Isn't it Lovely When Girls See Themselves Represented? Special Guest: Audra Robinson
“I feel that representation is so key because it does tell you who you are, it tells you what’s possible - it tells you who you can be.”
Isn’t it Lovely? went on the road last spring for a long-awaited conversation with entrepreneur, dreamer, and all-around powerhouse Audra Robinson, founder of Rocky Robinson self-care products. In this Season 5 finale episode, Audra expresses her gratitude to an encouraging mother and the educators and community leaders who invested in her as she was growing up and discusses how her experiences as “the only” in the room throughout her career in corporate marketing led to her commitment to counteract this lack of diversity. Audra explains that while the intersection of “girl power” and “black girl magic” is foundational to Rocky Robinson, Rocky is for everyone - a message of inclusivity that is innate to the brand. In raving over Audra’s gift for celebrating and lifting up others, Tracy and Rachel are thrilled to discover that she is a fellow former cheerleader. Tracy reads the Rocky Robinson empowerment message and everyone chokes up; overcome with love and affection for her hometown, Rachel rattles off a random list of Minneapolis landmarks. “There’s no place like home” indeed.
Episode Mentions:
Rocky Robinson Website: https://www.itsmerocky.com/
Rocky Robinson Instagram: @youresocuterocky
Rocky Robinson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youresocuterocky
KARE 11 News Story: Black-owned Self-care Business Teaches Young Girls the Power of Self-love
What Are You Loving:
Audra: Black Women Deserve an Easy Life by Alecia Renece The Artist
Tracy: Community and friends that watch your children while you are podcasting.
Rachel: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Spoonbridge and Cherry Sculpture, IDS Center
Audra Robinson, founder of Rocky Robinson, a self-care brand for girls, was born a dreamer. After over 15 years of working in marketing in corporate America, often being “the only” in the room, she noticed that something was missing: a brand that was relevant and specifically made for Black girls.
Audra’s vision for Rocky is to create a brand that empowers girls, encouraging positive self-identity, good hygiene, and routine. Rocky wants girls to love the skin they are in.
Launched March 2020, Rocky Robinson was created to teach Black girls to love themselves from the inside out with personal care products including shower gel, lotion, lip balm, and hand sanitizer. Rocky was created because representation matters!
The heart and mission of the brand is to show Black girls their limitless possibilities and celebrate their brilliance, beauty, and magic with social and digital content, fueled by purpose to support organizations that provide better outcomes for Black girls. When Rocky is profitable, she will use portions of the proceeds to donate to organizations and social causes that help girls pursue their greatest vision for their lives, including helping put girls through college.
In fall 2020, Rocky added a “donate product” feature driven by countless requests from the community who asked how they can take specific and intentional action to advance racial and economic equity by supporting black owned businesses, as well as to provide essential items that will be meaningful to the recipients following the murder of George Floyd. In 2020, Rocky partnered with two organizations, ProjectDiva.org and Tubman.org, to donate over 100 Rocky Robinson Self Care Essentials sets.