The beauty industry has long celebrated innovation, but now more than ever, African beauty founders are shaping the global conversation. These women are not only creating products that cater to melanin-rich skin but also building brands that reflect identity, culture, and excellence.
You know the brands. You’ve used the products. Now meet the African founders redefining global beauty one shade, one ritual, one story at a time.
From Harlem to Lagos, Stockholm to Accra, African beauty founders are building empires rooted in identity, intention, and innovation. Their work goes beyond pigment. It’s about presence, power, and putting our beauty at the center.
This is more than a spotlight. It’s a reminder: African beauty isn’t emerging. It’s leading.
Meet The Leading African Beauty Founders
ChiChi Eburu – Founder & CEO of Juvia’s Place
Nigerian‑American entrepreneur and founder of Juvia’s Place, a global cosmetics brand celebrated for its inclusive product range tailored to deep skin tones and known for bold pigments and rich palettes inspired by African royalty.
Olamide Olowe – Founder & CEO of Topicals
Nigerian-American entrepreneur redefining skincare for chronic skin conditions with bold, science-driven solutions. In 2022 Olamide became the youngest Black woman to raise over $10 million in venture funding, a milestone she reached before turning 26.
Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye – Founder & CEO of AMI COLÉ
A first-generation Senegalese-American born and raised in Harlem, Diarrha created Ami Colé to celebrate melanin-rich skin and honor the depth, richness, and diversity of African beauty.
Sharon Chuter – Founder & CEO of Uoma Beauty
As Founder and Creative Director of UOMA Beauty, the Nigerian- American entrepreneur brings a bold, hands-on vision to every product; creating a makeup line that’s unapologetic, innovative, and rooted in radical inclusivity.
Abena Boamah-Acheampong – Founder, Hanahana Beauty
Abena Boamah-Acheampong is a Ghanaian-American and the founder of Hanahana Beauty, a consciously clean skincare brand rooted in holistic wellness. Her work centers sustainability, transparency, and economic empowerment — from closing the living wage gap to providing healthcare for Shea producers in Ghana.
Christina Funke Tegbe
With a Southern-American childhood and deep Nigerian roots, Christina launched 54 Thrones to create clean, decadent skincare inspired by African beauty rituals. Each product honors the continent’s rich natural resources, with ingredients sustainably sourced across Africa. Featured on Shark Tank, the brand has become a global favorite.
Diarry Maréna – Founder of Maréna Beauté
Diarry Maréna is a Senegalese-born makeup artist based in Sweden and founder of Maréna Beauté, Scandinavia’s first luxury makeup brand for dark skin tones.
After years of working without suitable shade options, she created a high-quality line rooted in her artistry and African heritage, designed to meet the needs of deeper complexions.
Abi Oyepitan & Liha Okunniwa – Co-founders of LIHA Beauty
Abi Oyepitan & Liha Okunniwa are the British-Nigerian co-founders of LIHA Beauty, a natural skincare brand blending Yoruba traditions with modern British culture.
Handmade in small batches, their products honor African beauty rituals using ethically sourced, plant-powered ingredients stocked in global retailers like Liberty and Net-A-Porter.
