New Competition Invites Young Women To Teach AI What Black Beauty Looks Like

Black Girls Code and haircare brand The Doux have partnered to launch a competition for girls and young women to use AI to create original videos that reflect their self-perception. The Black Beauty AI Challenge is the first of its kind, and competition entries will help shape how AI understands the nuances of Black identity.
Teaching AI about Black beauty
Participants as young as 13 will have the opportunity to win up to $1,500 in cash prizes, with submissions evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges.
“At Black Girls Code, we show girls and young women that technology is theirs to shape and to connect to their lived experiences because the future of AI is being written right now,” said Cristina Mancini, CEO of Black Girls Code, noted in a press release. “This challenge is about nurturing confidence and sparking creativity to empower women to lead in this new tech era,” she adds.
Read: Ciara Teams Up With Black Girls Code For New “Build A Beat” Coding Challenge
How the competition works
Participants will create a 60-90-second AI-generated video that expresses their individuality. Participants will create a 60-90-second AI-generated video that expresses their individuality. The challenge is open to two age tracks: Youth Track for 13–17 year olds and the Young Adult Track for 18–25 year olds.
To maintain fairness, cash prices will only be given to entries created using free versions of tools such as Kaiber.ai, Runway ML, Luma Labs, Pika, CapCut, or Canva. Those who submit entries using paid or subscription-based platforms are welcome but will be considered only for honorary recognition.
The VIP judging committee chairs include the Doux co-founder, Maya, and Brian Smith, as well as the CEO of Black Girls Code, Cristina Mancini. The top entries in each age group will be featured on Instagram and TikTok. Finalists and winning videos will also be showcased at a NYC pop-up gallery on MLK Day 2026.
Image: Surface