A great red carpet look doesn't happen by accident. Somebody selected the dress, fought for the loan, picked the jewelry the morning of, and made a call on the shoes at 11 p.m. the night before. That somebody is almost always a stylist, and for decades, Black stylists did that work without getting much of the credit (or the brand access) their white counterparts got automatically. That's changed, but not without effort. 

Celebrity stylists Jason Bolden and Law Roach both said it plainly back in 2021: the gatekeeping was built on purpose, and it wasn't on Black stylists to fix it alone. Five years later, the receipts are adding up — magazine covers, power stylist lists, and Black designers are finally getting the credit they deserve. 

For years, the BET Awards red carpet has been more than a photo op. It has been one of the few places where Black stars, Black stylists, and Black designers all get to build up their names in fashion’s halls of fame. Host Amanda Seales made that clear in 2020 when she wore 13 looks from Black designers, and in 2024, Taraji P. Henson and her famed stylist duo Wayman and Micah followed Seales’ lead and also put together 13 Black designer looks from designers including LaQuan Smith, Sergio Hudson, Theophilio, and Bishme Cromartie. This year’s ceremony adds the Fashion Vanguard Award, a sign that style is officially a major part of the conversation. Beyoncé and Rihanna are both nominated! This is not a drill, it’s officially a big deal!

When the BET Awards red carpet rolls out Sunday, June 28, here are the stylists we’re watching and why their work matters beyond the Getty image or placement on a Best Dressed list.

Kollin Carter

Kollin Carter is the stylist behind Cardi B’s biggest fashion swings, from the bold “Bongos” video to her 2025 Grammy entrance in a custom Roberto Cavalli Couture gown. With Cardi leading this year’s BET nominations, expect him to keep swinging for the loudest look on the carpet.

Wayman Bannerman + Micah McDonald

Wayman + Micah have made a career out of treating "wear Black designers" as a real styling brief. For Taraji P. Henson’s 2024 hosting run, they helped create 13 looks from Black designers, including LaQuan Smith, Sergio Hudson, and Theophilio. The duo’s client list also includes Regina King, and Lizzo. 

Zerina Akers

Zerina Akers is Beyoncé’s longtime stylist, the costume designer behind “Black Is King," and the founder of Black Owned Everything. Akers has built her reputation on elevating Black creators and pushing Black fashion into the spotlight, which is exactly why her influence still echoes on nights like the BET Awards. 

Law Roach

He retired in 2023, but somehow the self-proclaimed “image architect” is still working…hard. He’s best known for his decade-plus partnership with Zendaya and his current work with Ariana Grande and Celine Dion. His method-dressing approach has changed how awards-season fashion is discussed, so any Roach-adjacent moment on Sunday would have instant viral potential.

Jason Bolden

Jason Bolden built his client list while working retail floors for Nicole Miller and Oscar de la Renta before Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson helped launch his styling career in the early 2010s. He's styled Michael B. Jordan, Yara Shahidi, Dwyane Wade, and, most notably, Cynthia Erivo. He just won Red Carpet Stylist of the Year at the 2026 WWD Style Awards and dressed both Jordan and director Ryan Coogler for the 2026 Golden Globes, working "Sinners" references into the tailoring. Here’s hoping Jordan taps him for Culture’s Biggest Night.

The Fashion Brands

None of this works without the designers willing to hand over the clothes. We’re watching for continued momentum from labels like Sergio Hudson, Bishme Cromartie, Theophilio, Christopher John Rogers, and LaQuan Smith — designers who've spent the past few years getting tagged in stylists' credits. Their designs turn the BET Awards’ red carpet into one of the few nights a year where Black-owned fashion gets the same spotlight as the stars wearing them.