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

SHANIKA, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At KUSHIE, our mission isn’t just a tagline, it’s personal. We exist to radically shift the conversation around menstrual health, pain relief, and self-care, especially for those of us who’ve been historically overlooked. I created KUSHIE because I am the customer we serve. I live with PCOS and endometriosis, and I know firsthand what it means to be dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left to suffer in silence.

Our mission is to create drug-free, body-safe, beautifully designed products that actually make a difference, but beyond that, it’s about reclaiming power. It’s about education, access, and empowerment. It’s about telling the next generation that their pain is valid and their wellness is worth prioritizing. I built KUSHIE with care, cultural relevance, and bold advocacy in mind. We’re not just selling menstrual relief, we’re building a movement. Every belt we ship, every post we share, every kit we donate through our Flow Forward Initiative is a step toward ending period stigma and closing gaps in menstrual equity. This mission is meaningful to me because it’s rooted in lived experience, community, and healing. KUSHIE is more than a brand, it’s a love letter to every menstruator who’s ever felt unseen. We see you. We’re with you. And we’re not backing down.

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

I’m Shanika, the founder of KUSHIE, a wellness brand created out of personal necessity and deep frustration with the lack of real solutions for menstrual pain and care. I live with PCOS and endometriosis, and for years I was told my pain was “normal” or brushed off entirely. After too many flare-ups, ER visits, and missed days of living my life, I decided enough was enough. That’s when KUSHIE was born. KUSHIE is a mission-driven brand offering non-invasive, drug-free menstrual pain relief products and self-care essentials designed for comfort, dignity, and empowerment. Our flagship product, the KUSHIE Menstrual Relief Belt, is a wearable heat therapy device that helps soothe cramps, back pain, and discomfort, without relying on medication. We also offer period panties, cozy loungewear, and curated care boxes to support rest and recovery during every cycle.

We’re not just here to sell products, we’re here to challenge the silence around menstrual health, especially for those living with chronic conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, or intense cycles. What sets KUSHIE apart is that we center real experiences, products made by someone who truly gets it, for people who are tired of being ignored, underserved, or told to “just push through.”

What I’m most proud of is the way we’ve built trust and community. Whether it’s someone discovering our belt and finally feeling relief, or a teen realizing for the first time that pain isn’t something they have to suffer through, we’re changing lives one conversation, one product, one cycle at a time.

If you’re new to KUSHIE, here’s what I want you to know: We see you. We believe you. And we’re creating solutions that help you feel strong, supported, and more in control of your body, because you deserve that, every day of the month.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Honestly, what helped me build KUSHIE’s reputation in the market is showing up with truth, consistency, and care. I didn’t create this brand from the outside looking in, I built it from lived experience. That authenticity resonates. People can tell when something is made for them versus made about them. From day one, I’ve been transparent about my journey with PCOS and endometriosis, and I think that vulnerability built trust.

I also took time to truly listen to our community. Every DM, every comment, every shared story, it all matters. I’ve built KUSHIE around those real needs, not assumptions. We provide solutions that aren’t just functional, but thoughtful, products that feel good, look good, and work for real bodies.

Consistency has also been key. Whether it’s the way we package orders, respond to customer emails, or show up on social media, our voice and our values stay rooted. That level of care creates a deeper connection, and I think that’s what keeps people coming back and telling their friends.

In a market that often treats menstrual pain as an afterthought, KUSHIE stands out because we lead with empathy, honesty, and empowerment. That’s the reputation I’ve worked hard to earn, and protect.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A moment that defines my resilience, more than any job title or accomplishment, was reading the results of my laparoscopy. After years of being told my pain was exaggerated or “just part of being a woman,” I finally had surgery to get answers. And what they found left me stunned: my organs, my uterus, ovaries, and bowels, were fused together by scar tissue from undiagnosed, unmanaged, incurable endometriosis.
I remember sitting with that report in my hands, feeling heartbreak and validation at the same time. My body had been fighting a silent war for decades, and no one had listened. I’d smiled through the pain, worked through flare-ups, showed up for others while barely holding it together myself. But in that moment, I realized that what nearly broke me was also what made me unshakeable.
That’s the moment KUSHIE truly began. I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I did, ignored, dismissed, and forced to normalize their suffering. I turned my pain into a purpose. I built KUSHIE to be a lifeline for others like me, offering comfort, advocacy, and real support.
So yes, I’ve been cut open. I’ve had to heal from the inside out, literally. And I carry that truth with pride, because it’s the backbone of my mission. Resilience isn’t just about surviving, it’s about choosing to rise, to speak up, and to create something powerful out of everything meant to silence you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kushie.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shekushie
• Facebook: www.tiktok.com/@shekushie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kushie/