The stars aligned at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures this month to mark a major milestone: the 20th anniversary of L’Oréal Paris’s Women of Worth. The evening was a celebration of two decades spent honoring grassroots leaders who transform their communities through courage and compassion.
For Emmy-nominated actress and L’Oréal spokesperson Aja Naomi King, the event was more than a red-carpet appearance—it was a moment of reflection on leadership, representation, and the vital role of self-care.
Honoring Two Decades of Impact
Launched from the brand’s iconic “Because You’re Worth It” mantra, the Women of Worth program has supported over 200 changemakers since its inception. Honorees receive mentorship, funding, and a national platform to scale their missions.
The 2025 class features women tackling some of society’s most pressing issues:
- Yasmine Arrington Brooks: Founder of ScholarCHIPS, Inc., which provides college scholarships and support to children with incarcerated parents.
- Gloria Umanah: Founder of The Hope Booth, an initiative that repurposes phone booths into free, interactive mental health support centers in underserved areas.
- Mizpah Brown-Rich: CEO of Joshua’s Gift, Inc., which advocates for and supports families navigating autism and intellectual disabilities.
“These are women who wake up every morning and decide they are going to put good into the world,” King told reporters. “It takes just one decision to start that ripple effect.”
The Power of Seeing Yourself
King, who grew up in Walnut, California, spoke candidly about how a lack of representation once limited her own ambitions. Early in her career, she struggled to see herself as a leading lady because dark-skinned Black women were rarely cast in those roles.
“Seeing the lack of representation definitely impacted my idea of worthiness,” King admitted. “My goal used to be simply making it as the protagonist’s ‘best friend.’”
That mindset shifted when she joined the cast of How to Get Away with Murder. Working alongside Viola Davis proved to King that Black women didn’t have to compete for a single “token” spot. “The success of other Black women is an indication of what my success can be,” she noted. “I realized I can be at the center of the story.”
Fueling Purpose Through Ritual
A recurring theme among the honorees was the link between self-maintenance and community service. For these leaders, “worth” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a practice maintained through intentional rituals.
- Aja Naomi King prioritizes meditation and affirmations. “You have to pour into yourself to pour into others,” she says, noting that as a mother and actress, she has to guard against being “spent.”
- Yasmine Arrington Brooks utilizes nature walks and hydration to stay grounded while doing the emotionally heavy lifting of social work.
- Gloria Umanah relies on daily breathwork and spiritual reflection to check in with herself before addressing the needs of her community.
Addressing the Care Gap: A Focus on Sickle Cell
The event also highlighted the ongoing need for advocacy in health equity, particularly regarding Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
SCD is an inherited blood disorder affecting approximately 100,000 people in the U.S., primarily those of African, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and South East Asian descent. Patients often face significant barriers to care:
- Treatment Disparities: Research shows Black patients are 22% less likely to receive pain medication for any condition compared to white patients.
- Wait Times: Patients with SCD frequently wait 25% longer in emergency rooms than other patients.
- Stigma: Many patients are unfairly mislabeled as “drug seekers” because the symptoms of their excruciating pain crises are invisible.
The Women of Worth gala served as a reminder that visibility is the first step toward change—whether in Hollywood, local nonprofits, or the healthcare system.
