“Make-up isn’t just creating cosmetics — there’s an artistry to it.”
Courtesy of Prados Magnificence
Cece Meadows, the Indigenous founding father of Prados Magnificence, Military spouse and mom of 4, is well-versed in balancing the sensible and the poetic.
And that is made all of the distinction.
All through her journey from finance skilled to magnificence entrepreneur, Meadows’ success has emerged not solely as a product of her monetary savvy and generosity but additionally of the creativity that comes with being a “Pisces,” revealed poet and make-up artist.
“I noticed the marginalization of my folks and BIPOC girls locally. I wished to create an area for us in that business.”
Earlier than Meadows was a magnificence founder and CEO, she labored in finance for 15 years. It was a spot Meadows’ “very humble beginnings” hadn’t essentially ready her for — her monetary literacy got here from her faculty training {and professional} expertise.
Then, a most cancers prognosis flipped Meadows’ world the other way up. Battling the illness did not depart her feeling or wanting her greatest, Meadows says, and he or she found make-up as a approach to cope. Quickly, she realized she might share its energy with others going by means of an identical expertise.
“I might take my little make-up equipment to Ronald McDonald Home and do make-up on children who had been going by means of chemo and ladies who had been going by means of breast most cancers [treatments],” Meadows says, “actually connecting with folks on one other degree in a unique business, after which it grew into what I’ve achieved with merchandise now.”
From there, Meadows continued to discover the business, in the end turning into a magnificence influencer and New York Style Week make-up artist. It was at that time that she acknowledged simply how narrowly magnificence requirements had been outlined.
“I noticed the marginalization of my folks and BIPOC girls locally,” Meadows explains, “whether or not that be the wonder neighborhood or the New York Style Week scene — the shortage of illustration of folks that seemed like me and are available from the identical backgrounds. So I wished to create an area for us in that business.”
Meadows, whose ancestors are of the Yoeme and Nʉmʉnʉ folks, from present-day Sonora Mexico, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, noticed a chance to attract consideration to the cultures and tales that so typically go missed within the mainstream. She would begin a magnificence model to deliver them to gentle.
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“I am eager for the day that BIPOC girls and BIPOC magnificence manufacturers can stroll into rooms and get million-dollar funding.”
Meadows started Prados Magnificence out of her toddler daughter’s nursery, tinkering along with her web site and fulfilling orders whereas breastfeeding.
Bootstrapping was a part of the model’s ethos from the very starting: Meadows put the $150 she comprised of a make-up appointment towards the trademark and copyright software. “It prices much more than that,” she notes, “however that was the primary seed I sowed for my enterprise.”
Cash has all the time been the enterprise’s largest problem, Meadows says. She generally jokes that her workers make greater than she does, as a result of, on multiple event, she hasn’t been capable of pay herself.
“I am eager for the day that BIPOC girls and BIPOC magnificence manufacturers can stroll into rooms and get million-dollar funding and it not be a problem,” Meadows says. “As a result of [today], lower than 1% of BIPOC-owned manufacturers can seal million-dollar offers.”
Funding apart, Meadows was additionally shocked by simply how a lot she nonetheless did not find out about constructing a enterprise from the bottom up. With none entrepreneurs in her household to show to for steerage, Meadows needed to navigate the ins and outs of so many issues, like forming an LLC, by herself.
Thankfully, she’s additionally discovered a supportive neighborhood that is prepared to assist out alongside the best way. “Individuals actually need to see [Prados Beauty] flourish and succeed,” Meadows says. “[Those people] sharing their time and area has additionally been a good looking factor to expertise.”
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“Regardless of how huge Prados will get, I need to have this promise with intent — not simply with phrases.”
Initially, out of necessity, Prados Magnificence was a small operation — promoting simply two merchandise, eyelashes and brush units.
However, because it so typically does lately, social media modified the sport. Not solely had been folks within the merchandise, however they had been additionally keen on supporting Meadows and her give-back initiatives.
As a result of the center that launched the model three years in the past remains to be on the heart of its mission. Giving again to Indigenous communities and others in want, whether or not by means of donations of merchandise or time, has remained very important — the “Prados Promise.” Meadows at present serves because the founder and president of her nonprofit group The Prados Life Basis.
“Regardless of how huge Prados will get, I need to have this promise with intent — not simply with phrases,” Meadows says.
When the pandemic struck in 2020, Prados Magnificence funneled 50% of the income from its first cosmetics launch into fundraising efforts and PPE purchases for Indigenous communities that had been hit the toughest.
“Individuals assume it is gross sales and branding and all these issues,” Meadows says, “however for me, actually, it is the give-back portion that makes Prados what it’s.”
It is made Prados Magnificence what it’s, and it is helped gasoline its progress: The model is on observe to be in 600 JC Penney shops by the top of 2023.
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“Each assortment that we’ve come out with is often one thing that I’ve actually dreamed about.”
Although the leap from finance to magnificence may appear incongruent on paper, Meadows says she’s all the time had an innate creative drive — one which continues to push her creatively in enterprise.
“It has been an enormous pivot and an thrilling journey, but additionally one thing that not quite a lot of Indigenous folks have the chance to do,” Meadows says, “so I positively really feel honored to be one of many first to do it and [able to] pave the best way for many who are going to come back after.”
Bringing that creativity to life every day has been exceedingly rewarding, Meadows says, permitting her to attract on what evokes her most — like her goals — to craft new merchandise and designs.
“Each assortment that we’ve come out with is often one thing that I’ve actually dreamed about: coloration scheme, form, the Indigenous girl standing subsequent to a horse,” Meadows says.
After she has a dream, Meadows wakes up and sketches it out rapidly. To her, it feels pure, the fruits of the wealthy historical past she strives to deliver forth.
“As an artist and as an individual who comes from a tradition that is very vibrant and exquisite, very colourful, a tradition that is stuffed with artisans, it would not shock me that it is one thing that I can take, create a narrative out of, after which share it with the world — and on the identical time share the story and the great thing about being an Indigenous particular person,” she says.
Prados Magnificence’s latest assortment launches right now. Known as “Sagrado,” which interprets to “sacred,” the merchandise come boxed in deep orange and purple with a floral hummingbird design.
Picture credit score: Courtesy of Prados Magnificence
Meadows can also be grateful for the chance she’s needed to collaborate with different Indigenous artists and designers, together with Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa and Choctaw), Kassie Kussman (Cherokee) and Lil Coyote (Shoshone-Bannock).
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Meadows’ journey to magnificence founder has been singular and colourful, and for aspiring entrepreneurs who’re prepared to rework their goals and passions into actuality, she has some hard-won phrases of knowledge.
“Seek the advice of with different entrepreneurs,” Meadows says. “That’s one thing that I want I might’ve achieved. I’ve been round homeowners and CEOs my entire grownup life, working in finance, however by no means actually sat down and requested them what their challenges had been and why. And so that might be my greatest recommendation: Attain out to some entrepreneurs in your identical business and choose their brains.”
