
Mikki Taylor
Editor-at-Large, Essence Magazine
Mikki Taylor is the quintessential authority on all matters regarding beauty and style. From A-list celebrities and world-renowned cover models to women in the know, Taylor influences all types of women with her vision of beauty and style. She has devoted a lifetime to helping women manage their inner and outer beauty and inspiring them…
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Full Bio
Mikki Taylor is the quintessential authority on all matters regarding beauty and style. From A-list celebrities and world-renowned cover models to women in the know, Taylor influences all types of women with her vision of beauty and style. She has devoted a lifetime to helping women manage their inner and outer beauty and inspiring them to own their lives to the fullest.
For 30 years, Taylor served as Essence magazine’s groundbreaking Beauty & Cover Director, and is now Editor-at-Large for the publication. In addition, she is the Founder and President of Mikki Taylor Enterprises, LLC, which serves as a holding company for a number of vertical businesses, including Satin Doll Productions, a full-service image building and consulting division, and MT Communications, a strategic communications and branding company.
Taylor has offered beauty and style advice through all types of media, including broadcast, digital, and print outlets, which culminated in her wildly successful book, Self-Seduction: Your Ultimate Path to Inner and Outer Beauty (Ballantine Books/One World). This triumph left readers craving more, therefore the sequel, Commander in Chic: Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster), hit shelves in November 2011.
Taylor has joined forces with AMBI Skincare, a division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company, as the brand’s newly appointed national spokesperson in an effort dedicated to empower, inspire, and celebrate women of color. AMBI Skincare’s 45-year heritage as the trusted brand for even-toned, beautiful skin perfectly complements Taylor’s 30-year career as a renowned beauty expert. This alliance will provide women with the tools and resources necessary to feel beautiful inside and out.
Taylor has been featured on many television outlets, including: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, The Today Show, Weekend Today, The Early Show, NBC Nightly News, EXTRA, Inside Edition, E! Entertainment Television, CNN, TV Guide Channel, VH1, Style Network, Life & Style, WE–TV, CBS 2 Morning News, The Insider, the Style Network, Pure Oxygen, BET, Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance, and TV One. Viewers also received a weekly dose of Taylor’s positive influence on VH1’s highest rated debut series, Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, which premiered to more than five million viewers. Each week, Taylor served as the voice of reason and compassion as she imparted to the women honest, valuable information, insight and tips to help the contestants—and the women who watched the show—live a better, more productive, pride-filled life. She also served as the host of the TV One series Makeover Manor.
One of Taylor’s most treasured experiences was a trip to South Africa, at the special invitation of Oprah Winfrey, where she served as an instructor to 149 girls ages 12–14 at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls as part of its Arts Workshop 2007. Taylor taught a course called Celebrating Your Unique Beauty & Style, a three-part workshop that addressed practical and timeless elements of social graces and the essential basics of inner and outer beauty, and Your Best Shot, a session which taught the skills to ensure a phenomenal photograph.
In 2007, the Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) honored Taylor at its 37th annual scholarship and awards dinner, acknowledging those who have penetrated and embraced the world of beauty in a significant way both in front and behind the scenes. She is also a four-time recipient of the CEBA Award, a former industry award acknowledging excellence in African American media, as well as the winner of the Associated Black Charities Image Makers Award.
Another prized accomplishment of Taylor’s was organizing an annual beauty event where proceeds from the sale of products benefited homeless and underprivileged women through the Cosmetic Executive Women’s (CEW) Women in Need, a nonprofit organization that services shelters in and around New York City. Taylor is also a member of the President’s Council of Fashion Group International, Inc., where she previously served as a member of its board of directors.
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LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
How to Be a Commander in Chic
Based on her newest book, Commander in Chic: Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady, Mikki Taylor shares what you need to know to own your life, master your style, and celebrate your beauty. In this time of purpose, we all want to master the simple and ensure that we are living out the lives that keep us affirmed, fulfilled, and fabulous! This presentation helps women to:
- Know their value
- Establish signature style
- Be frugal and look fabulous
- Micromanage their inner and outer beauty
- Prioritize and create time for self
- Build spiritual muscle
- Be their own “commander in chic”
Unleash the Power in You!
In this motivating presentation, keynote speaker Mikki Taylor inspires women to rethink, re-imagine, and reinvent the lives they possess, offering critical insights on how to turn their dreams into an ever-more fulfilling reality. You will learn how to:
- Be the bold, empowered woman you are called to be
- Master challenges instead of allowing them to master you
- Successfully establish and promote “brand you”
- Establish a self-nurturing regimen that builds upon a stronger you
- Dream on-purpose
- Make the most informed choices for your life
The Power of the Black Consumer
As a media veteran for more than three decades at Essence magazine, the nation’s premier source of beauty intelligence for African American women, Mikki Taylor has been responsible for reflecting the culture’s definition of beauty as well as shaping it. She has served the needs of over eight million readers firsthand on a monthly basis, helping them to put away their “wishlists” and live out a reality they desire to know. She continues to be their most trusted authority as they seek to micromanage every aspect of their style with an informed intent; as a result, she is a go-to authority for companies everywhere as they seek to serve this consumer.
The Power of the Black Consumer is a presentation that shares insights on this next level—how she thinks, what informs her purchases, why she is recession-proof, and the language and marketing that gets her attention.
Style 101: A Checklist to Phenomenal Style
Looking to create your checklist to phenomenal style? This info-taining presentation from Essence editor-at-large Mikki Taylor will show you how with a well edited look at the top trends and how to take them from “runway to real-way” in bankable style.
The Sharper Image: Taylor’s Top 10 Tips for Polishing Your Image
From breaking through the glass ceiling in style to becoming an “it girl,” here’s what you need to know to become a standout! This presentation from style speaker Mikki Taylor covers inner and outer beauty, social etiquette, and more.
Videos
Mikki Taylor On Finding Your Purpose In Life
Mikki Taylor - How I Made It
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