Podcast Summary: The Squeeze
Episode: "Golloria: Inclusivity Isn’t Optional"
Release Date: June 11, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Squeeze, host Taylor Lautner sits down with Gloria George, a prominent beauty influencer known for her influential "Darkest Shade" videos. Gloria shares her journey from her early life in South Sudan to becoming a trailblazer in the beauty industry, advocating for inclusivity and representation for dark-skinned women. The conversation delves deep into themes of racism, colorism, mental health, and the importance of self-acceptance.

Early Life and Background

Gloria George opens up about her childhood, highlighting the challenges she faced after moving from South Sudan to the Midwest of the United States. She discusses the bullying and isolation she experienced due to her dark skin tone in predominantly white environments.

“Being as dark as I was was hard. The bullying was definitely, like, out of this world.” ([04:30])

Gloria attributes her resilience to her mother's courage in moving their family for safety and better opportunities amidst the turmoil in South Sudan.

Discovery of Makeup and Social Media

Gloria's passion for beauty and makeup emerged during her college years when she began experimenting with products and creating content on social media. Balancing two full-time jobs and college, she found solace and a creative outlet through makeup tutorials and lifestyle videos.

“In college, there's like this ritual for girls to get together before, like, you go out and, like, do your makeup together and, like, just hang out with your friends.” ([06:08])

Her foray into social media wasn't initially focused on makeup but evolved into her signature "Darkest Shade" series, which critiques the lack of inclusivity in beauty products.

Confronting Racism and Colorism

A significant portion of the episode centers on Gloria’s battle against racism and colorism within the beauty industry. She passionately explains that her "Darkest Shade" videos are not mere content creation but a form of activism aimed at challenging industry standards and pushing for more inclusive product ranges.

“I know the impact and the change that I'm making in this industry is a stamp. I'm going to sit here and I'm going to do it proudly.” ([00:00])

Gloria highlights the emotional toll of creating these videos, emphasizing that each swatch of an unsuitable product serves as a painful reminder of exclusion.

“It's actually kind of traumatizing. It's a constant reminder that you're, like, not included.” ([00:25])

Positive Industry Changes and Collaborations

Gloria acknowledges brands that have taken genuine steps toward inclusivity, notably praising Road and Lys Beauty. She commends Road for not only expanding their shade ranges but also for incorporating diversity into their campaigns and internal teams.

“Haley really just does a good job of, like, listening, of just being like, yeah, I did miss the mark, and I'm sorry, and I'm gonna do better.” ([22:12])

Lys Beauty is also highlighted for prioritizing darker shades and maintaining a black-owned foundation, ensuring that their products resonate authentically with their target audience.

“It's because Tisha is one, she's black owned founder, so it's also her lived experience.” ([25:07])

Mental Health and Self-Care

The conversation shifts to the importance of self-care and mental health. Gloria shares her personal struggles, including battling depression and learning to embrace self-acceptance. She advocates for setting boundaries with social media to maintain mental well-being.

“I was like dreading life was like a constant for me.” ([10:01])

Gloria emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of physical activity and mindful practices, such as walking and grounding exercises, to combat anxiety and depressive states.

“Just taking a little bit of this heat, I can take a little bit of these hard conversations and I can deal with the racism and colorism.” ([13:00])

Balancing Authenticity and Commercialism

Gloria discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity while monetizing her platform. She stresses the importance of aligning brand partnerships with her values and the impact her endorsements have on her audience.

“It's always going to be bigger than me. And centering other people before you center yourself is, like, the biggest thing.” ([28:47])

Gloria underscores her responsibility as an influencer to ensure that her recommendations genuinely benefit her followers, particularly those who are economically vulnerable.

Setting Boundaries with Social Media

A critical aspect of Gloria's mental health strategy involves limiting personal disclosures on social media to protect her privacy and emotional well-being. She advocates for influencers to control their narratives and prioritize personal boundaries over online expectations.

“I'm so pro. Not sharing anything at all.” ([34:10])

Gloria highlights the importance of disconnecting from constant online engagement to preserve mental health.

“There's just, like, so essential for influencers to really put your phone down, like, actually go to dinner and eat dinner, you know, don't record everything.” ([35:49])

Future Aspirations and Personal Growth

Looking ahead, Gloria expresses her ambition to launch a beauty brand that aligns with her mission of inclusivity. She acknowledges the need to continue personal growth before fully committing to this venture.

“I definitely want a beauty brand. And it's definitely something that, like, I've thought about and, like, I'm working through privately.” ([42:49])

Gloria reflects on her journey of hyper-independence fostered by her challenging upbringing, recognizing the need to balance self-reliance with self-care.

“I've always been extremely hyper independent, and I've always taught myself a lot alone.” ([45:06])

Lemon 7: Rapid Fire Segment

In the concluding segment, Gloria participates in "Lemon 7," answering seven rapid-fire questions that offer deeper insights into her mental state and personal preferences:

1. Movie or Song Title Describing Her Mental Health: Happy Song by Shay Vibes

   “Happy Song is really just about being happy and like, existing unapologetically.” ([49:07])

2. Openness About Struggles: Not that open

   “I really do trust that that everything that I do is already decreed. Like Allah's plans is like the best of plans.” ([50:10])

3. Three Social Media Accounts to Follow:

   • Bobby ([51:06])
   • Rihanna ([51:10])
   • Simi Moonlight ([51:33])

4. Favorite Form of Self-Care: Going to the mosque

   “It's just, like, I know that overall, everything, like, I'm always safe there.” ([52:19])

5. Most Misunderstood Thing About Her:

   “Probably that people think that I enjoy making the Darkest Shade videos… it's actually, like, a reminder that you are not enough in this industry.” ([53:22])

6. Most Positive Impact on Her Mental Health: Danessa Myricks

   “Danessa is definitely, like, one of those, like, constant things. Like, she's always commenting on my posts.” ([54:15])

7. Moment to Revisit and Advice to Her Younger Self: High school graduation

   “You should really be proud of yourself, but, like, you really are.” ([55:20])

Conclusion

The episode concludes with heartfelt acknowledgments from both hosts, emphasizing the importance of Gloria's advocacy and the profound impact of her work on promoting inclusivity in the beauty industry. Gloria’s unwavering commitment to her cause, despite facing significant backlash, serves as an inspiring testament to the power of resilience and self-acceptance.

Key Takeaways:

• Advocacy for Inclusivity: Gloria's "Darkest Shade" videos are a vital force in challenging and reshaping beauty industry standards to be more inclusive of dark-skinned individuals.

• Mental Health Awareness: The episode underscores the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and finding supportive communities to maintain mental well-being.

• Authenticity Over Commercialism: Gloria emphasizes staying true to personal values over lucrative but misaligned brand partnerships.

• Personal Growth and Future Aspirations: Despite her young age, Gloria reflects deeply on her journey and future goals, including launching her own inclusive beauty brand.

This episode of The Squeeze offers a profound exploration of the intersection between beauty, representation, and mental health, providing listeners with both inspiration and practical insights into fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment.