Abibat Durosimi
Stylist & Founder • Bloom Beauty Collective
Abibat Durosimi is a creative entrepreneur focused on encouraging diversity in the Pacific Northwest beauty and fashion industry.
Photos courtesy of Abibat Durosimi
I want to teach kids how to brand themselves with self-confidence and self worth. Knowing your worth is so important as an artist—what your art is worth, and how much your time and passions are worth.
Abibat has made her mark on many facets of the field; from professionally styling performers to creating nonprofits and youth-oriented startups. She has worked as a stylist for major celebrities including Prince, Misty Copeland, Nicole Scherzinger, and Liv Warfield. Among her many achievements, Abibat started her own styling agency called Tabiba Styles, and a youth confidence building program that targets creative entrepreneurship in the beauty and fashion industry called Bloom Beauty Collective. Throughout her wide-ranging experience, her focus on uplifting people of color in the beauty realm has remained a constant.
Abibat styled stars like Misty Copeland and Prince for legendary performances.
A bridal photoshoot styled by Abibat.
A group of teens pose after the Bloom Beauty Collective’s 2018 Sneaker Fashion Show.
PErsonal History
Abibat founded Tabiba Styles, a premier styling agency located in Portland, Oregon that specializes in makeup and hair extensions and natural hairstyling.
Owning Her Worth
“I was blessed to have worked with Prince for five years. He was a genius in his own right, he knew exactly what he wanted and went for it! P was always about owning your art and knowing your rights as a creative. After he passed away, I had to figure out what was next for me. I just became a single mother of two, and I had been away from the Northwest for so long. It was time for me to rebuild myself and my brand. Working for Prince pushed me to succeed on another level; way beyond my wildest dreams. Something that I never thought I would be ready for. From being behind the chair to a freelance artist, I had to know my worth and own it!”
Tapping into Change
“Throughout my time in the Northwest fashion and beauty industries, I noticed I was that ‘token Black girl’ behind the scenes in fashion shows, production shoots, and commercials either as a model or a stylist. I understood that there was a NEED! I noticed that certain companies didn’t know how to market to people in my community. I knew I had to establish this lost connection and be a resource. I found that my purpose was to bring like-minded, creative entrepreneurs together to mentor and educate each other and the next generation. As a youth, I didn’t have anyone to talk out my plans with, nor to help me implement my gifts. If we can tap into our youth at an early age, who knows what they can accomplish earlier in life.”
Bloom Beauty Collective is a production agency that curates runway shows, popups and workshops through fashion and beauty. The collective of creative entrepreneurs gives back to the community through mentoring and internship programs for underprivileged youth and our peers.
A group of young performers strike a pose at the Bloom Runway in 2018.
“In the past 20 years, our Portland public school systems have slowly stripped the arts from their overall academic programs. There’s no longer a marching band or dance team, let alone a theater class. Art is a crucial part of our children’s learning experiences, and for some it’s their only way to express themselves. How can we help feed into these children’s creative souls? Well, my goal is to create a space for them, which is how Bloom Beauty Collective came about. ‘Bloom’ means to blossom, whenever and wherever you are in your environment, ‘Beauty’ is within your soul; it’s fashion, hair, makeup and your physical well-being and wellness. It’s a collective that brings people together—like-minded individuals can help each other grow to become true creative entrepreneurs.”
Exploring Tech
“We’re starting to utilize more apps and programs for not only graphic design, but also for our fashion, beauty, and our overall business needs. We work with companies like Wacom to add more technology to our creative process, and I’m excited about what we can do with animation and digital graphics for our events and workshops. Lighting and graphics can be tied into color therapy and mental wellness, for example—there are so many tools that can add to all of our projects.”
A young girl walking in the Bloom Runway in 2019.
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