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Hi, I'm L'Oréal Blackett. A journalist, presenter & content creator reporting on culture, identity & women's lifestyle.

What I Do

I'm a journalist, presenter and content creator based in the UK. I was previously editor of Refinery29's Unbothered UK — one of Britain's most influential platforms for Black women — where I built a reputation for sharp cultural commentary, bold commissioning and storytelling that made people feel genuinely seen.  Previous to this role, I was a broadcast journalist for BBC Radio Manchester and a contributor on The Dead Good Show.

Now freelance, I write about culture, identity and women's lifestyle and health. 

Over on social media, I am the creator of She's Classic, a BookTok series celebrating the books that shaped Black women's inner worlds — and the conversations that follow.

I'm available for journalism commissions, brand partnerships and presenting work lorealblackett@gmail.com

Featured Articles

I specialise in writing and commissioning long-form features, op-eds and interviews with a focus on women's issues, culture, intersectional beauty and entertainment. My bylines include Refinery29, Cosmopolitan UK, Stylist, Bustle, WhoWhatWear, gal-dem, Ladbible, Manchester Confidential and more. 

Refinery29 •

My Heavy Periods Left Me Dangerously Anemic. Why Wasn't I Taken Seriously Sooner?

Like many Black women, I have uterine fibroids: benign, non-cancerous growths that develop in and around the womb (approximately 80% of Black women will suffer from fibroids by the age of 50). Fibroids don’t always cause symptoms, although many people, like me, experience unbearable abdominal and back pain, and heavy and painful periods (known as menorrhagia) that last longer and are more frequent than average. Much like conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, there is a high risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia due to the heavy loss of menstrual blood.
Refinery29 •

I Track My Health Data Nonstop — Is This A Problem?

From the moment I wake up, I begin tracking. I track my steps, calories burned, sleep quality, period, and ovulation. I track my runs on Strava and my heart rate, blood oxygen and performance zones. I sometimes track my food, my protein goals, and how much water I’ve drunk in a day. I source the majority of my health metrics from my Apple Watch but I am saving up for an Oura Ring (round-the-clock insights in jewellery form? Yes, please) and I’m more than due to try a glucose tracker. Frankly, I don’t need to worry about artificial intelligence taking over the human race because I AM ROBOT. To be clear, I have no negative associations with all my tracking — I genuinely find it fun and empowering — but to the ears of my loved ones, it all sounds “a bit much.” Or as my friend described it, “living life inside an Excel spreadsheet”. While tracking my health data has become embedded into my everyday life, it’s suggested that it could lead to health anxiety over time. Is there a thing about knowing too much about ourselves?
Refinery29 •

How 'The Real Housewives' Helped Me Through My Own Black Maternal Health Crisis

It isn’t purely coincidental that a large portion of the Black women on Real Housewives have been affected by fibroids; 80% of Black women globally suffer from fibroids, benign tumours that can grow inside the womb and cause heavy bleeding. Fibroids can be the cause of miscarriages and fertility issues; they can also put women and babies at risk during the antenatal period, although this is considered rare. Despite the pain caused to a widespread number of Black women, there is still limited understanding about why Black women are the most affected by the condition and its cause. This is the story for many health issues where Black women are overrepresented.

After Meghan Markle, Royal Racism Shouldn’t Be Surprising

Acceptance in the UK can seem conditional when you’re a minority, based on just how much you’re willing to bow to Queen (now King) and country... Ngozi Fulani was deemed excellent enough to be invited by the Queen Consort, Camilla, to the palace and still was made to feel she didn’t belong.

Acceptance in the UK can seem conditional when you’re a minority, based on just how much you’re willing to bow to Queen (now King) and country... Ngozi Fulani was deemed excellent enough to be invited by the...

How ADHD Makes Natural Hair Care Hard For Black Women

As a Black woman with ADHD who adores beauty, I feel trapped by the need to only do what’s safe... I can admit that the pressures of Black hair, and some of the criticism it attracts, warrant my reliance on protective hair styling.

As a Black woman with ADHD who adores beauty, I feel trapped by the need to only do what’s safe... I can admit that the pressures of Black hair, and some of the criticism it attracts, warrant my reliance on protective hair styling.
Refinery29 •

For Black Women In The UK, A Fear Of Pregnancy Is Far From Irrational

Motherhood has always mystified me — both the concept and bewildering physical experience — especially Black motherhood, where there is an unfortunate expectation of strength in spite of, well, everything the world throws at Black mothers. Social media hasn’t helped my anxiety. In the age of too much information, I know as much as possible about the greatest, transformative, worst, and ugliest parts of Black parenthood due to being online. It’s overwhelming, I try to explain to my mum. “I just did it, L'Oréal,” my mum says, shrugging, “you just do. Obsessing over the what-ifs isn’t helpful.” But I do obsess over them. For me, embarking on motherhood in 2022 means confronting the very unsettling reality that for Black women in the UK, pregnancy comes with a heightened risk. I think I want to become a mother but, here in the UK, what could that mean for me, my health and potentially, a child?

I’ve Entered My Boring Era & Couldn’t Be Happier

Boredom has been recommended as a salve for many of my common afflictions: burnout, stress, overwhelm, and low self-esteem. “What if, instead of joining another intense fitness program, or starting another project, or filling your calendar with after-work events, you did nothing for a while?” recommended a mental health counselor earlier this year. I had sought advice from my doctor and a mental health coach when the aforementioned got particularly bad.
More writing samples

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I'm an on-screen presenter, broadcaster and live event host with over a decade of experience across television, radio, red carpets and brand events. 

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