How the Fashion Scholarship Fund is Empowering the Next Generation

Breaking into the fashion industry can feel like the hardest thing in the world. It’s notoriously competitive (see: literally any episode of America’s Next Top Model), and figuring out how to start your fashion career is a challenge in itself. Thanks to the abundance of resources on social media, learning about fashion has never been easier. But getting your foot in the door of the industry is a whole other story.

Luckily, we happen to have a leg up on that one. Designers from Calvin Klein to Jeremy Scott have shown their collections at our former Milk Studios headquarters. We even partnered with MAC Cosmetics on our own fashion week, MADE—featuring shows from Proenza Schouler, Joseph Altuzarra, and Hood by Air. Our goal was always to support young designers by providing them with resources, from the venue, to hair and makeup. To continue that legacy, we began our ongoing partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund in 2021, to help shape the future of the fashion and beauty industries, together. 

What is the Fashion Scholarship Fund?

Like us, the Fashion Scholarship Fund (aka, the FSF) is all about empowering the next generation of talent. Since its inception in 1937, the FSF has offered multiple scholarships that provide underrepresented voices with financial support, guidance, and the resources they need to get started in the fashion industry. So far this year, the FSF has supported more than 120 students with $1,000,000 in scholarships and placed 100% of its scholars at fashion companies across design, production, styling, and more.

“The biggest challenge we are committed to solving is the talent funnel itself,” says Peter Arnold, Executive Director of the Fashion Scholarship Fund. “Is it as inclusive as it should be? How, as a student, are you found, connected, hired, and supported?” Through a network of 69 colleges and universities, both public and private, the FSF identifies underrepresented talent and supports them in their first steps into the fashion world.

Milk Makeup x the FSF: About Our Partnership “The FSF also represents the beauty industry and beauty is actually one of the most prolific new majors at all the top creative schools,” says Georgie Greville, Co-Founder of Milk Makeup and FSF Board Member. Last year, Milk Makeup launched the Milk Makeup Visionary Funds Scholarship, which invites scholars to pitch us a campaign. The recipients earned additional $10,000 scholarships and a year-long mentorship. “Our hope is to set these scholars up in the best way possible to gain full employment at Milk Makeup,” says Georgie. “We truly feel they are the beauty disruptors of the future, and we want them on our team.” The winner of this year’s Milk Makeup Visionary Funds Scholarship (and Virgil Abloh’s “Post Modern” Scholarship) is T’yanna Neely, an aspiring stylist and Growth Marketing Intern for Milk Makeup. “The FSF is such a community-based space and actively encourages scholars to reach out to them with any questions,” she says. Since winning the scholarship, she’s already had Zoom meetings with influential fashion figures like Creative Director of Supreme Tremaine Emory, designer Heron Preston, and stylist and fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. “I can honestly say that this whole experience has truly been nothing but a complete blessing,” she says. And that’s just the beginning. “We strive to provide for each of our scholars as much as possible—a thoughtful pairing with a mentor, a summer internship, an entry-level position, a project, all with an aim to enhance the experience of being an FSF Scholarship recipient,” says Peter.

How can I apply for the Fashion Scholarship Fund?

The FSF is helping reshape a traditionally exclusive industry, and we want you to be part of that movement. Interested in applying to the FSF? We invite all interested full-time sophomores, juniors, and seniors to join the process. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a FSF member school and have a minimum 3.20 GPA.

As past scholarship winners will tell you, the application process alone is valuable. “Even if you don't win, post your work on LinkedIn and share your portfolio,” says T’yanna. “Someone will see it and reach out to you to ask you about your experience.” 

Need tips on how to nail your application? Show us how you shine. “Dream big!” says Georgie. “Our judging criteria is based on innovative thinking that will keep Milk Makeup on the cutting edge of how the future engages with beauty and self-expression.”