If KéNisha Ruff has her way, all women will feel bold, beautiful and empowered.
She launched Marie Hunter Beauty in 2016 with twelve cream lipsticks and has grown her business to include skincare products and candles, all the while embracing the idea that beauty should be simple and inspire women to be their best selves.
KéNisha, who hails from Chicago and now lives in Madison with her kids — eleven-year-old Cash, three-year-old Axel and two-year-old Lexa — shares more!
What led you to start Marie Hunter Beauty?
I’ve always believed that beauty should be simple. I wanted to see a change in the cosmetics industry for modern women seeking confidence, without compromise, in their cosmetics. I’m inspired by Parisian beauty rituals and I made it my mission to create a line of minimal beauty staples that could empower women to feel bolder. A swipe of lipstick and glowing skin will make any woman feel like she can conquer the world.
What’s your favorite part of running your business?
My favorite part of running Marie Hunter is the creative process and product development. The beauty and fashion industry is ever-changing, so it’s fun to be able to forecast trends and create campaigns and products around those trends.
What are the most challenging parts, or the parts people don’t typically understand?
The most challenging parts would be funding and product development. As a self-funded business, being able to compete with other businesses who receive funding and are able to scale and add new products more quickly is hard. Because we manufacture our products, we have to manufacture in lower quantities, which eats into our profits and makes it harder for us to scale quickly. This is why it is important for us to create core products that our customers will love all year long!
What products are your personal favorites? How about customers’ favorites?
My personal favorites are our Leather & Suede Signature Candle, Cynthia Luxury Matte Lipstick and our Overnight Recovery Cream. Some customer favorites are our Prosecco Signature Candle, Boss Lady Intense Matte Lipstick and our Refreshing Green Tea Mist.
How do you stay inspired?
I’m inspired by art, architecture, design and more. I feel beauty and inspiration in all of my surroundings and I like to stay inspired by creating mood boards, reading coffee table books and more!
What’s it like to live and work in Madison while your business is celebrated in Vogue, Elle and other national publications?
It has its pros and cons. While it is amazing to have Marie Hunter recognized on a global level, I also feel like the local community believes Marie Hunter is bigger than what it is due to our press features. I’m still (mainly) a one-woman show operating out of a three-hundred-square-foot office here in Madison.
How do parenthood and entrepreneurship intersect for you?
Things can get challenging yet rewarding when intersecting the two. As a perfectionist, I’ve had to get over the idea of being the “perfect” mother and entrepreneur. I’ve had to set realistic expectations and know that sometimes I will fail as mother and entrepreneur but as long as I show up and give both my all, I’ll be a better parent and entrepreneur.
What do you hope your kids get from seeing you do this work?
I want my kids to see that when you’re truly passionate, consistent and put in the work, no goal is unattainable and the sky’s the limit!
What’s next for you and the business?
I’m currently working on launching new products, but you’ll have to give Marie Hunter Beauty a follow on social or subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with those announcements!
– Katie Vaughn
Photos courtesy of Marie Hunter Beauty.
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.