Ateh Jewel

Dr Ateh Jewel is an award-winning journalist, diversity advocate and the founder of the soon-to-be-launched beauty brand, Ateh Jewel Beauty. Below, she takes us through her weekday morning routine.


School run
‘I’m a mum to nine-year-old, mixed heritage twin daughters who are both delicious, confident, turned-up sassy ladies. I’m raising them with my husband to be filled with self-esteem, especially being the only Black girls in the village. They have already faced negative comments about the colour of their skin and textured hair. My job as their mum is to empower them. The school run is full of laughter, Beyoncé, throwback tunes on Kisstory, country music, and lots of car karaoke.’ 
 
Forest bathing
‘After dropping the girls off at school, I love to do a spot of forest bathing (or “going for a walk in the woods” as my husband says). I was a total workaholic in my twenties and thirties, and used sugar as my “go-go juice” to fuel 18-hour workdays. I learnt the hard way to find balance and manage my stress in more positive ways, as I gave myself Type 2 diabetes. So, a daily walk, some yoga, weekly street dancing with member Bonnie Parsons and Zoom ballet classes with Karis Scarlette have replaced pints of Ben & Jerry’s.’
 
Start the workday
‘I have a weekly show called Wednesday Chat Club on IGTV, which I started during lockdown. Guests have included Ruby Hammer MBE, Huda Beauty cofounder Mona Kattan, and MAC’s creative director Terry Barber. The pandemic made me feel like, “if this is the end of the world, I’m going out in power pink, a red lip and being 1000% me.” I always felt the need to turn down the volume on who I was, as I knew I was too big, too Black, too much to get on in the beauty industry. But post COVID-19 and BLM, I have found my voice and turned the volume up. 

‘I’m launching the Dr Ateh Jewel Education Fund to help Black students in higher education so they can have a seat at the table. I’m also creating my own beauty brand, which has taken me four years and lots of “Nos” with a blush, lip balm and foundations for darker skin tones, with more to follow. And there’s the book I’m writing, Coils & Curls: The Ultimate Guide To Loving Your Hair. Hair and beauty is about culture, identity, power, and status. And I believe everyone has the right to feel seen, powerful and catered to, as choice is equality.’