INTRODUCING

Black Beauty AI Challenge

Hosted by Black Girls Code & The Doux

Join a groundbreaking opportunity for Black girls and young women to create AI‑generated videos that shape how AI understands Black Beauty, Style, and Culture. No coding experience needed, just creativity and vision.

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THE CHALLENGE

What You’ll Do
Create a 60-90 second original AI-generated video that reflects how YOU define beauty, style, and culture.

Theme

This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity for girls and young women to use AI as a tool for self-expression. 

Tools

Use free tools (e.g. Kaiber.ai, Runway ML, Canva), so you don’t need paid software or coding skills to compete.

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Suggested tools

What it is: A free mobile/web video-editing app packed with AI magic — no subscription needed.

Why it’s easy for ages 13–17: Clean interface. Drag + drop clips/photos. Add stickers, filters, and auto‑captions. Works on phones and browsers.

What you can do in the challenge:

  • Cut together clips or photos of your style, outfits, or hair ideas.
  • Add titles or speech captions so AI learns new phrases.
  • Use its 'remove background' to hint at futuristic or cultural visuals.
    Pro tip: Record yourself speaking about your artwork, auto‑caption it, and sync with music and transitions to tell your story in under 90 seconds.

Learn more: https://youtu.be/P51CqlPOE_w?si=Pc4fpCMNdUajeUS9

What it is: A free drag‑and‑drop design tool for graphics, slideshows, and short videos — works on phone or tablet.

Why it’s perfect for younger kids (10–14): You can start with a slideshow template, add pictures and short text, customize fonts and backgrounds with no tech skills.

How to use it in the challenge:

  • Make a story-style slideshow of photos/images that show your version of Black beauty.
  • Add a background track from Canva’s royalty-free music library.
  • Download as MP4 and upload to the contest portal.

Learn more: https://youtu.be/AlrC-XaKwew?si=c118sC0lxpFHt9_w

What it is: An AI animation tool that transforms your images, text, or voice into short animated video scenes.

Why teens love it (13–17): No manual editing. You enter a description (e.g., “a girl dancing under neon patterns”) and the AI creates the motion.

Use it for the challenge by:

  • Writing a short paragraph describing your idea of Black beauty, uploading a few images, and generating a 30–60 second loop.
  • Adding your voice or music and exporting—ideal for abstract or symbolic storytelling.

Learn more: https://youtu.be/Q85d9qofuQk?si=IWsNHDfXVNwo-HUy

What it is: A web‑based AI video editor that includes background removal, color effects, style transfers, and even text‑to‑video features.

Why it fits for older teens (15–17) or tech-savvy kids: More powerful than mobile apps—allows fine‑tuned control of effects with just a browser.

Ways to use it in the challenge:

  • Upload simple video or photo series, then inpaint or blur backgrounds to focus on you or your hair style.
  • Use text‑to‑video to dream up a futuristic environment (like a glowing mural, a fashion runway).
  • Color‑grade your video to match a theme (e.g., gold tones, vibrant blues).

Learn more: https://youtu.be/c38vtLw1nSk?si=uKjXpco3M7jn_-Nc

What it is: An intuitive AI tool that turns rough sketches or text prompts into animated video clips—think cartoon or stylized scenes.

Why even new creators can use it: You can hand‑draw an outline, or type a sentence like “a girl drawing with curly hair under neon lights,” then let AI animate it.

Use in the competition by:

  • Creating a 15–30 second animated intro (like a digital mural or graffiti clip).
  • Download and combine with a CapCut or Canva backdrop to add your voice and music.

Learn more: https://youtu.be/F4vZTKOCeds?si=pCOuFiyTo9TNcXZj

Use one tool or mix a few. What matters most is that the final video reflects your vision of Black Beauty, Style, or Culture.

What it is: An app that turns your still photos into realistic motion videos—making 3D-like scenes from normal images.

Why it’s fun: Works with just one photo (e.g., a favorite outfit or hairstyle board) and adds cinematic motion.

For the challenge:

  • Choose a single photo of your look or cultural style. Use Luma to animate it—so the photo “moves” and zooms like a video.
  • Export that motion file (10–20 seconds), add audio/narration in CapCut to reach 60–90 seconds.

Learn more: https://youtu.be/S8zMe5aCUtI?si=dOLQGeR-D0A10OeY

IMPORTANT DATES

Milestone Dates

Submissions Open: June 30, 2025

Deadline to Submit: September 30, 2025

Finalists Announced: Late September 2025

People’s Choice Voting: Fall 2025

Winners Announced: Early November 2025

NYC Gallery Show: January 2026 (MLK Weekend)

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Shape the Future

Your Voice Matters

"If Black creators don't guide what AI learns from us, we risk being overlooked—or worse, misrepresented by others."

Maya Smith, CEO & Creative Director, The Doux

About Black Girls Code

Since 2011, Black Girls Code has been creating a more inclusive tech industry by inspiring, educating, and equipping young girls and women with the skills to lead and thrive in technology. BGC isn't just closing the opportunity gap—it's shaping the future of tech.

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