Stacey Jane Smith, a South African wellness brand using local wild-crafted botanicals

July 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Stacey Jane Smith, founder of African Secret (South Africa)

Many consumers are now looking for more holistic ways to meet their wellness needs. In South Africa, entrepreneur Stacey Jane Smith, founder of African Secret, has created a pathway to wellbeing naturally. She is harnessing the power of natural wild-crafted botanicals and transforming them into beautiful, healing products and a brand that resonates with those who love its ethos.

Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka, an entrepreneur introducing the world to natural and organic skincare from Africa

July 17, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka, founder of Uhuru Botanicals (United Kingdom / South Africa)

More and more consumers are becoming conscious of the products they put onto their skins, and are demanding more natural and organic products that are kinder to both skin and the environment. Uhuru Botanicals, founded by entrepreneur Neo Chatyoka, is a brand that celebrates Africa’s natural raw ingredients and turns them into skincare products that are both ethical and sustainable.

Tara Fela-Durotoye, a professional make-up pioneer in Nigeria

June 7, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tara Fela-Durotoye is a Beauty Entrepreneur who pioneered the professional make up industry in Nigeria in the late 90's. She is the founder and current CEO of House of Tara International. She is considered a major force in the Nigerian female entrepreneurship community having created an impact business that has empowered tens of thousands of beauty entrepreneurs through the "Tara Beauty Entrepreneur" initiative. Tara continues to be a thought leader and major influencer through several in classroom and on line courses that focus on sharing her 20+ year experience with other budding entrepreneurs.

Sonto Pooe, a South African entrepreneur harnesses the power of mother nature in her hair and body care brand

April 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Sonto Pooe, founder of NativeChild (South Africa)

Anyone who suffers from skin allergies or has sensitive skin will know that getting back to nature in terms of the products used is often the best way forward. In South Africa, entrepreneur Sonto Pooe, founder of NativeChild, is building a world class natural hair care and body care brand for people of colour that is kind to skin and the environment.

Ruth Wewura Guribie, a Ghanaian cosmetics brand builder celebrating the natural power of shea butter

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Wewura Guribie, founder of Sava Shea Company Limited (Ghana)

For decades, women across the African continent have known how good shea butter is for the skin. Now, Ruth Wewura Guribie, the founder of Sava Shea Company Limited in Ghana, is creating a natural skincare brand that celebrates this much-loved local ingredient.

LIONESS LAUNCH / Mozambique’s Black Khakhela launches new natural hair and skin care range

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Carmen Miral, founder of Black Khakhela (Mozambique)

For conscious consumers looking to buy proudly Mozambican natural skin and haircare products, entrepreneur Carmen Miral, founder of Black Khakhela has the answer. She is launching a new range of ten products that celebrate Mozambican culture and ingredients, and which are completely natural. Fans of Carmen’s business and brand will be delighted to see this new range as it is not only of the highest quality, but also supports the growth of a local cosmetics industry in the country.

Nancy Ernesto, an Angolan entrepreneur bringing the world of Avon beauty to the country

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nancy Ernesto, founder of Avon Nancia Comércio Geral (SU) LDA (Angola)

The beauty industry is a growing one across the African continent, and in Angola the market has great potential. For entrepreneur Nancy Ernesto, founder of Avon Nancia Comércio Geral (SU) LDA, this represented a great opportunity to bring a renowned, empowering global franchise into the country.

Marla Edwina Taquidir, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a passion for creating 100% natural skincare products

February 7, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Marla Edwina Taquidir, founder of Muthiana Orera (Mozambique)

Taking a very customer-centric approach to skincare that celebrates and takes care of every individual’s needs is what drives Marla Edwina Taquidir and her business, Muthiana Orera. Today, the company is building a reputation for creating natural, high quality, proudly locally produced skincare products that are appealing to customers.

Suzie Wokabi, leading lady of Kenya's beauty industry

January 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

The African continent represents a rapidly growing marketplace for the beauty and wellness industry. What is really exciting is the emergence of a generation of African women beauty brand-builders who are creating world-class beauty and skincare products that are specifically formulated to meet the needs of African women consumers. In Kenya, Suzie Wokabi is one such trailblazer with her SuzieBeauty brand that is winning legions of consumer fans, both at home and abroad.

Wilma Cavaleiro, an Angolan woman entrepreneur creating an app for hair and beauty businesses

January 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Wilma Cavaleiro, founder of KUJINGA (Angola)

Ask any beauty or hair salon owner or freelance stylist about the biggest challenges facing the successful running of their businesses and they will tell you that interacting with potential customers in the digital environment is one of them. In Angola, Wilma Cavaleiro, founder of app management company KUJINGA, has the solution.

