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As a part of the Morning Lazziness sequence highlighting empowering ladies who’re making a exceptional affect with their concepts, I had the pleasure of interviewing Queen Mide.
Queen Mide, often known as Iyimide Shola-Shittu, is the visionary founding father of WINSOME by TAH, a magnificence model redefining what it means to shine from the within out. An advocate and entrepreneur enthusiastic about empowering ladies, Queen Mide created WINSOME to have fun the trendy skilled lady—her ambition, class, and individuality.
WINSOME by TAH goes past lip gloss. Each product is clear, inclusive, and unapologetically elegant, designed to encourage confidence, self-expression, and authenticity. Underneath Queen Mide’s management, the model champions the assumption that magnificence and ambition go hand in hand.
With a mission to empower ladies in every single place to pursue their targets and embrace their distinctive glow, Queen Mide and her devoted group of dreamers and wonder lovers are constructing greater than a model—they’re nurturing a neighborhood the place ladies join, uplift, and shine collectively.
On this interview, she displays on the pivotal moments, hard-earned classes, and defining wins from her journey in constructing thriving on-line ventures.
What impressed you to turn into an entrepreneur within the magnificence trade, and what led to the creation of your model or product line?
Winsome by TAH was born from a private hole I stored seeing — and feeling — within the magnificence house. As a Black lady, I usually discovered myself mixing shades, compromising on pigment or consolation, or feeling like I used to be by no means really the meant buyer. I wished one thing that represented softness, richness, pleasure — and boldness. I’m an engineer by coaching, however a creator at coronary heart, and constructing this model allowed me to merge each worlds. Winsome is my love letter to ladies like me — an area the place confidence meets care.
As a girl navigating the sweetness enterprise world, what distinctive challenges have you ever confronted, and the way did you overcome them?
Whew. So many. One of many hardest components has been working with creatives or collaborators who might not really imagine within the model — or worse, attempt to make the most of it. Discovering individuals who align together with your values and genuinely need to make it easier to construct (not simply profit) is hard, particularly once you’re simply beginning.
One other problem has been getting individuals to imagine within the authenticity of what we’re creating. The market is saturated, and even once you’re clearly addressing an unmet want, individuals usually overlook you since you’re new, or as a result of your story doesn’t match the standard mould. I’ve needed to be extremely intentional — staying grounded within the model’s goal, displaying up constantly, and letting the work communicate for itself. Winsome isn’t a development. It’s a reality.
One other massive problem has been entry — to funding, networks, and clear info. Magnificence will be gatekept, and beginning as a bootstrapped, Black woman-led model meant I needed to construct loads from scratch. I overcame that by being resourceful, leaning into my neighborhood, and asking for assist even when it felt uncomfortable.
The wonder trade will be each aggressive and demanding—how do you preserve private well-being whereas rising your model?
I delegate — loads. I’ve realized that I can’t (and shouldn’t) do all of it. I depend on my operations lead, neighborhood supervisor, and digital assistant to maintain issues transferring.
I additionally attempt to make the most of help the place I can, whether or not it’s from household, pals, or neighborhood members who genuinely need to see me win. And most significantly, I’ve realized that relaxation and limits are a part of the work. Resting doesn’t imply I’m not dedicated — it means I’m preserving the power I have to maintain this imaginative and prescient.
Which networking methods, communities, or collaborations have helped you construct significant connections within the magnificence house?
To be trustworthy, I’m nonetheless navigating that house. Some communities really feel extra like closed circles — costly to entry, or stuffed with unstated expectations that don’t make room for rising manufacturers. Different instances, you give and provides, and don’t obtain worth in return.
I’ve discovered that natural connections and peer collaboration go a great distance. I’ve been blessed to have pals, fellow founders, and girls who pour into the model with out asking for something again. I’m nonetheless looking out for areas which are genuinely inclusive — and if anybody studying this is aware of of any, I’d like to be pointed in the appropriate course.
What methods have labored finest for gaining loyal clients and constructing belief in your magnificence model?
