Miss Darcei Is Disrupting K-Beauty—One Viral Video (and Shade Range) at a Time

How a self-proclaimed theater kid with a love for K-beauty became the voice of inclusivity in global skincare and makeup.

Editor In Chief/Words: Angel Neal

Photography: Ssam Kim

Styling: Jai Simmons

Make-Up: Akini Shimizu

Miss Darcei is shifting the conversation—and the color spectrum, in an industry often slow to adapt and quick to exclude. Known for her radiant skin, sharp cultural commentary, and unmistakable love for all things Korean beauty, the Toronto-based creator has grown from a YouTube hobbyist to a disruptive force at the intersection of beauty, representation, and identity. She’s not just part of the conversation—she’s changing its direction.“I didn’t see anyone like me doing K-beauty,” Darcei says. “So I flipped the script. I made myself the person I needed to see.” That flip became Black Girl Tries—the viral video series that redefined her platform and made her a leading voice in a space not historically built for Black creators. “I started trying Korean makeup tutorials made by people who didn’t look like me at all,” she recalls. “And the wildest part? A lot of it actually looked good.”The response was immediate—and emotional. Messages from Black women around the world poured in, thanking Darcei for making it okay to try products they’d long been taught weren’t “for them.” What started as a playful experiment became a cultural movement.

“I grew up feeling like I was the only Black girl into K-pop, K-dramas, Korean skincare... and then I found this community. That’s the beauty of the internet—it helps you find your people.”

In April 2024, Darcei became the first Black creator to collaborate with cult-favorite Korean skincare brand PARNELL, co-developing an unprecedented 40-shade foundation range for their Cicamanu Serum Foundation. “It was incredible,” she says. “PARNELL now has the most dark shades of any Korean brand. And they listened—not just darkening their existing colors, but understanding undertones, finish, and wear.”

“It’s not just about going darker. You need real people—Black people—inside these companies or consulting, so it’s done right. Otherwise, you end up with shades that are too gray, too yellow, or just totally off.”

The collaboration wasn't just historic; it was intentional. Darcei tested each formula from her Toronto apartment, sending detailed feedback until every shade was right.

“There’s this idea that Korean beauty isn’t for us. But why not? The products are amazing. The only thing missing was representation.”

That kind of inclusive development is rare in K-beauty, where most brands cater to a largely monocultural domestic market. But the tides are turning.“Now when I’m in meetings, I’m seeing Black Americans working in Seoul at these companies,” Darcei says. “That’s huge. That’s real change.” Darcei doesn’t just sell lip gloss. She critiques beauty culture while participating in it, using her platform to explore identity, representation, and joy—all through a highlighter-dusted lens. But she never forgets to have fun. “At the end of the day,” she laughs, “it’s just foundation. It’s not life or death. I’ll still speak up when something’s not right—but I keep it lighthearted. Because that’s just me.” Still, the responsibility of being a cultural critic and digital creator can be heavy. “Especially as a Black creator, you’re forced into talking about inclusivity,” she explains. “You’re getting sent all these products, and half of them you can’t use. Of course you're going to have something to say.”

Darcei’s voice has struck a nerve—because it’s not only about makeup. It’s about possibility. Her work has helped mainstream K-beauty in North America, expand shade ranges, and foster a generation of Black women who feel seen in spaces that once excluded them.

It’s why winning the Streamy Award for Beauty in 2022—as the first and still only Black creator to do so—felt less like a personal win, and more like a community milestone.

“I didn’t think I’d win. I was the smallest creator on that list. I just wanted to walk the carpet, experience my first award show… and then they said my name.”

That moment was a turning point. “It shifted everything. It told me I belong here,” she says.

She also keeps her content rooted in joy, often merging her love of theater and performance into her videos. Whether she’s doing full-body sunscreen reviews or breaking into random song, her flair for the dramatic is part of the charm.

“I was a competitive dancer and a wicked theater kid. It definitely shows,” she laughs. “People tell me, ‘You need to sit still,’ but that’s just not me.”

Beyond the screen, Darcei’s creative energy flows from unexpected places—like her monthly book club. “I wanted to get back to my childhood hobbies, like reading. That opens me up creatively in all parts of my life.” And while she’s got her eye on a future beauty brand—maybe blushes, maybe something pink—she’s clear about what matters most.

“I want my legacy to be that I changed the perspective,” she says. “Growing up, beauty for Black people was always tucked away in the corner. Now we’re saying, actually, we can use that too.”

The Disrupshion 5: THOUGHTS ON....

Darcei's thoughts on using her influence:

“I want to use my influence to open up people’s minds—to express themselves however they want, with whatever products they want. It makes no sense to keep people in boxes.”

Something we all know but bears repeating:

“Closed mouths don’t get fed. You have to speak up. That’s how change happens.”

On learning to trust her intuition:

“When I trust my gut and do my own thing—even if it’s not trending—that’s when the magic happens. My biggest videos came from me following that instinct.”

If she could disrupt any corner of beauty next:

“Blush. No one’s talking enough about how blush, bronzer, and lipstick are still so non-inclusive. It's not just foundation.”

In 10 years, what she hopes people say she changed:

“That I changed perspective. That I helped show Black people can and should be included—everywhere.”

Darcei didn’t set out to shake up the beauty world. She just wanted to have fun with some lip gloss and maybe sing a little on camera. But through bold authenticity and boundary-pushing collaborations, she’s doing something far more powerful: building a beauty world that’s big enough—and bright enough—for all of us.