Paris McKenzie, CEO and founder of Paris Beauty Supplyz, made history this summer when she decided to pursue one of her interests which is to create a beauty products space for women like herself – Black women, to visit and shop without that feeling like they do not belong. If you are Black in America, chances are you know what it’s like to be profiled in a store when all you want to do is to shop the products you need – in peace.

According to Paris, “I’ve never been in a beauty supply store owned by a Black person. When I walked into a beauty supply store, either I didn’t get assisted well or I was given an attitude or people watched me like a hawk or followed me around the store.” Many of us Black people can attest to that! Most stores that sell beauty supplies that are geared towards Black people are unfortunately not owned by Black people, but instead are mostly owned by people of Korean or Asian descent. We need to change that, and thankfully Paris is taking the lead and showing us that it is possible to own the businesses in our community so we can be treated fairly and most of all, so our money can remain in our community.

Paris learned from the best! She learned the spirit and responsibility of entrepreneurship from her mother – Senica Thompson – who owns a boutique and beauty salon in the vicinity where Paris’s beauty supply store is now located. As Paris relayed to CBS News, “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 developed two of the most business savvy skills entrepreneurs must have – marketing and financial management – that she is now implementing in her own business, and this foundation will no doubt ensure her business succeeds.

Paris knows that the beauty business can be a challenge as far as Black people being able to access manufacturers for the supply of products. She recalls two young Black sisters in California who started their beauty business but were unable to maintain it, because manufacturers – who are mostly of Asian descent, were unwilling to supply them with the products they needed.

Paris has the support of her mom, her older brother Oshane, and her younger sister Shawntelle to help see her through in her business. She also has the support of many people in the Black community who are doing their part to spread the word about her business venture. And she was in awe when she shared on her social media that she was a new business owner and Janet Jackson retweeted her tweet as well as reached out to her.

Being an entrepreneur is not Paris’s final destination. Her dream is to become a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and she is now a straight A student in High School taking college courses in preparation for her pre-med transition in college.

Paris Beauty Supplyz is stocked with all the necessary hair, skin and beauty products you can find in a beauty supply store.

Head on over to her beauty supply store if you are in Brooklyn, New York or shop at her website on Paris Beauty Supplyz.