We prioritize clear, trustworthy communication. If there’s a delay, we are saying so. If somebody has a priority, we reply thoughtfully. That non-public contact — even in our DMs — has helped us construct early belief.
We additionally contain our viewers within the course of. From pre-launch surveys to suggestions requests, we let our neighborhood know: that is your model, too. And slowly however absolutely, that’s how we’re constructing a base of loyal, invested clients.
Transparency. Sharing the journey — not simply the polished finish product — has helped individuals purchase into the why behind the model.
Which advertising strategies have been simplest for your small business, and the way do you measure their success?
Social media has been key — particularly Instagram. Our content material that feels private, actual, and community-oriented at all times performs finest. However we’re additionally testing e mail funnels and in-person model activations.
As we develop, we’re testing pop-up experiences in several cities — beginning with our launch occasion. Being in the identical room with potential clients, letting them contact, really feel, strive the product — that’s the place the magic is. In case you see us coming to your metropolis, please pull up. We’re bringing the glow to you.
Success, for us, seems to be like engagement, suggestions, and connection — not simply gross sales.
Are you able to share a serious setback or turning level in your magnificence entrepreneurship journey, and the way you navigated by it?
A serious one was proper earlier than our launch — our occasion planner dropped out only a week earlier than. I needed to scramble, rebuild, and rally the group to tug it off. And we did. That second taught me that willingness beats perfection.
One other second was coping with some inventive companions who weren’t clear or aligned with the imaginative and prescient. It jogged my memory why contracts matter, why clear communication is vital, and why discernment ought to by no means be rushed. I really pray for creatives with integrity — as a result of this house wants extra of them.
Nevertheless, the largest turning level was realizing I couldn’t look ahead to perfection to launch. I used to be holding again ready on funding, extra content material, higher timing. However the reality is — momentum builds from motion. I made a decision to launch with what I had, and that call unlocked every thing.
What’s one piece of recommendation you’d provide to ladies who’re simply beginning their entrepreneurial journey within the magnificence trade?
Construct one thing actual earlier than you construct one thing massive. There’s a lot stress to scale quick, look polished, or mimic different manufacturers. However the manufacturers that final are rooted in readability, goal, and consistency.
Begin with what you have got, refine as you go, and don’t be afraid to ask for assist. You don’t have to have all of it found out to take step one. And don’t look ahead to permission. Create what you want existed.
Is there a quote, mantra, or philosophy that guides your decision-making and management as a magnificence entrepreneur?
Completely. My mantra is: “Be comfortable and audacious.” “Softness is energy.”
You don’t need to be arduous to guide. You don’t need to shrink to win. There’s energy in tenderness — in constructing one thing lovely with coronary heart and technique. I carry that into every thing I do.
I remind myself that main with care — for myself, my model, and my individuals — isn’t a weak spot. It’s truly the key sauce.
What Are The 5 Issues You Want To Overcome Self-Doubt and Construct Confidence?
- Readability of Imaginative and prescient – Understanding your why retains you anchored when every thing else feels shaky.
- Motion – Even small steps construct momentum. Doubt thrives in inaction.
- Group – You want voices that remind you who you’re. Preserve your encouragers shut.
- Proof – Doc your wins, even the small ones. They’re receipts for when imposter syndrome reveals up.
- Permission to Develop – Don’t wait till it’s excellent. Confidence builds by doing, not overthinking.
In case you might encourage a motion that may carry probably the most quantity of fine for the best variety of individuals, what would that be?
I’d begin a motion rooted in radical visibility and softness for ladies of shade — particularly Black ladies. We’ve carried a lot for therefore lengthy, and we’re nonetheless rising.
Think about a world the place we’re not simply surviving, however thriving — in luxurious, in ease, in creativity, and in neighborhood. Winsome by TAH is a glimpse of that. I would like us to have areas that mirror our full vary — not simply our resilience, however our radiance.
How can our readers additional observe your work on-line?
Yow will discover me and observe the model at:
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