February is Black History Month, and while it’s vital to uplift members of the Black community every day, you can use this as a wake-up call to get more involved. Part of supporting this underrepresented segment of the American population is putting your dollars to work. Here, we rounded up super-inspiring Black female founders across wellness, lifestyle, and more. Shop from these superstars when you’re looking for a gift idea or something to treat yourself.
Black History Month: Black Female Founders To Support
Naomi Osaka
Founder of Kinlò
About Kinlò: This four-time Grand Slam tennis champion created this company to raise awareness for Black Americans, who experience a mortality rate from melanoma three times higher than those with fairer skin.Try their Golden Rays Sunscreen SPF 50+, featuring a water-resistant and sweat-proof formula. It’s a mineral mixture, resulting in an easy-to-wear, natural finish.
Laura Paulino Rosenbaum
Founder of Novel Swim
About Novel Swim: Test out their Cat Lady Rockaway Top, a strapless-optional bikini top with chic detailing and boning on the sides to create a retro style. This swim company is female and minority-owned and partners with local seamstresses in New York City to ensure ethical production.
Brielle Anyea
Founder of Misses Brie
About Misses Brie: “I created Misses Brie for women that strut with confidence and define their own beauty,” says the founder of the “confidence meets curves” brand, which offers streetwear and swimwear.
Michele Scott-Lynch
Founder of Bouclème
About Bouclème: Try their Curl Cleanser, which won the Marie Claire Beauty Awards for ‘Best Shampoo for Curly Hair’ in 2019. It’s a non-foaming formula that’s cream-based, breaking through build-up without removing hydration. It’s ideal for medium to thick curls or very dry hair.
Mariah Woodson
Founder of Minty + ReliePH
About Minty + ReliePH: If you suffer from eczema, you’ll do anything to find relief. That’s partly why this founder created her company: she wanted a product that soothed but was also gentle for hyper-sensitive skin. Thus, the Multipurpose Ointment was born, made with plant-driven ingredients like avocado and sunflower oil, beeswax, shea butter, and zinc.
Pinky Cole
Founder of Slutty Vegan ATL, Bar Vegan & The Pinky Cole Foundation
About: This food entrepreneur opened her first vegan food truck in 2018, inspired by her love of plant-based comfort food. Since then, she’s expanded tremendously to include restaurants, a bar, and a non-profit. To learn more about her and get inspired to whip up recipes at home, you can buy her hilarious and helpful cookbook, Eat Plants B*tch.
Monique Rodriguez
Founder of Mielle Organics
About Mielle Organics: Give your curly hair the TLC it needs with the Babassu Oil and Mint Deep Conditioner. It’s created from native Amazonian plants and uses natural oils and Cetearyl alcohol to reduce fly-aways and frizz.
Gwen Jimmere
Founder of Naturalicious
About Naturalicious: This company is all about improving the richness and health of your life and diet. They have a new beauty supplement line, and the Glow & Grow Beauty Greens is a solid place to start. It packs in a punch of fruits, veggies, greens, and superfoods that improve the luster and shine of your hair and skin.
Kiya Tomlin
Founder of Kiya Tomlin
About Kiya Tomlin: Recently, this designer’s Jersey Twisted Tee was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things — and we understand why. It’s a closet staple! Featuring a bamboo/cotton blend and an asymmetrical cut you can easily tuck into high-waisted pants, leggings, or a skirt, it’ll become your new favorite item. You might even be tempted to get a few of the nine colors.
Angela Clay
Founder of Liberate and Lather
About Liberate and Lather: How often do you carve out time in your overbooked schedule to process how you’re feeling? Likely, not enough. After 30 years of filling up many journals, this entrepreneur knew how important it was to have a prompt to encourage writing flow. So, she created this subscription service that encourages women to light a candle and spend some time on their pages.
Zuleyka Strasner
Founder of Zero Grocery
About Zero Grocery: If part of your goal for the year is to improve your carbon footprint, grocery shopping with this Black-owned brand could be step one. They offer plastic-free, sustainable groceries (plus home goods and personal items!) delivered in less than two hours. We recommend trying the yummy (and healthy) French Vanilla Almond Granola.
Milan Ball
Founder of Philan
About Philan: Your shopping habit can lead to social goodwill by downloading the free app, Philan. It helps you to tap into underrepresented philanthropic brands to inform and inspire consumer activism.
Maryssa Solomon
Founder of Travel Trunk
About Travel Trunk: When you’re planning a getaway with your friends, one of the necessary evils is tracking expenses. And, of course, saving for the trip itself. By downloading this free app, you can be one another’s accountability buddies for the journey ahead.
Jasmine Jones
Founder of Myya
About Myya: This is the first insurance-billable, direct-to-consumer, inclusive intimate brand for those who have undergone a mastectomy. Their top-selling Josie Bra features zero underwires but has supportive cups with pockets for prosthetics. The founder Jasmine Jones created Myya after watching her grandmother struggle to find a breast form that matched her skin tone and fit comfortably.
