Beauty Gives Back™, the industry-changing event dedicated to empowering both the next generation of beauty professionals and today’s industry leaders, returns Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center.
Created by Julie Hightower of the Daisie Foundation and Mireya Villarreal of the Pink Pewter Foundation, Beauty Gives Back™ unites students, rising stars, barbers, aestheticians, and established beauty leaders for a day of motivation, education, and connection. Proceeds fund scholarships and grants for emerging professionals facing financial hardship, reinforcing the event’s mission: INSPIRE. DEVELOP. EMPOWER. GIVE.
This year’s event will feature more than 25 speakers and panels with top voices from Ulta Beauty, Amika, SalonCentric, and more—offering practical tools, personal stories, and career-building strategies.
In addition, a life-changing surprise awaits: North Lawndale College Prep senior Jessica Thurmond—who went viral for styling classmates’ hair in her school bathroom—will be awarded a full-ride scholarship to Pivot Point Academy, valued at over $22,000.
“Beauty Gives Back is more than an event—it’s a movement,” says co-founder Julie Hightower. “We’re creating opportunity, exposure, and lasting impact for the next generation of beauty professionals.”
