While many teens are taken up with social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat, 15-year-old Young Professional C’Novia D. Toussaint has her eyes set on building an industry around her cosmetic company ‘C’Novia Cosmetics.’ Photo: Provided

The company makes lip bombs, lip glosses, men’s moisturizers and more recently hand sanitizers made with local ingredients like coconuts, peppermint and other essential oils. Photo: Provided

Locally made hand sanitiser from C’Novia Cosmetics. Photo: Provided

Young Professional C’Novia D. Toussaint says she one day hopes to build a factory building her company into a large industry, while providing jobs.

Products from the C’Novia cosmetic line. Photo: Provided

Living in East End, Tortola, in the Virgin Islands, C’Novia attended the Francis Lettsome Primary School and is still a student at the Elmore Stoutt High school (ESHS) as a Science Major while running a small business on the side.

Outside of school and business, our young professional is also a sportswoman, throwing shot put and discus as an extracurricular activity.

She said her pastimes including training for the sport with the hopes of one day representing the Virgin Islands on the international scene.

Developing a luxury brand

“C’Novia Cosmetics is a luxury brand that caters to both men and women. Our products are vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free. I enjoy making the products and knowing that I am making someone feel beautiful on the inside and outside,” Ms Toussaint told VINO when asked about her business.

The company makes lip bombs, lip glosses, men’s moisturizers and more recently hand sanitizers made with local ingredients like coconuts, peppermint and other essential oils.

She said one of the challenges of getting into a business like that, is dealing with the packaging and making sure it is always presentable and top-notch, “because I love to make sure everything is clean and neat.”

“The biggest life lesson I have learnt is being yourself and I have overcome that by just not listening to what other persons have to say about me,” the Young Ms Toussaint told VINO when asked about her biggest lesson in life so far.

She said the inspiration to create the business came out of her love for cosmetics and science and in addition to her passion for creativity and creating new things.

“Yes I have always desired to own a  business," she said, noting that the challenges to startup the company were few.

Staying Focused

According to our Young Professional, what keeps her focused is the customer response to the business and also receiving feedback.

“Just hearing how they feel when they get their products," Ms Toussaint said, adding: "I see myself having my own factory and of course begin able to give people jobs."

With the advent of COVID-19: however, our young professional said business has slowed to the point where it started affecting her personal life.

“I have to do online schooling and I don’t really see my friends and favourite teachers face to face.”

She commended the government for implementing measures against the pandemic, including washing of hands and pushing adherence to the social distancing protocols.

Parting Advice

As part of her final parting words, Ms Toussaint encouraged youths to go aggressively after their dreams.

“Any advice that I would give young people who want to achieve their dream is just do it and put in the work because if you don’t want to do it nobody is going to do it for you.”

She thanked her mother Roxane T. Toussaint and everyone also who has helped her on the business journey so far.