Black Girl Sunscreen Founder Shontay Lundy Inducted as Honorary Member of Sigma Gamma Rho

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. has inducted entrepreneur Shontay Lundy, the founder of Black Girl Sunscreen, as an Honorary Member. The sorority announced the induction today, Friday, July 24, 2026, during its 61st Biennial Boule in Tampa, Florida.

Shontay Lundy founded Black Girl Sunscreen in 2016 after recognizing a gap in the market: a sunscreen made for people of color that left no white cast. What began as a solution to a personal frustration grew into a category-defining brand, becoming the first Black-owned sunscreen sold in major retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Ulta, with later expansion to Walgreens.

Lundy built the company on a foundation of both business acumen and mission. She holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland and an MBA, and in 2020 she secured $1 million in private funding that valued the company at $5 million. Her work has drawn national recognition, including a spot on Popular Science’s list of the 100 Greatest Innovations of 2018 and the Forbes Next 1000 in 2021.

Beyond the product itself, Lundy has become a national voice for dermatological health education in communities of color, challenging misconceptions about sun protection for melanated skin and advocating for broader change in the beauty and healthcare industries.

Lundy was inducted as part of Sigma Gamma Rho’s Honorary Membership Class of 2026, a group of women recognized during the 2026 Boule Honorary Membership Ceremony for achievements spanning sports, entertainment, education, public service, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and global humanitarian work.

The ceremony took place as Sigma Gamma Rho gathered in Tampa, Florida, for its 61st Biennial Boule under International President Marica T. Harris. In announcing the class, Harris said the 2026 honorees “embody the spirit of service, the power of purpose,” carrying forward the sorority’s mission of Greater Service, Greater Progress.

We at Watch The Yard would like to congratulate Shontay Lundy on her induction as an Honorary Member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

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