Taylor Lindsay-Noel
Founder of Cup of Té
About Cup of Té: You might recognize this founder’s name since she’s a former Olympic gymnast. She’s also an organic tea maker, and she decided to create her company after an accident left her paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. Now, it’s one of the premier leaf organic teas and teaware retailers. Try this Oprah’s Favorite Things Organic Tea Set that features chai, lemon ginger, coconut, and berry.
Jenelle Fraser
Founder of Blk Box T.O.
About Blk Box T.O.: Looking for the perfect gift for nearly any and all occasions? Try a curated gift box of goodies that highlight and promote Black-owned small businesses and brands. The founder created this company hoping to amplify the local Black community in Toronto after losing her job during the pandemic.
Genelle Brown
Founder of Salt Spray Soap Co.
About Salt Spray Soap Co.: Inspired by her home country of Bermuda, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation when you lather up with this delicious and decadent body butter. No matter how long it’s been since you’ve been on a beach, using this line of products will make you feel that ocean breeze and zen vibe.
Denetrias ‘Dee’ Charlemagne
Founder of AVEC
About AVEC: After getting bored of traditional mixers for cocktails packed with sugar, this founder (and her co-founder, Alex Doman) looked for a solution. They created AVEC, mixers made with real juice and botanical extracts, with 80 to 90 percent less sugar. Yum! In July 2021, AVEC was named a finalist in Pharell’s Black Ambition program.
Chloe Freeman
Founder of For Them
About For Them: This non-binary founder created For Them, the first inclusive wellness company to solve the lack of resources available to those who identify as gender diverse or queer. The company has two products — a binder and an intimacy serum — and a thriving online community where the community can seek and find trusted advice.
Lisa Love
Founder of Tanoshi Kids Computers
About Tanoshi Kids Computers: This Shark Tank-winning start-up is known for its kids’ laptop line that gives children access to educational content from renowned educators. It also features Zoom and Google Meet compatibility for remote learning and many other features that help families and boost the next generation of thinkers.
Buki Ade
Founder of Bfyne
About Bfyne: Known for its bold statement prints, this Kahi Kaftan will be a beautiful addition to your wardrobe. Her styles are inspired by her upbringing when her family immigrated from Nigeria to the United States when she was eight years old.
Brianna Arps
Founder of Moodeaux
About Moodeaux: In October 2018, this female founder was laid off from her job, living on unemployment — and well, in a dark place. She was applying for jobs but receiving crickets in response, so she partly treated her depressive period with a long shower and a spritz of perfume. This was when she realized that smell was a vital mood-booster — and there was a lack of Black-owned fragrance labels. Thus, she created her own line, making her one of the few BIPOC women in the industry.
Hogoè Kpessou
Founder of Hogoè Kpessou
About Hogoè Kpessou: This gorgeous backpack addition to your wardrobe will become a new favorite. It can be carried as a backpack, shoulder bag, or on your wrist, featuring the founder’s signature ‘bee’ emblem and made of genuine cowhide leather.
Khaliah Giullory
Founder of Nap Bar
About Nap Bar: As an African American diversity and inclusion speaker, filmmaker, and philanthropist, this change-maker created her company in Houston. It became the first white glove, self-care napping service that offers onsite and in-suite ‘rest sanctuaries.’ When the pandemic started, she needed to find another solution to reach others, so she created the Better Sleep Box, available nationwide, and includes everything you need for a solid rest: a candle, pillow mist, sleep mask, a downloadable wave sounds file — and a bonus item of your choice.
Tennesha Wood
Founder of The Broom List
About The Broom List: When this founder discovered no dating services available to educated, successful, and marriage-minded Black singles — she knew she had the opportunity to fill the void. All members are vetted, screened, and matched across 50+ compatibility points.
Lauren Randolph
Founder of Kin Collective
About Kin Collective: This company is dedicated to bringing artisanal foods from small, Black-owned businesses. These curated sets are not only beautiful and delicious but more than 80 percent of the box price goes directly back to vendors.
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Table of Contents
- Naomi Osaka
- Laura Paulino Rosenbaum
- Brielle Anyea
- Michele Scott-Lynch
- Mariah Woodson
- Pinky Cole
- Monique Rodriguez
- Gwen Jimmere
- Kiya Tomlin
- Angela Clay
- Zuleyka Strasner
- Milan Ball
- Maryssa Solomon
- Jasmine Jones
- Taylor Lindsay-Noel
- Jenelle Fraser
- Genelle Brown
- Denetrias 'Dee' Charlemagne
- Chloe Freeman
- Lisa Love
- Buki Ade
- Brianna Arps
- Hogoè Kpessou
- Khaliah Giullory
- Tennesha Wood
- Lauren Randolph
