There would be no aspireTV without B. Smith.
The world lost a legend on February 23, 2020, when Barbara Elaine Smith, lost her battle with Alzheimer’s at the age of 70. She was a true icon to Black women all over the globe through the grace and style that she always embodied.
Although deemed by mainstream audiences as the “Black Martha Stewart”, B. Smith was in a lane of her own when it came to all things lifestyle, paving the way for many Black women who never saw themselves represented in the industry.
As we celebrate the life of legacy of B. Smith, let’s recall the dynamic legacy she leaves behind of course “with style”.
- She was #BlackGirlMagic before the hashtag was even created. She wore many hats as a restaurateur, talk show host, businesswoman, author, and THE lifestyle queen.
- Her upscale restaurant in the heart of Manhattan’s theater district was the place to be for the who’s who of Black people in the area.
- She had a deep love for cooking and sewing early on and even founded her own economics club where she served as president
- Expanding her empire beyond modeling, she created her own furniture line, as well as her own home collection at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
- “B. Smith Style” set the trend for lifestyle television. Her television show was the perfect place for some of Black America’s biggest starts to chop it up over lifestyle tips.
