BACON MAGAZINE
Inside GloVerse: GloRilla’s App for Booking Trusted Glam Anywhere

Bacon Magazine’s October 2026 digital cover star is building GloVerse, the infrastructure behind a new way to find, book and connect with verified glam professionals, whether you are at home or across the world.

Before the stages, the award shows and the world tours, GloRilla had the same problem as millions of women: finding someone she could trust with her hair and makeup. Fame did not fix it. Once her career took off, life on the road made it harder.

So Gloria Woods, the Memphis-born rapper the world knows as GloRilla, decided to build the solution herself. GloVerse is a beauty technology platform that connects clients with trusted, verified glam professionals through an intelligent, on-demand marketplace. Developed in partnership with Strategic Venture Partner Georgii Speakman and her strategic venture consultancy OUT.LI.ER, GloVerse launched in beta in October, with the full mobile app expected by the end of 2026.

It is a bold move for one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop, and it is exactly why GloRilla is on the cover of Bacon Magazine this month. GloVerse is not a celebrity side project or a beauty line with her name on the label. It is technology, built to solve a real problem for two groups at once: the clients searching for trusted glam and the independent professionals trying to grow their businesses.

GloRilla’s Founder Era

GloRilla rose out of Memphis, Tennessee, with a voice and an energy that made her impossible to ignore. Her authenticity turned into Grammy nominations, sold-out shows and a global fan base that connects with her because she has never pretended to be anyone but herself.

That same authenticity is now shaping her next chapter. As her career expanded into entertainment and culture, GloRilla began looking at what she could build that would outlast any single album or tour. She wanted a business rooted in her real life, one that could create opportunity for the communities that supported her from the beginning.

GloVerse is that business. It reflects a new generation of entrepreneurs who are turning influence into infrastructure. Instead of simply endorsing a product, GloRilla is building a platform designed to support one of the largest independent workforces in the world.

Where the Glo Began

Touring, filming music videos, preparing for performances and showing up for press meant GloRilla always needed glam, often in cities where she did not know anyone. In a world where food, rides and almost every other service arrive within minutes, booking a beauty professional still came down to text messages, Instagram DMs, referrals and word of mouth.

Finding professionals who understood textured hair, protective styling and makeup for melanin-rich skin was even harder. Every new city meant starting over: scrolling hashtags, asking around, hoping a stranger’s portfolio matched the real work, and waiting on replies that might not come in time.

The more she talked with friends, fellow artists, stylists and everyday women, the clearer it became that this was not a celebrity problem. It was everyone’s problem. The bride getting ready in an unfamiliar city, the professional heading to a conference, the mom who needs a reliable braider, the student on a budget and the traveler who wants to look her best all face the same fragmented process.

“GloVerse was built from real life,” GloRilla says. “I’ve been in situations where finding the right glam team wasn’t easy, even with all the resources around me. Then I realized it wasn’t just my experience. People everywhere deal with it every day. I wanted to build something that creates real opportunities for beauty professionals and makes it easier for everyone to find trusted talent.”

This is for everyone.

GloRilla, Founder of GloVerse

When it comes to inclusivity, GloRilla’s answer is simple: “This is for everyone.” Her goal is a global platform where anyone can book glam wherever they are, including the specialized services that are hardest to find. GloVerse is not built only for celebrities or one type of client. It is designed for every hair texture, every skin tone, every budget and every kind of beauty service.

A Spotlight for the Glam Pros

While clients struggled to find trusted glam, another reality was impossible to ignore. Thousands of exceptionally talented beauty professionals were building businesses on their own, often with nothing more than a phone, a ring light and an Instagram page.

Many of those professionals are women running every part of the business themselves. They manage their own bookings through DMs, chase deposits, answer the same pricing questions over and over and depend on referrals to keep their chairs full. Talent is not the problem. Access to technology, visibility and infrastructure is.

GloVerse was created to bridge that gap. By building tools for professionals first, the platform aims to give independent stylists, braiders, barbers, makeup artists, nail techs, estheticians and more the kind of digital storefront that lets their talent reach clients they would never meet through word of mouth alone.

