At the ages of 23 and 11, sisters Taylor Pollard and Kheris Rogers have founded a clothing line entitled Flexin’ in my Complexion. The inspiration for the business came after Taylor decided to post a picture of her younger sister on Twitter with the caption “My sister is only 10, but already royalty… #FlexinInHerComplexion.”
The picture went viral and many people began using #FlexinMyComplexion as a hashtag. The phrase came from the Bettie Pollard, the sisters’ grandmother, who often used it to make Taylor and Kheris feel beautiful.
Previously, Kheris had been bullied for her dark skin by her mostly white classmates. The bullying got so bad that Kheris asked if she could stay in the bathtub long enough to lighten her skin. Eventually, Erika Pollard, the sisters’ mother, moved Kheris to another school. Unfortunately, the bullying continued, but this time the negative remarks were coming from other black children with skin lighter than Kheris’.
Taylor’s post was meant to help Kheris’ confidence, but what they did not expect was just how much support Kheris receive. After seeing how much people liked Taylor’s post, Erika gave the sisters $100 to launch their t-shirt line in April 2017.
The girls have since expanded their line to include other items including bomber jackets, satin pant and jacket sets, and jumpsuits. The messages on their clothes have also expanded. Phrases other than “Flexin’ In My Complexion” include “Coolest Queen in the Universe,” “Coolest King in the Universe” and “The Miseducation of Melanin.”
You can shop for Flexin’ in my Complexion brand clothes at flexininmycomplexion.com
