Category: Beauty Supply

A New York teen business owner has accomplished more in her youth than a lot of adults do in their entire lives. The 16 year old has opened a beauty supply store.

Paris McKenzie opened the doors to Paris Beauty Supplyz in Brooklyn about a month ago, reported CBS New York. She may only be a minor, but this isn’t her first experience with entrepreneurship. Her mother owns a salon and boutique on the same street as the beauty supply store.

“I do have a lot of business experience. I’ve been helping my mom run her business since I was very, very young. So I know how to handle finances and how to market products in the store,” she explained to CBS New York. “I had enough money saved to invest in this.”

McKenzie also had something to prove when she opened her storefront.

“I’ve always had dreams to do things from a young age and everyone always either laughed at me or I would work in my mom’s stores and people would say ‘oh she works here, oh who left you alone,’ and it’s always somebody trying to put you down,” she told News12. “And I know the way it made me feel and I wouldn’t want other young girls to feel that way.”

Thankfully, the store has a ton of support from community members, including more than 13,000 Instagram followers.

“The messages I’ve been getting and the support I’ve been getting, it makes me feel amazing. It makes me want to do more,” said McKenzie.

In addition to running Paris Beauty Supplyz, McKenzie is juggling a heavy course load that includes college courses.

“I go to two different schools right now,” the rising junior said. “I’m in high school and I take college classes, so it’s a lot but I’ve been handling it well so far.”

Her aspirations do not end at the store.

“I’m hoping to major in pre-med, so I can become an orthopedic pediatric surgeon,” McKenzie said.

At the age of 16, Paris McKenzie has opened her own beauty supply shop called Paris Beauty Supplyz in Brooklyn, New York, making her the youngest person to ever do so. Already equipped with a lot of business experience, she has so far been running the business smoothly.

Over the years, Paris has been racking up knowledge in business while she was assisting her mother, Senica Thompson, in running her businesses, a boutique and a salon near where her new beauty supply shop is now located.

“I’ve been helping my mom run her business since I was very, very young. So I know how to handle finances and how to market products in the store,” Paris told CBS News. “I had enough money saved to invest in this.”

Despite her young age, she also earned the respect of her relatively older staff including 22-year old Giselle Ashby who said, “Paris, she’s like a little sister to me. I respect her. It’s fun.”

Aside from being an entrepreneur, Paris, who is a straight-A student, also plans to major in pre-med to achieve her dream of being an orthopedic pediatric surgeon. She is an incoming junior year high school student and is already taking college courses. She is a busy teenager but she doesn’t forget to enjoy from time to time.

“I don’t really have any more free time, but when I do, I try to go out with my friends,” said Paris. “Walking in here every morning, it makes me feel awesome.”

This article was originally published by BlackBusiness.com.