First Look Inside the Beta

GloVerse launched in October as a beta web platform with a provider-first strategy. Rather than opening the doors to clients on day one, the team is onboarding glam and beauty professionals across the United States first. Anyone can sign up, but the early focus is on building a strong, trusted community of professionals before the full public rollout.

That approach matters. A booking platform is only as good as the talent on it, and by building supply first, GloVerse is working to make sure that when clients arrive, they find a deep bench of verified professionals in their area. The professionals who join now become the founding community of GloVerse, helping shape the platform as it grows.

The full GloVerse mobile app is expected to arrive free on iOS and Android by the end of 2026, bringing the booking experience to clients nationwide.

Welcome to the World of GloPros

GloVerse is a two-sided marketplace, and it starts with the people doing the work. Beauty professionals on the platform are called GloPros. That provider-first approach is what turns GloVerse from a booking app into infrastructure for independent beauty businesses.

1 Build Your Own World in the GloVerse

Every GloPro gets a profile that works like a storefront: a space to showcase their work and specialties, from hair, braiding, locs and barbering to makeup, nails, lashes, brows, skincare, esthetics, henna and body art, men’s grooming and special effects.

2 Claim Your GloID

Each GloPro can set up a GloID, a shareable profile link to post on Instagram, TikTok, a personal website or anywhere clients find them. Instead of sending clients into DMs, a stylist sends them to one place that represents her entire business.

3 Stand Out With Specialized Services

Because clients can run custom searches, GloPros who offer something unique get found by the people who need it most. A stylist who specializes in loc removal, a scalp spa treatment or a kid-friendly appointment can reach clients far beyond her current following and her zip code.

4 Grow Beyond the Booking

GloVerse plans to expand into commerce, education, memberships, creator partnerships, live experiences, philanthropy and financial tools designed for the independent entrepreneurs powering the beauty industry. Every one of those pieces is designed to help GloPros earn more, learn more and build businesses that last.

“GloVerse is about more than booking appointments,” says Georgii Speakman, Strategic Venture Partner of GloVerse and Founder and CEO of OUT.LI.ER. “We’re building infrastructure for one of the most entrepreneurial industries in the world, so independent beauty professionals can build stronger businesses, clients can confidently discover trusted talent, and creators and communities can connect in entirely new ways.”

We’re building infrastructure for one of the most entrepreneurial industries in the world.

Georgii Speakman, Strategic Venture Partner, GloVerse

5 Ways Beauty Pros Can Get GloVerse Ready

For stylists and glam professionals who want to be part of the founding community, a little preparation goes a long way. Here is how Bacon recommends getting your business ready.

• Refresh your portfolio. Gather clear, well-lit photos and short videos of your best work, especially the services you want to be known for.
• Define your menu. List every service you offer with clear descriptions, so clients know exactly what to book.
• Lead with your specialty. If you offer something hard to find, like loc removal, scalp treatments or kid-friendly appointments, make it front and center.
• Set your service area. Decide whether clients come to you, you travel to them or both, and where you are willing to go.
• Put your GloID to work. Once you have it, add it to your Instagram bio, TikTok, website and business cards so every new client lands in one place.

Your Glam, Your Way

On the client side, GloVerse is designed to make finding glam feel as easy as ordering a ride.

• Personalized search: Filter professionals by hair type, face shape and the services you need.
• Specialized services: Find professionals for the hard-to-find services, from loc removal to scalp spa treatments. The GloVerse team continues adding specialized services to the menu as the platform grows.
• Custom searches: Search for what your day actually requires. If you need to bring your child to your appointment or need someone to care for your dog while you get ready, you can look for a professional who offers it.
• Smart recommendations: AI-powered suggestions point you to professionals in your area based on your preferences.
• Verified talent: Book professionals who have been verified on the platform, not strangers from a comment section.
• Your location or theirs: Choose whether you travel to the professional or the professional comes to you.
• Booking for family: Account holders must be 18 or older, and adults can book services for minors.

