We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dre’Shawna Solomon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dre’Shawna , appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Growing up as a young child, my parents always taught me to be strong & independent. I grew up in a household where we had to make a lot of sacrifices. I overcame emotional, mental and physical pain. The tough love and aspiration helped me gain character and strength throughout the years.

I heard a quote when I was very young “what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger” that quote stuck with me forever. I’m so strong, sometimes I can’t believe my own strength. There was a lot of things I had to do on my own growing up, things some kids my age would never imagine. At that time my life to me was very unfair, looking back I am grateful because I believe I can achieve anything in this world now.

My mindset is different from my peers because of the way I was raised!!

I always watched my mother hustle and stand on business! Regardless of all the obstacles we had to overcome, I learned from her. She introduced me to entrepreneurship at the age of 12. I was in charge of a convenient store she co-owned in East Baltimore, 400 block of Glover St. I spent most of my childhood making money. I had to help my mother provide for me and my younger brother. My father taught me to always stay calm, think smart, and trust the process. The skills I inherited from both sides made me unstoppable!

Being a boss is instilled in me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got into the cosmetic industry because of my own insecurities, I turned my pain into passion. Kilo Cosmetics started as just a teeth whitening business to help people embrace their natural smiles. I suffer from Bell’s palsy which is a muscle weakness on one side of the face that prevents me from having a full smile. Bell’s palsy also caused me to suffer from mental illnesses but my social media platform always made me feel beautiful regardless of what I went through. They were my only outlet, I wanted to give back to them in a beautiful way. What’s more beautiful than a radiant smile?

The teeth whitening business took off quickly so I also added tooth gems as a service which is a semi-permanent gem that goes on your teeth to enhance the cosmetic affect of your smile. A few months later I added body piercings to pair with the flashy look. Now I have my own products, I sell at-home teeth whitening kits for my clients who are out of state, busy or just more comfortable doing the service themselves. I also sell LED whitening tooth brushes which are very convenient to have in your home. My piercing clients have a variety of affordable body jewelry to choose from, they are loved & shipped out daily.

Kilo Cosmetics services & products boost confidence all around the world and makes individuals feel more flashy and stylish everyday. The services I provide help with mental illness issues such as depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and even substance use disorders because most of them start from insecurities. When you look nice you feel nice!!! I personally experienced all of these illnesses myself which sets me apart from most teeth whitening/tooth gem specialist and body piercers. I had to go through alot to understand and be able to assist others. I am so grateful for my testimony because it was not always a easy subject for me to speak about.

I am most proud of my growth!

I want my all of my supporters to know I am genuinely here to help, I know what type of affect insecurities can have on your daily life and I want everyone to be comfortable in their own skin. We are beautiful! Thanks so much for the continuous support it is greatly appreciated!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I honestly built my audience on social media by being authentic. I can connect with just about anyone. I’ve always been true to myself. I never really cared about what people thought of me, never tried to follow any trends or engage with popular individuals for attention. I didn’t let my social media influence or power change me as a person. Over 10,000 people follow me because they believe I’m beautiful inside & out!! I engage with every single one of my followers differently. My platform started from my personal page where people really get to see my personality which is very versatile & spontaneous. I leave my audience wanting more every time. They’re active & interested to see what’s next for me because I’m always trying to elevate, most of them find it motivating.

My advice to those just starting to build their audience would be you are your only competition, stay positive & be the best you!!    

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been consistency, consistency brings back motivation when you’re feeling discouraged. Some weeks are going to be slower than others you have to stay focus & disciplined even when it’s hard. Being consistent also shows your potential clients how much you believe in your services & products. You have to love your business and promote yourself more than anyone else in the world. Don’t give up!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kilo-cosmetics.square.site/
• Instagram: @kilocosmetics_
• Other: Business email : [email protected]