The legal boundary between cosmetics and drugs could become obsolete within fifty years, according to Ajok “Jolie” Bul, the winner of the 2026 Impact in Government Scholarship awarded by Bertolino LLP. Bul, a student at Southern Methodist University, made the case in a video titled “When Beauty Becomes Medicine,” which examines a regulatory contradiction that is easy to overlook: South Korea regulates sunscreen as a functional cosmetic, while the United States classifies it as an over-the-counter drug. That divergence is not merely a technicality; it reflects fundamentally different assumptions about how to categorize products that straddle the line between beautifying and treating the body.
Bul’s central argument is that as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and personalized skincare continue to advance, the legal distinction between cosmetics and drugs may not survive the next 50 years. The implication is significant for regulators, manufacturers, and consumers alike. If a single product can be a cosmetic in one jurisdiction and a drug in another, then international trade, safety standards, and innovation incentives are all built on a distinction that may be increasingly difficult to justify. Bul’s video suggests that the law will need to adapt rather than cling to categories that predate modern product formulations.
The selection committee was impressed not only by Bul’s analytical clarity but also by the breadth of her experience. She founded Nile Glow, a social-impact skincare initiative that supports fair-wage employment for young women in South Sudan, which gave her firsthand insight into the beauty industry. Her achievements include selection as one of 11 students in the NexPoint John G. Tower Scholars Program, recognition as a Gerald & Gail Turner Scholar, and service as Director of Programming for the Association of Black Students, where she increased freshman meeting attendance by more than 60 percent. She also worked as a Brand & Marketing Outreach Intern for HANDS International in partnership with UNICEF, helping generate more than $150,000 in international funding to support more than 20 girls displaced by conflicts in the Middle East.
The $2,500 scholarship will support Bul’s studies in Economics with Financial Applications, with minors in Public Policy & International Affairs and Business Administration. She plans to pursue a career at the intersection of business, government, and international development. Bertolino LLP, an Austin-based law firm that has defended thousands of Texas licensed professionals since 2003, sponsors the scholarship to encourage forward-thinking analysis of regulatory issues. The firm’s practice is built on the principle that a professional’s license represents years of training and sacrifice and deserves a serious defense, an ethos that aligns with Bul’s examination of how legal frameworks must evolve. Students interested in next year’s scholarship can find updated eligibility criteria and application details on the scholarship’s terms and conditions page.