“GloVerse helps you find the specialized beauty services you can’t always find with a quick search, like loc removal or a scalp spa treatment,” Speakman says. “We’re in beta, and our team is adding more specialized services to the menu as the platform grows. You can run custom searches for exactly what you need, whether that’s a professional who welcomes your child at the appointment or one who offers a dog service. If someone on the app offers it, you can find them.”

Glam on the Go, Wherever You Land

For anyone who travels for work or play, GloVerse could change how you pack and plan. Instead of researching salons in a new city days ahead, or settling for whoever has an opening at the hotel, clients will be able to search for verified professionals wherever they land.

Picture a few real moments. You fly into a new city for a wedding and need a braider who understands your texture. You are speaking at a conference and want a makeup artist to meet you at your hotel before your panel. You are on a girls’ trip and the whole group wants glam before dinner. Or you are a busy mom with a long day ahead and need a stylist who does not mind your little one coming along. In each case, GloVerse is designed to help you find the right professional, see their work and book.

That is the exact problem GloRilla faced on tour, and it is the reason the platform is being built for the way people actually live and move today.

The Future of Glam Is Here

GloVerse speaks to two kinds of clients at once. At home, it replaces scrolling through hashtags and waiting on a DM reply with a search built around your hair, your face, your schedule and your life. On the road, it gives you a trusted network of professionals in places you have never been.

The platform also has features in development, including Apple Wallet integration and “Love Letter With Glo,” an in-app way for GloRilla to connect directly with her supporters.

“GloVerse is a groundbreaking platform with the potential to become the global standard for booking beauty services,” says Danika Berry, Founder of Black Beauty Founders. “In the same way people rely on Google to discover what’s around them, GloVerse gives clients a trusted way to find beauty professionals wherever they are.”

Bigger Than the Booking

GloVerse is starting with bookings, but the vision reaches much further. Into 2027, the company plans to build a broader ecosystem for independent beauty entrepreneurs, small business owners and traveling professionals.

That ecosystem is expected to include creator collaborations, commerce, live experiences, education, memberships and strategic brand partnerships. The company also intends to work with leading beauty brands, retailers, technology partners and cultural organizations to create new pathways for entrepreneurship and industry growth, along with future financial tools designed to support long-term economic opportunity for beauty professionals.

For the women building beauty businesses, that kind of infrastructure could mean more than new clients. It could mean access to education that sharpens their craft, partnerships that raise their profile and tools that help them manage and grow their income. GloVerse is positioning itself as a home base for the entire business of beauty, not just the appointment.

The Power Duo Behind GloVerse

GloVerse was developed in strategic partnership with OUT.LI.ER, the brand architecture, venture strategy and growth consultancy leading the company’s establishment and go-to-market strategy. Speakman, who founded OUT.LI.ER, serves as Strategic Venture Partner for GloVerse and also served as creative director for GloRilla’s Bacon cover shoot.

The pairing brings together two strengths: GloRilla’s lived experience, cultural reach and connection with her audience, and Speakman’s experience building brands and launching ventures. Together, they are treating GloVerse as a long-term company built for scale, with a clear plan to grow both sides of the marketplace.

Celebrating the Women Behind the Chair

Independent beauty professionals make up one of the largest entrepreneurial workforces in the world, and many of them are women building businesses one client at a time. GloVerse is betting that when those professionals get better technology, visibility and access, they can build more sustainable businesses, and clients win too.

It also matters who is building it. GloRilla knows what it feels like to need glam in a city where you do not know anyone, and she knows the value of the women behind the chair who make artists and everyday clients feel like their best selves. GloVerse turns that understanding into a business designed to lift both sides.

For GloRilla, it is also about legacy. GloVerse extends her impact beyond music and into technology, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity for the communities that inspired her, and she is aiming for GloVerse to become the biggest name in booking glam.

The full GloVerse app is expected to arrive free on iOS and Android by the end of 2026, and the company is welcoming its founding community of glam professionals now. For stylists, braiders, barbers, makeup artists, nail techs and estheticians ready to build their world in the GloVerse, the time to join is now.