Beauty with a backbone: How Jenn Harper turned a 3 A.M. dream into a clean beauty empire

I sat down to talk with Jenn Harper, the founder & CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics - the biggest Indigenous-founded beauty brand in Canada. Jenn opens up about mental health, intergenerational trauma, and the way she turned her life around by refusing to let her challenges define who she is. This conversation was so special, and Jenn shared some very personal and vulnerable moments. Regardless of where you are in life, I’m sure you’ll resonate with her story and learn a thing or two about yourself 🩷 I definitely did.

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🌐 Shop Cheekbone products on their website (use code NEEKI20 for 20% off - FYI this Barbie will get a small commission!), Sephora Canada, and JCPenny

Jenn founded Cheekbone Beauty in 2015. The company’s journey began as an online business that took pride in its commitment to reducing environmental impact and supporting Indigenous communities. In 2019, Jenn appeared on Dragon's Den. She turned down the Dragons’ offers and went on to steer Cheekbone towards exponential growth, including contracts with major retailers in North America. This placed Cheekbone on equal footing with global industry giants. Cheekbone products are now sold in Sephora Canada and JCPenney in the USA. Jenn is a voice for topics that are reshaping the business landscape: social entrepreneurship, empathy, representation, inclusivity, and sustainability.

In 2022, Jenn was listed among the 100 Women of Influence by Entrepreneur Magazine (a list graced by the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian). In 2023, Jenn was conferred an Honorary Doctorate degree from the Goodman School of Business at Brock University. This honorary degree recognized her dedication to community betterment and sustainability. In 2024, Jenn was also named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🌸 IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: @baddestbinthebldg

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💓 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @baddest.b.in.the.bldg

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💘 neeki@biggestbaddie.com

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