College Girls Rock Hosts the Glamtwinz at GSU

We may have not figured out how they get that popping glow, but we did learn a few more things about Kelsey and Kendra Murrell, better known as the Glamtwinz.

On Thursday, February 2, 2017 the court salon ballroom of Student Center East was packed with fans of the YouTube duo. If you do not know these ladies, then you are a quick YouTube search away from some serious black girl magic. However, if you do follow them then you know just how serious this event was and how important it was to attend as a subscriber.

College Girls Rock made it a point to make sure that the event was a successful one for both the fans and the Glamtwinz. The highly promoted event brought out over 180 students who not only sat and listened to the sisters, but also had the chance to meet them once the event was over. The CGR team even managed to raffle off one of the Glamtwinz’ books for one lucky audience member to receive as well as being the first guest who would meet them.

Topics for the sisters ranged from being a girl boss, content creating, staying motivated, and of course their thick glossy hair as they promoted their new book, “The Glamtwinz Guide to Longer, Healthier Hair”.

Making a stop in their fairly new town of Atlanta to Georgia State gave room for the sisters to engage with the fans on a personal level.

There were no short answers for these sisters as the questions began to flow. When asked when they knew that they did not want to work for anyone except for themselves, Kelsey was able to reply with some sound stories that many working students can relate to. “We worked at a catfish place, we would come home smelling like hush puppies everyday”, Kelsey said. “We just did not like working for other people at all, we were miserable and we just realized that we wanted to be our own bosses.”

There were no shortage of keys given at this meet and greet as topics of consistency and passion were in almost every response. It was as though this was the unspoken theme for the night as tips for embracing your passion continued to circle back around. “Consistency is always key when doing something, especially when you are your own boss”, Kendra said.

If any entrepreneur understands anything, it is knowing that working for yourself is the most challenging career that you will ever have. However, the Glamtwinz have made it look effortless with plenty of  help from their mom and manager Ms. Josenca Shaw.

When asked about how it feels to be a twin, Kendra did not hold back as one of her biggest peeves is when guys cannot tell her or Kelsey apart. In her words specifically, “those guys never work out when they can’t tell us apart, that’s like a test for us when they can’t tell.” The answer continued with both sisters agreeing that as a twin you will naturally be compared, but people often forget that even as twins you do have your own identity. “On instagram I may post a picture and get told this looks like something Kelsey would wear”, Kendra said. “I can just have my own style.”

As the program continued, co-social chair to College Girls Rock Maritza Pullum sparked the much anticipated topic of the duo’s new book as well as a few questions about natural hair. From leaving your permed days to transitioning, almost no surface was left untouched.

The twins, who are huge supporters of deep conditioning reiterated this point several times. “First I would just say deep condition”, Kelsey said. “Deep condition a lot but don’t neglect your hair too much.” This is mostly important because deep conditioning often leads to protective styles and sometimes protective styling can mean weaves, wigs, and braids. Those are all great things to do for you hair, but it is vital to give your hair time to breathe in between deep conditioning and styling.

Kendra seconded Kelsey’s statement but followed with telling listeners to just be patient. A lot of times we as women will get frustrated with our hair only to realize that we may not be taking proper care of it in order for it to grow. So between patience, deep conditioning, and yearly trims your hair growth should be in there somewhere.

In the times that we are living in there is always going to be a question about black culture and the manipulation of it through those who see it as a trend. Kelsey responded by saying “I think that it’s kind of unfortunate but at the same time fashion is universal and you can’t really tell someone what you can and can’t wear.” Instinctively she also managed to jog our memories with the “boxer braids” situation that sparked so much controversy. “I had a few white clients who sat in my chair at Aveda who have had the same problem as I did with stunt growth”, Kelsey said. “I try not to take that too seriously because I feel like you should be free to do whatever you want with your hair and your clothes because we have way too many problems to be worried about hair and clothes.”

Their opinions rang true as the topic of college and figuring out how to be successful came into the the question and answer session. As many subscribers to their channel know the Glamtwinz were once college students, but like many their passion was not quite in the university life. Instead, the sisters found their love in make up, hair, and fashion which eventually led them to YouTube.

When it came down to advice for finding success these ladies did not have to dig deep to find the right things to say to the young crowd.

“Don’t spend money on a four year college if you really want to go to cosmetology school”, Kendra said. “The number one thing is to find your passion because you don’t want to live out someone else’s dreams when you could be living out your own.”

Living out your dreams with your passion is the key that will take you places only you could dream of. This is true, especially for Kelsey and Kendra considering that they have not only become authors in major retailers, but have also been recognized by NBC to be apart of NBCBLK 28.

If you have not had time to search hashtag, here is a little information on this honor. NBC has creatively put together 28 days of young black leaders under 28-years old for Black History month in which the Glamtwinz will feature later in February. These girl bosses are not only making moves but are making history as their efforts for diversity in beauty go recognized. It was no secret that the twins were joyful about this honor.

When asked about the recognition they both told the story of how they thought nothing of it and that NBC could not have been serious. “We didn’t know that this email was real you know, we just didn’t really think anything of it”, Kelsey said.  “Our mom usually handles things like this anyway so when we found out this was something NBC was actually doing we were excited.”

To say that these sisters are doing an amazing job in the beauty world is an understatement. Not only are they slaying their make up but they are making sure that they are doing something productive behind it. To be young, thriving, and thankful is something that every person in attendance could have learned from the Glamtwinz, even if it was your first time hearing about them. What makes them even more inspiring is that they made sure every fan was seen, heard, talked to and hugged before they ended their night. No book was left unsigned and no iPhone was left unsnapped with a picture to remember the occasion.

To start off this semester with the Glamtwinz is the pep that many people needed as Georgia State continues with the spring term, and as the second successful event that College Girls Rock has held in two weeks I would think that this organization is having a great year as well.

To purchase “The Glamtwinz Guide to Longer, Healthier Hair”  visit Target or Barnes and Noble today or order online! Also, do not forget to follow Kelsey and Kendra on Instagram @glamtwinkels1 and @glamtwinken2 to see more of their book tour.

• beauty
• Black Girl Magic
• black history
• hcgsu
• natural hair