Why it makes a difference for someone like Ariana Grande to promote black-owned businesses

The power of celebrity is enormous as it is; it’s why so many Love Island stars become influencers.

So when someone like Ariana Grande, one of the most famous pop stars in the world, flexes their influencing muscles, it can have a huge impact.

Which is why it was so important when Grande made a point of highlighting three black-owned businesses on her Instagram story this week.

Grande shared pictures of iced coffees from Undergrind Coffee, Nimbus Coffee and South LA Coffee on her story to her 191 million followers.

Eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted that the coffee joints were black owned.

Grande tagged all three businesses in her pictures and even re-posted a story featuring South L.A. Coffee, writing:

LA friends be sure to try @southlacafe. 

So so good.

And South LA cafe revealed just how big an impact Grande’s support had on their business.

Posting on Instagram, they revealed that they’d had a flood of customers – even setting a new record.

"What a day! Whew! We're about to unwind, celebrate, and sip on a margarita! 150 folks fed in 29 minutes! One for the record books,” read part of a caption thanking Grande for her support.

South LA cafe also noted – like many others – that Grande’s action is a very public divestment from Starbucks, a coffee brand she has previously been an ambassador for.

But in the wake of reports that the company banned employees from publicly showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, Grande has unfollowed them on social media.

Instead, she’s using her platform to direct fans to black-owned businesses.

It’s a good lesson in how small changes can make a difference, no matter how minor they might seem.

Sure, it helps that she’s world famous but it’s an approach that others can learn from.

Plus, the bonus of finding a great new coffee spot.

Win-win.