Wednesday Wonder Woman: Brandi Davis

Brandi Davis is the founder of The Candy Lady Cosmetics.  The Candy Lady Cosmetics is far bigger than a company filled with fun names, colorful palettes, and candy-themed merchandise. Inspiration from the brand comes from roots deep in New Orleans culture and tradition. The Candy Lady was one of the first entrepreneurs we saw in our neighborhoods. From frozen cups, chips, and of course candy, she was an everyday working individual who serviced the community with products that kept us coming back for more. So too, their brand was created to provide striking looks and bold colors that complement every face it touches. Not only does the brand sell cosmetic products, but their staple is that they also donate products to disadvantage teens and women. The brand was designed with versatility in mind to provide affordable and richly pigmented products to the everyday woman, beauty beginner, and expert makeup artists.

Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Brandi, Brandi?

Brandi: Brandi is a strong-willed individual with a pure and giving heart. She wakes up every morning thinking about who needs help and how she can help. 

Christina: Why did you start The Candy Lady Cosmetics?

Brandi: While working as a nurse, and later as a family nurse practitioner, for over 19 years, I noticed that myself and some of my nursing colleagues would just show up for work not as groomed as women from other disciplines. Like many nurses, I worked several jobs and just couldn’t find the time to enhance my “everyday look” the way I would have liked. To me, looking good and feeling good go hand-in-hand, and it creates a burst of confidence like no other. As a lipgloss lover, I decided that it would only be right to create convenient and affordable cosmetics products suited for everyday women, from beauty beginners to pro-MUA.

Christina: What is your favorite thing about makeup? 

Brandi:   Make-up makes everyone an artist! I love the freedom and individuality makeup can bring. It allows the artist to showcase their expressions, emotions, and talents with just a few highlights and a perfectly pigmented palette.

Christina: Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur? Why or Why not?

Brandi: To be honest, I never thought that I would be an entrepreneur. I just didn’t see myself finding the time. Coming from a legacy of hard-working women, all of whom worked the same job for 20-30 years and then retired with a pension, I figured that would be my path as well. You know, follow in their footsteps. In 2013 I remembered attending one of my daughter’s parent meetings at her after-school program, Urban League College Track, and being given a challenge. The challenge came from a guest speaker, an accountant challenging the parents to start college funds for their children. There was something said during that meeting that stood out most to me; “ You’ll never get rich working your good government job.” Though this phrase (lingered in the back of my mind for several days, I took no action until Jan 2020, when I decided to launch The Candy Lady.

Christina: Define beauty in your own words.

Brandi: Beauty is YOU. I believe that everyone possesses beauty.

Christina: Who or what inspires you?

Brandi: There are numerous people I can name in the beauty industry that inspire me, such as; Cashmere Nicole, Supa Cent, the founders of Mented Cosmetics, and more, but there is always that one person whose inspiration triumphs all and for me, this person is my husband. There was a time where he had it all and lost that and more, but despite all the obstacles in his path, including racial discrimination from corporate America, he showed no self-pity. He persevered through every obstacle, no matter the cost. From accepting odd jobs to pursuing several business opportunities, my husband never stopped pushing me to do more and become an entrepreneur. Knowing his story and seeing the resilient and strong individual that was produced has given me a sense that I can do anything, including to grow this brand.

Christina: Your company donates products to disadvantage teens and women. Why do you all do this? 

Brandi: I was considered a disadvantaged teen. I was a teenage mother who hid my pregnancy until the day after I graduated from high school. I then transitioned to college, a teenage single mom who didn’t have extra money to buy anything outside of the necessities that myself and my daughter needed. I would have loved to have had some cosmetics products to wear to both on and off-campus events. I believe everyone deserves a chance to enhance their natural beauty, whether they can afford it or not. I want to give products to the teen that may be getting ready for prom or a school dance, the parole who may have a job interview or the batter women who just want a chance to enhance their beauty. I believe that when enhancing your natural beauty can build confidence.

Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects you would like our readers to know about?

Brandi:  We have some new products coming in the summer and fall of 2021, so everyone, stay tuned!

Connect with Brandi below:

Website: www.thecandyladycosmetics.com

Instagram: @thecandyladycosmetics

Facebook: The Candy Lady Cosmetics