Alum Julee Wilson, from the Class of 2004, envisioned a future career in beauty and fashion while double majoring in leadership studies and journalism at the University of Richmond. Her curious spirit, competitive nature, and drive to be the best led her to an internship at Bergdorf Goodman the summer before her sophomore year, marking her first steps into the fashion industry. 

A few internships and editorial positions later, Wilson joined Cosmopolitan magazine as its first African American beauty director in April 2020. In that role, Wilson helped shape the narrative of the beauty industry past its previously limited scope of coverage. She currently works with the magazine as a beauty editor-at-large.

“My column focuses on the intersection between Black culture and beauty,” Wilson said. “I’m not just here promoting every Black girl-approved product. I’m also saying to the beauty industry that they need to do better.”

The words of essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson best encapsulate the editor’s philosophy throughout her two decades as a journalist: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

The Start of Something New

Hailing from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, Wilson began her education at UR as a student-athlete, where she excelled in track and field. One of her most notable moments was qualifying for the 2004 Outdoor NCAA Championships in the long jump, where she finished 33rd overall. “It was exciting for me to be able to go to college on a scholarship off of a talent that I really worked hard at,” said Wilson. “It’s something that still brings me a lot of pride.”

Perhaps Wilson inherited her athletic abilities from her father, who once played professional football for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots. Competing at the Division I level not only connected her to his legacy but also allowed her to build one of her own. Wilson still remembers the long days on the track team that began with 7 a.m. practice, followed by a full schedule of morning and afternoon classes, returning to the field by 3:30 p.m. for more training, wrapping up the day with homework and other school activities in the evening. 

“It kept me busy, focused, and on schedule,” Wilson said. “Richmond was the best place for me — an academically rigorous, private liberal arts school where I could also compete at the highest levels.”

That learned discipline served her well as she embarked into her career as a journalist.

After an array of magazine internships at national publications such as Vibe, Condé Nast Traveler, and Parenting, Wilson landed her first full-time role as the assistant to the editor-in-chief at Real Simple. Over seven years, she rose through the ranks to become a fashion editor.

Recognizing the industry shift towards digital platforms, she joined Huffington Post Black Voices in 2011 and covered both fashion and beauty. “I fell in love with the beauty end of it all,” Wilson said. “It was scientific, nimble, and ripe for change.”

During that time, she married and had her first of two children. Eventually, she was promoted to senior style editor and turned her focus to the broader social impact of her work. 

Five years later, Wilson received a call from Essence magazine to take on the role of fashion and beauty director, where she wrote features on ballerina Misty Copeland, supermodel Iman, and actress Tracee Ellis Ross. She was eventually promoted to global beauty director.

Creating a Safe Space 

At Cosmo, Wilson works on investigative projects examining clinical studies for the vast spectrum of consumers. She also leverages one-on-one meetings with beauty executives to further explain the necessity of creating and marketing products that are reflective of the U.S. population as a whole.

Her work has not gone unnoticed. Actress Gabrielle Union-Wade once highlighted Wilson in her “Women Crush Wednesday” social media post. While the two didn’t have a previous relationship, it was clear that Wilson had gained some trust with the Wade family. She was chosen to interview their 17-year-old for a recent Seventeen magazine cover story.

Wilson recently announced her new television gig doing monthly segments for the Today show.

She credits her time at Jepson School of Leadership Studies for setting the high bar that equipped her with the tools to consistently deliver. “If I’m going to do the job, I’m going to do it well,” Wilson said. “It’s never enough just to be here. I have to be here and be great. It has been a struggle, but I’m incredibly proud of my career, and I think it's working out for me.”