Chapter 13. Brynn
brYNN
“Show time.” Meredith’s eyes twinkle. “Donovan, when you’re ready.”
He pushes back from the oblong white table where the team, including Scott McKenzie, awaits in black-mesh chairs. Not surprising; a vinyl decal with his name is stuck to the entrance door.
Scott carries himself like the next millennial running for president. Besides his startling blue eyes, curly, textured hair, and pretty-boy goatee, the man can dress. When he enters the room, the molecules shift.
Scott turns over his phone. “Okay, let’s see what you came up with.”
“With such a unique product compared to what’s on the market today”—Donovan chews his cheek, gesturing to the samples on the table—“our campaign should reflect its inherent strength and playfulness with an active, sporty-girl vibe. Fitness Girl Makeup.” He writes the three words across the whiteboard behind him.
“Whatever your sport or however you like to train, this makeup lasts through any workout—with SPF protection, of course. Sweat-resistant, won’t run or streak or clog your pores.
Perfect for active teens and those needing a little inspiration to become more fit. ”
He arches a brow at Meredith.
What a dick.
“We could feature female athletes in the ads.” Lucius leans forward. “Maybe an Olympian like Simone Biles or Lindsey Vonn.”
Meredith wrinkles her nose. “I’d go younger.”
He rests his elbows on the table. “Sky Brown, the skateboarder from Great Britain, is like fifteen, I think.”
Josie picks up a dumbbell. “They’re fun. I can see teens bringing them to school and lining them up in their lockers. Go from after-school sports to getting smoothies with friends.”
Donovan nods like he’s figured it all out. “Young ladies want to look good working out and for their makeup to last. You agree, Meredith, Brynn?”
Meredith doesn’t say anything.
I shake my head. “Not everyone wears makeup to work out or play sports.”
“This will inspire them to, then.” He flips his hair out of his eyes.
Meredith turns to Scott. “Fitness Girl Makeup lends itself to a lot of possibilities. I also like Fit Girl Makeup. What do you think?”
“I-I also came up with some ideas.” I gulp the air. My heart beats in my throat.
Donovan’s head twists to me then back to Meredith. “I haven’t seen them. I have no idea—”
“I just thought . . .” I look at Micah. “You asked us to brainstorm together, I thought that meant . . .”
“It’s fine.” Micah nods. A slight smile creeps up on his face.
Lucius and Josie snicker at one another.
Uh-oh. My face grows warm.
“Well? Show us what you got, newbie.” Donovan yanks back his chair and sits with his arms crossed.
Oh boy. I shift in my seat, staring at my notes. “Um . . . Priya helped me since you were out, Donovan.”
Meredith jerks back in her seat. “Out? When were you out?”
Daggers fly from Donovan’s eyes in my direction.
Micah sits up straighter. “Scott, this is Brynn, our new intern. She’s shadowing our creative team for a couple of weeks.”
Scott flips over his phone. “I’ve got a few more minutes. Let’s hear it.”
I take a deep breath and rise. Adrenaline courses through my limbs. Here goes.
“Shopping for cosmetics at a store can be intimidating, especially for young people who are new to it and insecure about the process. They don’t know where to start or feel like they belong at a makeup counter at all.”
Blank stares travel around the table.
My stomach drops.
Priya nods for me to continue.
“I began thinking about the kids at my high school and what I see on social media and on the street. Gender identity goes beyond masculine or feminine. People also live between or outside the binary. Makeup can be a great vehicle for creative expression and gender fluidity. How young people today want to use makeup to express themselves can vary upon the day. There’s a need right now for more gender-neutral products. ”
Scott checks his phone.
“Since people in general use fitness dumbbells, this makeup line could target not just fit girls; it could be makeup that fits everyone.”
I pick up one of the dry erase markers and start writing where Donovan left off.
“FIT Cosmetics. The FIT part could be an acronym like Face. Inclusion. Transformation. Or we could play on the I as in eye.” I point to mine.
“Something like: Face. I(Eyes). Transcend—meaning a product that goes beyond gender lines. To help young people feel more comfortable trying out the products, we could have a beauty influencer demonstrate how to use the makeup online. Advise customers how to cover a beard shadow or accentuate one, for example. A cosmetic line for everyone that offers a safe place to get advice without having to approach some model behind a makeup counter.”
