We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tatianna W a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tatianna, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I feel like life itself is always about taking risk. The biggest risk I’ve taken so far was me relocating to Georgia at the age of 18 to start my dream business. Growing up, I always knew I wanted more for myself. Different than what I’ve seen during my early childhood. Black entrepreneurship wasn’t something of the norm back in the 90s – early 2000s. Let alone, black women owned businesses. I’ve always felt displaced in the environment I grew up in. Like I was the puzzle piece that didn’t fit. Nevertheless, I didn’t allow that feeling to alter my mindset or my goals/dreams. Fast forward to 2015, I graduated high school & immediately moved down south with my family. In addition, I attended cosmetology school & eventually went on to start my cosmetic business, known today as Blaqe Cosmetics. Starting out, I never knew what the other side would look like for me. I just knew I had to make that change. To not allow the fear of not knowing stop me from actually trying. That was the greatest decision I could have made to pivot me in the direction, to get to where I am today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Just a young black queen from Newark, NJ. Since I was able to walk, I’ve been into anything that glitters. At the age of 14 I knew I wanted to start my own cosmetic company. I would do all my fellow cheer sisters’ makeup before the games. I even sometimes did my friend’s makeup just to get more practice. Once I graduated high school, I attended the Aveda Institute of Atlanta and began to do research on how to start/run a cosmetic business. It took me five years to finally get Blaqe Cosmetics in motion. Fast forward to Nov of 2019, I finally made my dream a reality. Now there is no stopping. I am proud to say that I am the founder and CEO of Blaqe Cosmetics. We are a black owned vegan cosmetic company that strives to provide affordable yet high quality-cruelty free products to women everywhere. We’ve been in business for almost 7 years now and still going strong. At Blaqe Cosmetics we offer a variety of products from lip-glosses to lipsticks, highlighters, eyeshadows and more. We are currently working through a re-brand for B.C to elevate and implement new products and experiences when shopping with Blaqe Cosmetics. Rest assured, when supporting Blaqe Cosmetics, you can expect to receive/experience nothing but authenticity and passion. We expect to have our new site active this upcoming Summer 2026. Follow our Instagram @blaqecosmetics to stay in the loop for future updates.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I would say the most effective strategy to gain clientele is to stay consistent with whatever it is you may be trying to pursue/achieve. Focus on things that are specific to you and your brand. I feel like social media influences a lot of individuals/businesses to keep up with current trends. While some of those tips may be helpful, it is imperative that you stay grounded in your principles and goals that you’ve set for your brand. Stay consistent in what you put out on your media. As a result, you will attract people/clients who resonate with you, your business, and goals. When all else fails, stay true to your brand and passions. Authenticity speaks louder than any trend that may be relevant at the time.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As an entrepreneur, you have your slow seasons and high seasons. It is crucial that you don’t allow the slow seasons to discourage you. I’ve personally had periods of time where I wouldn’t get any sales or engagements on my social media. Yet, I still posted consistently, offered discount deals, engaged with repeating customers etc. The grind doesn’t stop just because things are not what you expected them to be. Entrepreneurship is not for the weak. You have to fight every day to keep your brand relevant to the public.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Blaqecosmetics