Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration in business comes from the women I’ve worked with as a makeup artist for over 20 years. Seeing their confidence transform when they feel beautiful motivated me to build Afia Beauty Cosmetics. I’m inspired by the power of entrepreneurship to create products that help people express themselves boldly while building something meaningful from passion, creativity, and resilience.

How do you stay motivated?

Having been in the beauty industry, I saw a gap where pigments often didn’t show on deeper skin tones. I created Afia Beauty to fill that gap with buttery, highly pigmented products that empower confidence and support all women. Seeing people shine with our products and building a brand that celebrates individuality motivates me to keep turning a vision into a thriving business.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The $25,000 would allow me to expand Afia Beauty through new product development, increased inventory, and elevated marketing campaigns. I would focus on creating innovative beauty products while strengthening our digital presence through content and storytelling. The funding would also allow me to hire support for content creation and operations, helping accelerate our growth and bring our vision to a wider audience.