Every day social media platforms and smartphones help abusers stalk and carry out domestic violence on their partners. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their life. There has been more than 20,000 daily calls made to domestic violence hotlines each day. Now, one Dallas-based founder is hoping that her app can provide safer options to help victims escape.
On the outside, My Beauty Fill is a typical beauty service booking app. Customers can schedule makeup, hair, and wax appointments with professionals in their area. However, within the app, customers who are domestic violence victims can reach out to organizations that will provide them with resources to leave their respective situations.
Anthara Carr, the founder of My Beauty Fill, said she got the idea for the app after working in beauty marketing for years and having her own bout with domestic violence.
“I almost lost my life four days to planning to be married,” Carr said.
Her martial plans came to a screeching halt in 2016 after being assaulted by her then-fiancé, but the issues didn’t end there. Soon, Carr found herself fighting a financial battle to get her ex completely out of her life. Carr considers herself to be lucky to have made it out, citing that she had her own business to lean on for financial support.
“I had one instance [of domestic abuse] and I was out,” Carr said. “But most people who lack financial resources or are unsure [of] how to find access to organizational support, they feel like they don’t have any choices.”
Now, survivors can turn to My Beauty Fill to discreetly find resources in their area. My Beauty Fill is currently partnered with Quality Day Foundation and Honeydrops Foundation to provide resources for women in the Dallas area.
Beauty professionals and brands can subscribe to My Beauty Fill to have their products and services featured on the app. Beauticians and makeup artists can also get paid for their services directly within the app.
The app is set to launch on Jan. 7 in Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston.