to helping young women realize their full potential,” said Amiee Bayer Thomas, chief retail officer at Ulta Beauty and a YWCA Metropolitan Chicago board member.
“By creating spaces that foster confidence, belonging, and curiosity, we’re helping young women explore new possibilities – in beauty, in STEM, and beyond – and empowering the next generation of leaders.”
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