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The Business of Fashion
Beauty

How to Launch a Black Beauty Brand

In a three-part series, The Business of Beauty explores how Black founders Monique Rodriguez, Danessa Myricks and more built, launched and scaled their multi-million-dollar businesses. In part one, a look at how these entrepreneurs found their niche and harnessed early lessons that were critical to their growth.
There's still plenty of room for growth and innovation in the beauty industry, especially among Black founders who arguably resonate with multicultural consumers.
There's still plenty of room for growth and innovation in the beauty industry, especially among Black founders who arguably resonate with multicultural consumers. (BoF Team)
By
BoF PROFESSIONAL

Mielle Organics’ origin story is by now the stuff of legend among Black female entrepreneurs: In the early 2010s, Chicago nurse Monique Rodriguez was frustrated with the available range of multicultural hair products. She whipped up her own concoction in the kitchen, shared it with friends, gained a loyal following and soon attracted the attention of major investors and international beauty conglomerates.

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About the author
Sheena Butler-Young
Sheena Butler-Young

Sheena Butler-Young is Senior Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. She is based in New York and covers workplace, talent and issues surrounding diversity and inclusion.

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