Texture Takes The Stage

Now this is a story about how identity, choice, and care often begin in one sacred place: the salon. A space where culture, tradition, and self-worth are nurtured from the very first glance in the mirror — and where many of us take our earliest steps toward understanding how the world sees us, and how we want to be seen.

Commissioned for Texture Takes The Stage, this cinematic short follows a young girl grappling with the weight of beauty standards — shaped by media, family, and her own reflection. As she moves through this quiet yet pivotal moment of choice, the film asks: when your reflection isn’t mirrored back to you, how do you decide who you are?

Written and directed by Victoria Ashly Griggs — who also led the intimate on-camera interview that anchors the piece — the film was brought to life in collaboration with co-founder and Executive Producer Gregory Warfield Jr., whose leadership grounded the project in purpose and clarity. The narrative salon sequence was co-directed, shot, and edited by Julia Liu, while the interview portion was beautifully captured and cut by Kat Otuechere. Both women of color, their craft behind the camera reinforces the heart of the film: reflection, representation, and the power of seeing yourself — fully and truly.

Premiered during a live event that blended fashion, film, and community celebration, Texture Takes The Stage is more than a film — it’s a mirror held up with love.