Mela Vitamins, the first multivitamin brand specifically formulated for women of color, has partnered with WNBA athletes Azurá Stevens of the LA Sparks and Dana Evans from the Chicago Sky.
The stakes are high as “more than 80% of Black women are vitamin D deficient, a condition linked to double the rates of heart disease, autoimmune disorders and type 2 diabetes”, said Ashley Harmon, founder and CEO of Mela Vitamins, in a company press announcement.
We spoke to Harmon to learn more about how this collaboration underscores the company’s commitment to advancing health equity and promoting wellness within underserved communities.
Shared values drive collaboration
The new relationship with Stevens and Evans reflects the shared values of the athletes and Mela Vitamins.
“We’ve been working on this collaboration for months, and it was clear from the start that Azurá and Dana were the perfect fit for Mela Vitamins,” Harmon said.
Both women “understand the importance of wellness, not just for peak performance on the court, but for feeling good and living well every day,” she continued, and their “influence as professional athletes, combined with their passion for giving back to their communities, made them an easy choice to support our mission.”
Stevens and Evans aim to inspire Black women and women of color to take charge of their health through their platforms “by showing that wellness isn’t just for elite athletes—it’s for everyone,” Harmon added.
Addressing health disparities
Mela Vitamins seeks to address long-standing health disparities affecting women of color through its tailored products and initiatives. According to Harmon, the company’s flagship product, the Daily Essentials multivitamin, was developed after extensive research and focus groups.
The formula includes higher doses of vitamin D3, B12, magnesium and folate to address specific deficiencies common among Black women.
“Vitamin D deficiency is so common among Black women because melanin reduces the skin’s ability to absorb vitamin D from sunlight,” Harmon noted. “This deficiency is crucial, as it is linked to double the rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer.”
Beyond addressing vitamin D deficiency, Mela’s products also focus on other critical health concerns, including blood sugar management, hormonal balance and stress reduction. Ingredients like Ceylon cinnamon, lion’s mane mushrooms and probiotics play a vital role in promoting overall wellness.
Community outreach initiatives
The partnership with Stevens and Evans will also support Mela’s broader community engagement efforts. The athletes will participate in Mela Well, the brand’s wellness program, which includes virtual and in-person events, fitness days and community health days to provide free wellness resources in underserved areas.
“Azurá and Dana will be instrumental in launching and testing new products that meet the evolving needs of our community,” Harmon said.
“We’re also kicking off fitness events in LA, New York and DC,” she added, “offering more opportunities to connect with our community in meaningful ways.”
A mission rooted in equity
Harmon emphasized that health equity is central to Mela’s mission.
“Health equity in the supplement industry means making sure that everyone has access to the tools, resources and information they need to achieve optimal health,” she explained, adding that “it’s about recognizing that wellness isn’t a privilege but a right and that different communities have different health needs that should be acknowledged and addressed.”
Mela Vitamins also aims to rebuild trust within communities of color by emphasizing transparency.
“Many Black women have had negative experiences when seeking medical care, leading to a reluctance to trust new health solutions,” Harmon said, so “transparency is a core value at Mela.”
Therefore, the brand places high value on being “upfront about our ingredients, our research and why our products are formulated the way they are,” she shared.
Looking ahead
As part of its mission to push the wellness industry toward greater inclusivity, Mela Vitamins is expanding its product lines to include beauty, heart health, and prenatal supplements. The company also plans to collaborate with healthcare providers and clinics to bridge gaps in wellness access further.
For Harmon, the journey is also profoundly personal.
“The most rewarding part of this journey has been hearing from the women who have been positively impacted by Mela Vitamins,” she said, and “knowing that Mela is playing a role in transforming how women of color approach wellness keeps me motivated every day.”