“Whoa, who doesn’t enjoy that?” Donovan shoots his hand up.
Meredith rolls her eyes. “I like the inclusive theme. However, focusing only on the trans community limits its reach. Bradley Products wants this mainstream. We shouldn’t lose sight of that.”
“I’m not saying we only target those who are transgender,” I explain.
“Cis young men and women as well. I’d use this line if I knew it benefited a larger community outside my own.
Most cosmetic packaging can be rather girly.
These dumbbells are not. We could capitalize on that.
Promote it as makeup for everyone to play with and explore—find strength in being themselves. ”
“Sounds like another tagline.” Micah taps the table in front of him with his index finger. “How do you envision the campaign for this more inclusive line?”
My thoughts stall. He made that crack the other day about wearing a skirt when Priya asked about his beard scruff. Is he being genuine or wanting to poke holes in my idea?
I clasp my shaky hands and clamp my wet armpits to my side. My blouse feels cold against my skin. “I’m not sure—maybe use diverse, gender-fluid models in the ads?”
Priya smiles. “I think that could be beautiful.”
I take a breath, clueless if I’m overselling it. At this point, no one’s even looking at me.
“The packaging comes in a rainbow of colors, which adds to the focus on inclusivity.” I hold the air in my lungs. “It would gain an even wider appeal if we could advertise it as being cruelty-free and made with nontoxic ingredients.”
Donovan contorts his face. “Bradley Products can’t afford to change its process and formulas now. Can’t ask a company to start from scratch. What happened to promoting the product as is? Doing what they hire us to do?”
“Clients also hire us to make them better.” Thank you, Adweek. I swallow and face Scott and Meredith. “This is marketing to the mainstream, depending on your definition of mainstream.” I exhale and flex my fingers, releasing them from their death grip.
Josie turns over a few of the dumbbells, examining them.
I wave my hand. “They don’t have color labels.”
Meredith glances at Scott. “They should have them in time for the launch.”
He picks up one of the lipsticks, studying it.
I take a sharp inbreath. “What if we come up with the color names, ones that convey strength and individuality? Instead of bubble gum kiss or something frilly and demeaning, give them more meaningful names to tell customers, We see you.”
“I like that.” Josie’s eyes consider me like we’ve just met.
Meredith rotates her chair toward Scott. “Do you think Bradley Products would go for it? It’d broaden their customer base.”
Scott angles his head away from her.
Micah clears his throat. “We don’t want this campaign to appear self-serving. The messaging needs to be authentic.” He sends me a look of encouragement and rests an elbow on the back of his chair.
I nod, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
Priya raises her finger. “Maybe Bradley Products would consider donating a percentage of the revenue to support the LGBTQ+ community. Might inspire people to change from their favorite brands.”
“Wouldn’t the messaging be demeaning if it suggested our client created this makeup line ‘just for you, transsexual boy’?”
Micah flinches. “Try transgender, Donovan.”
Okay, Micah’s more with it than I thought.
Donovan tosses his head. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”
I wait for someone else to react. This guy can’t get away with talking like this.
Scott peers at his phone.
My head whips back to Donovan and in a tone I’d use with a toddler I say, “It would be a makeup line created for all—him, her, and them.”
Meredith sighs. “The packaging does come off quirky. Why not pitch both ideas?”
Donovan’s face stiffens.
Scott slides his eyes from Micah to Meredith. “I appreciate the out-of-the-box thinking. However, asking our new client to dive into the nongender market—”
“Fluid. Gender fluid.” I bite my lip.
Priya’s eyes bug out.
Meredith throws me an icy look.
“Excuse me. Gender fluid.” His nostrils flare.
He pulls his cuff from his suit jacket, his large gold watch gleaming.
“Though trendy, it’s simply not right for this client.
Let’s present a few variations of the Fit Girl idea, clean and wholesome.
Lucius, get me art on these by Friday, first thing.
I told Bradley Products we’d have comps by Monday. Micah, Meredith, we good?”
They nod, faces impassive.
My bottom lip trembles. I look down, mash my lips together, and try not to cry.