At just 12 years old, Zoe Oli is proving that age is no barrier to making a big difference. Zoe, from Atlanta, Georgia, is the CEO and founder of Beautiful Curly Me, a brand dedicated to empowering young Black and Brown girls. Her products—dolls, books, puzzles, and more—celebrate natural hair, self-love, and confidence.
What’s even more inspiring? Zoe started this business when she was only six! On The Jennifer Hudson Show, she shared how she once felt insecure about her naturally curly hair and wished it to be “straight and pretty” like her classmates. Her mom, Evana, gave her a doll with Black skin, which helped, but it didn’t have curls or braids like Zoe’s. So, together, they created dolls that did.
Since launching her dolls in 2019, Zoe’s brand has grown so much that she’s now the youngest CEO of a toy brand available at Target. For Zoe, this is about more than just toys. “Representation matters,” she says. “A doll is a girl’s first best friend and someone they can look up to.”
Zoe’s achievements go beyond business. She’s a Time and Nickelodeon Kid of the Year finalist and the youngest Black TEDx speaker. Through her Confident Girls Lead club, Zoe teaches girls aged 8-12 about entrepreneurship and leadership.
The exciting thing about this news is that this little girl is self-aware and wants to help other kids like her achieve the same status. But this can rub off on adults who are still trying to find themselves. What do you think?
