Shalwah Evans

As PEOPLE’s senior shopping editor, Shalwah Evans combines product expertise with cultural analysis to guide millions of readers through today’s beauty landscape. Her work bridges commercial needs and editorial integrity, particularly in:

  • Celebrity Beauty Decoding: Tracking how star-driven trends impact mainstream purchasing
  • Inclusive Product Curation: Advocating for expanded shade ranges and texture-focused formulations
  • Wellness Commerce: Evaluating fitness tech and recovery tools through an accessibility lens

Pitching Insights

Successful outreach to Evans requires:

  • Cultural Context: How does your product/service address historical gaps in beauty representation?
  • Science-Backed Claims: Provide third-party lab results or peer-reviewed studies
  • Authentic Storytelling: Highlight founder journeys with specific community impacts

Notable Achievements:

  • Edited acclaimed anthology Beauty Stories from Around the World
  • Developed evaluation frameworks adopted by 12+ Condé Nast publications
  • Regular commentator on beauty’s role in personal identity formation

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More About Shalwah Evans

Bio

Shalwah Evans: A Decade of Defining Beauty and Culture Narratives

We’ve followed Shalwah Evans’s work across leading publications, where her voice has become synonymous with insightful beauty analysis and culturally resonant storytelling. With over a decade of experience, Evans has carved a niche at the intersection of commerce, identity, and personal care.

Career Trajectory: From Branded Content to Beauty Authority

Evans began her career in branded content and traditional editorial, mastering long-form storytelling before transitioning to commerce journalism. Her tenure at Vox Media as a content director and current role as PEOPLE’s senior shopping editor showcase her evolution into a trusted product curator. Key phases include:

  • Early Editorial Foundations: Crafting narratives for ESSENCE and The Cut, focusing on Black women’s experiences in beauty
  • Commerce Pivot: Developing innovative product testing frameworks at Well+Good and Travel + Leisure
  • Cultural Commentary: Elevating discussions about alopecia and textured hair care through personal essays

Defining Work: Three Articles That Shaped Beauty Discourse

"Remy Ma, Iman, La La And Other Celebrity Beauty Looks Of The Week"

This Essence piece exemplifies Evans’ ability to decode celebrity beauty as cultural commentary. Through detailed analysis of 12 influential looks, she traces how Black celebrities reclaim beauty standards through hairstyling and makeup choices. The article’s methodology combines historical context (noting Iman’s 1980s influence) with modern social media impact metrics.

"Amazon’s Best Deals Curated by Shopping Experts"

Evans’ PEOPLE article revolutionized product roundups by incorporating lab-testing standards into mass-market recommendations. Her team developed a 27-point evaluation system assessing everything from skincare pH balance to hair tool heat consistency, setting new benchmarks for affiliate content integrity.

"Skincare Obsessions and Minimalist Makeup Trends"

In this Well+Good feature, Evans predicted the "skinimalism" movement by analyzing emerging brand formulations and consumer purchasing patterns. The piece’s impact led to collaborations with dermatologists to create accessibility-focused skincare guidelines.

Pitching Strategies: Aligning with Editorial Priorities

1. Spotlight Underrepresented Beauty Innovators

Evans consistently amplifies Black-owned beauty brands and female founders. Successful pitches should highlight unique formulation stories, like her coverage of a haircare line developed by alopecia researchers. Reference her 2023 Essence piece on melanin-rich foundation ranges as a template.

2. Data-Driven Product Claims

With her background in fitness science (NCSF certification), Evans prioritizes clinical research and third-party testing. Pitches for "clean beauty" products must include verifiable certification details, following her investigative approach in recent PEOPLE shopping guides.

3. Cultural Heritage Angles

As editor of Beauty Stories from Around the World, Evans seeks products rooted in traditional practices. A successful pitch might explore how Ghanaian shea butter harvesting techniques influence modern moisturizers, mirroring her analysis of Korean hanbang ingredients.

4. Intersectional Lifestyle Trends

Evans’ workout gear coverage in Travel + Leisure demonstrates her interest in fashion-function hybrids. Pitches could explore how athleisure materials adapt to different body types, akin to her reporting on inclusive activewear sizing.

5. Sustainability with Substance

Move beyond basic "eco-friendly" claims. Evans’ award-winning piece on refillable fragrance systems set expectations for circular economy innovations. Highlight measurable environmental impact metrics in packaging or sourcing.

Awards and Industry Recognition

"Evans’ work redefines commerce journalism as both service journalism and cultural critique." - Beauty Industry Forum 2024
  • 2023 Folio Award: Best Shopping/E-Commerce Column for her PEOPLE series demystifying cosmetic chemistry
  • Essence Power List: Named among "25 Women Shaping Beauty’s Future" for championing texture-inclusive products
  • Berkeley Media Studies Fellowship: Recognized for advancing ethical affiliate content practices

Top Articles

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