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Gaya

Jordan Blackwell has stepped up as a Black Female Millennial Engineer to
break the stereotypic walls of ‘Beauty OR Brain’. Her popular blog space, Lil Miss
JB Style, which started in 2015, has blossomed into a beacon of Fashion, Beauty
‘AND’ Brain empowerment for women all around the world who are sick of being
told to conform to a certain way of being, who are constantly pushed to dance
to the beat of society’s drum, and who are tired of living life based on a
mediocre definition of womanhood. For Jordan, there’s more to being a Black
Female Millennial Engineer in this crazy world.

Here, Jordan talks to Aura’s fashion editor, Rosemary Ekong about
everything from passion, fashion, to struggles she’s experienced as a smart
black woman in today’s world.

Hello Jordan, tell us about your day-to-day essentials

My day to day essentials are a scrunchie, shea butter, a workout, fresh air,
tea and a cute outfit.

Let’s talk about your passion to inspire women out of the confines
of societal stereotypes through fashion. What activated this passion?

I carved out this space on the internet because I didn't see a lot of
representation of black women in STEM, specifically engineering. I was one of
the only black girls in my engineering program and even as I started working it
was always just me. I've seen so many bloggers who were also engineers abandon
engineering. While it's great to see them pursue other dreams, it also feels
like a loss because it makes it seem like you can’t be a stylish black woman in
the engineering field which is entirely untrue.

What is it like being a Black Female Millennial Engineer in today's
world?

It was really frustrating for a while. The manager at my first job made my
role unbearable! I was the only black female in a group of older white people
and as you can imagine a lot of inappropriate things were said about me or
black people in general. I got comments about my hair, questions about the
dance moves/slang, and during police shootings a lot of ignorant opinions. I
didn't really feel safe being myself. It wasn't until I moved jobs that I
realized just how emotionally draining my first job had been.

The second job I was at least surrounded by more black people but I was
still the only woman and it showed. The guys always made remarks about what I
wore or what I was eating. The job I have now is great but it has been a little
awkward as our company has been making attempts to bring awareness to the
racial inequality that exists. Again I'm the only black person in this group so
I feel like I'm back in the role of being the unofficial spokesperson for black
people which can feel like a burden having to hold a mirror up to my coworkers
about how the company or they themselves have participated in making the
workplace hostile. Thankfully this new group is much more self-aware than my
first job and I've not had as many uncomfortable moments. I feel much safer
expressing my opinions and knowing I'll be heard and taken seriously.

I always got a lot of compliments on my outfits and the first thing people
would assume was that I was a fashion major. At first I thought it was
insulting but I realized that people just had an outdated view on what
engineers look like. Fashion blogging turned out to be a great way to show
people that having brains didn't mean I had no style or social skills.

Who are the fashion icons you look up to, and where do you draw
creativeness from?

Hailey Bieber is one of my favorite fashion icons! I love her duality of
look and dress up that are both classic while feeling on trend. My other
favorite fashion icon is Romeofashionfix. Her statement and eye-catching
outfits are my spirit animal.&nbsp;

My creativity comes from all over the place. It's a mix of people watching,
both real life and TV, being out in nature with all its colors and textures,
checking out the latest pieces and displays at my favorite stores, and
challenging myself with re-wearing what I own.

Chic yet playful, classics with a twist that are functional and comfortable

What are your favorite things to do in the world asides putting
incredible fashion pieces together?

Walking my dog around the park, travelling and eating authentic food,
dancing around the house, interior decorating

<b>OKAY JORDAN, LET’S MAKE IT FUN AROUND HERE;</b>

What is your favorite place in the world?

My favorite place is anywhere that's warm and outside. I've been to so many
places but I'm always happiest feeling the sun warming my skin and taking in
the fresh air.

What are the 5 beauty products you can’t live without?

All of my skincare products! But for real shea butter, grapeseed oil, the
Ordinary BHA &amp; AHA mask, the Ordinary glycolic acid toner and my Flutter T
Minks Bad Gyal eyelashes!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ya girl loves when her face is flawless but I honestly don't have enough
discipline to wake up early enough to fit it into my morning routine, so it's
no makeup for me

Depends on the outfit. Since my knee surgery, it's definitely been more
sneakers than heels.&nbsp;

Who captures your photos? I mean, does a photographer follow you
around?

I wish I had a photographer follow me around because it would make life
easier, I have been taking and editing my own photos for the past two years. I
used to have a photographer but it got hard trying to find times that'd work
for both of us.

One of the more recent books I've read that I love is ‘101 Essays That Will
Change the Way You Think’ by Brianna Wiest

I really don't know the fashion rules like that. One rule I live by is
buying clothes where the inside of the piece matches the outside. It drives me
crazy when the outside of say a dress has a beautiful pattern but the inside is
white, it feels cheap to me.

Would you rather Netflix and chill or go to a gym?

Both! I work out in the mornings before work so I can Netflix and chill in
the evenings.&nbsp;

What is your advice to fashion influencers in STEM professions who
are trying to rise above the label of "beauty or brains"?

The biggest advice I would give is to not doubt yourself! You're so much
more capable than you think. A lot of the times we give our energy away to
things that don't deserve it, like trying to look perfect, that you could put
towards something that you actually want to spend your time doing. I'm a firm
believer that if you put your mind to it you can do it and I hope that my
content shows just that.

I want to encourage other multi-faceted women from all over the world to embrace themselves, find ways to improve their day to day routines, and build their empires all while looking, and feeling damn good doing it” _Jordan Blackwell

Psst… We’ve Got the Good Stuff.

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