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

Hi Chantel, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Hello Beauty was born out of my own experience as a college student as a young Black woman navigating a predominantly white campus, in a rural area I constantly found myself without access to the beauty and personal care products that made me feel like me. The closest beauty supply store was often miles away, and campus options didn’t carry the products I needed for my hair, skin, or self-care.

My time as a student, I also learned what it meant to work hard with limited resources and how something as simple as edge control, a bonnet, or your go-to moisturizer could play a huge role in how you show up to class, interviews, or even just feel about yourself.

That’s why I created Hello Beauty: to bring accessibility, representation, and confidence to students who are often left out of mainstream retail. We place culturally relevant beauty products directly on campus, where students need them most. Our mission isn’t just to sell products it’s to affirm identity, save students time, and help them feel seen in spaces where they’re often overlooked.

At its core, Hello Beauty is about empowering students to take up space beautifully and unapologetically.

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

My name is Chantel, and I’m the founder of Hello Beauty, a beauty supply vending machine business created to serve students who are underrepresented on college campuses. I’m an entrepreneur, an SUNY EOP alum, and a proud Bronx native who built this company from the ground up to solve a problem I once personally experienced.

I started Hello Beauty because I remember exactly how it felt to live on campus and not have access to the beauty and personal care products I needed. As a Black woman, it wasn’t just inconvenient it was isolating. From textured hair products to skincare essentials that actually worked for melanin-rich skin, none of it was easily available in the campus bookstore or local stores near my school. That lack of access affected how I showed up in my classes, at events, and even in my own confidence. I realized I wasn’t the only one and I knew someone had to change that.

So I became the person to fill that gap.

Hello Beauty places culturally relevant beauty products inside vending machines directly on college campuses, where students already live, work, and study. We curate our inventory with intention: edge control, bonnets, lashes, setting spray, lip gloss, Durags, loc-gel, and even emergency self-care kits. These are the kinds of products that can’t be found in the average campus store, and they’re the ones our communities use daily.

What sets Hello Beauty apart is that we are deeply rooted in purpose. We’re not just a vending company we are a representation-driven brand, committed to helping students feel seen, celebrated, and supported. Every machine is designed to reflect the beauty and culture of the students it serves. We also actively partner with colleges to make the process seamless while promoting wellness, confidence, and convenience.

I’m most proud of turning a personal frustration into a business that uplifts others. Watching students smile as they find products that feel familiar in spaces where they’re often overlooked. It reminds me why I started this in the first place. It’s about more than beauty. It’s about access, identity, and empowerment.

To potential clients, schools, and supporters: Hello Beauty is here to change the face of college retail one campus at a time. We are growing, expanding, and always open to new partnerships that align with our mission.

Thank you for supporting a young entrepreneur with a big vision and thank you for seeing the beauty in that.

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

The two years leading up to securing my first vending machine were some of the toughest of my life. I was passionate about bringing Hello Beauty to my campus, but honestly, the campus wasn’t interested. I faced rejection after rejection it felt like every “no” set me back, and every step forward was met with two steps backward.

At the same time, I had almost no money to fund this project. I was working multiple jobs, taking out loans, and doing absolutely everything I could just to keep the dream alive. There were moments when I felt like I was rushing, trying to make things happen faster than they were ready to when really, I needed to be patient and strategic.

I got told no so many times that it became exhausting. There were moments I was left broke, wondering if all the effort was worth it. But every time I thought about giving up, I reminded myself why I started: to create something meaningful for students like me who lacked access to the products that made them feel confident and represented.

That struggle taught me resilience in its purest form. It showed me that entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line it’s full of setbacks, patience, sacrifice, and faith. And now, looking back at where I am with Hello Beauty, I know every “no” and every challenge was a step toward a bigger yes.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the hardest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that the only way to succeed was to constantly hustle to keep moving, keep working, and never stop. I used to think that if I wasn’t doing something 24/7 for my business, then I wasn’t doing enough.

In the early stages of building Hello Beauty, I was working full-time, going to school, and trying to self-fund everything, and overextending myself emotionally and financially. I thought that success would come if I just pushed harder. I was saying yes to everything even if it drained me and operating in survival mode just to keep my dream alive.

But the backstory is: that mindset left me burnt out, overwhelmed, and often broke. I kept forcing progress without pausing to build strategy or sustainability. I was rushing the journey, hoping effort alone would make up for lack of resources, connections, or time.

Eventually, I had to unlearn that business is not the same as productivity. I learned that clarity, planning, and rest are just as important as work. I began working smarter, not just harder taking breaks to regroup, setting boundaries, outsourcing when needed, and investing in systems that actually helped me grow.

Unlearning that hustle-at-all-costs mentality was hard. But it taught me to value balance, trust timing, and build something that lasts not just something that moves fast.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hellobeautyvend.com/
• Instagram: Hellobeautyvend
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/chantel-francis