Lebogang Ndhlovu, a South African entrepreneur making high quality beauty therapy accessible and affordable

December 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lebogang Ndhlovu, founder of Amare Beauty and Consulting (South Africa)

Every woman wants to look good and feel confident, and there is nothing quite like getting a great beauty therapy experience to help achieve that goal. Yet for many women in South Africa, getting access to high quality beauty treatments that are affordable can be a challenge. But in Johannesburg and Soweto, entrepreneur and beauty therapy specialist, Lebogang Ndhlovu, founder of Amare Beauty and Consulting, has the solution.

Juvenália Brito, an Angolan entrepreneur building a professional make-up service

December 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

When it comes to creating make-up for special events, television and photography shoots, it needs professional expertise. In Angola, a team of women experts in the specialist make-up industry have been brought together by Juvenália Brito, under the Juvenália Beauty brand, a business offering truly professional and beautiful make-overs.

Vanda Tchimuondje Costa, an Angolan entrepreneur building a business that promotes wellness and healthy eating

December 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Health and wellness conscious women in Angola have a wonderful source of help when it comes to getting great support and resources to aid overall wellbeing. Okupuyuka Brunch and Wellness is a business that is the brainchild of three women entrepreneurs who want to create a one-stop-shop for women to eat healthily, de-stress with great wellness treatments, and exercise with like-minded women.

Sam Blake, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur taking a holistic approach to skincare with her business

December 1, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Sam Blake, founder of Skinadore Holistic Skincare (Zimbabwe)

As more and more people are becoming conscious about the type of products they put onto their skin, the desire to find more natural solutions is growing. In Zimbabwe, Sam Blake, founder of Skinadore Holistic Skincare and an experienced Aesthetician herself, has the solution.

Hape Marite Mphale, an entrepreneur creating natural hair care products and building a great brand in Lesotho

November 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Hape Marite Mphale, founder of Blackhair (Lesotho)

The haircare business globally is big business, and in Africa, the market for high quality, home-grown brands that know exactly how to cater to the specific haircare needs of African women is exploding. In Lesotho, entrepreneur Hape Marite Mphale has created the Blackhair brand, a popular and rapidly growing natural hair care brand and range of products.

Nandi Usher, an entrepreneur from Botswana making mobile beauty spa treatments accessible to everyone

October 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Nandi Usher, founder of Nandi’s Beauty Creations (Botswana)

Every woman wants to look and feel good, but not everyone can travel to a spa. However, in Botswana, one enterprising woman has created a mobile beauty spa experience that is convenient and affordable. Nandi Usher, founder of Nandi’s Beauty Creations, is winning fans with her quality service and products.

Selma Uamusse, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a proudly organic cosmetics brand in the country

October 20, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Selma Uamusse, founder of Nhani (Mozambique)

Many consumers are becoming much more discerning and knowledgeable about the cosmetics they buy and put onto their skin. But finding good quality organic cosmetic products that celebrate local, natural plants and production techniques can be difficult. That’s where Mozambican entrepreneur, Selma Uamusse, founder of Nhani comes in. She is producing great quality, organic cosmetic products that customers want to buy and can trust.

Linda Dempah, an entrepreneur building a natural beauty brand in Cote d’Ivoire that is empowering women across the globe

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Linda Dempah, founder of Adeba Nature (Cote d’Ivoire)

Empowering women to feel chic and beautiful is the mission of Ivorian natural beauty brand, Adeba Nature. Formulated using fewer than five ingredients, this product range created by beauty entrepreneur, Linda Dempah, is creating a brand that is rooted in the existing traditions preserved in Ivorian villages.

Karen Potgieter, a South African entrepreneur creating a high performance, natural skincare brand

September 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Karen Potgieter, founder of L’abeille (South Africa)

Everyone loves the idea of youthful skin but it can be hard to achieve in our busy lives. But help is at hand, thanks to L’abeille, a South African natural skincare brand that works at a cellular level, created by entrepreneur Karen Potgieter.

Farida Yahya, an entrepreneur in Nigeria building an award-winning haircare solutions brand

September 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Farida Yahya, founder of Lumo Naturals (Nigeria)

The challenges facing many women in Africa of how to manage and care for their natural hair is one that entrepreneur Farida Yahya is all too familiar with. It was the inspiration for the launch of her business Lumo Naturals, which today creates a range of specialist hair products that both cleanse and treat the hair gently. Today, the brand is winning scores of fans who are looking for a natural solution for their natural hair.

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