It is more than an app. It is actually more than another digital square wandering within the pixels in our mobile phones. Pothos Beauty is a hub of beauty and wellness aficionados, who get access to an e-commerce platform that caters to their needs, wishes, and inspirations in order to lead a wealthy and sustainable lifestyle. Today people can find more about this project not only via classical and renewed forms of social media but also via a newly-launched fresh app available worldwide (Apple and Android). Let’s dive into the news and the story of Pothos Beauty with the woman who created this rejuvenating empire for all of us who love and want to learn how to love beauty and wellness: Diamond Hawkins.

Pothos Beauty is a digital marketplace that offers curated selections of beauty products that respect the values you believe in. What are those values exactly and how do you maintain a genuine relationship with being healthy and moving towards a wealthy life?

I have always had an interesting relationship with how I define my “values”. These things often change for me, depending on that lived experience I had at the moment, or period of time. The basis of why I built Pothos Beauty and the values that align with myself would be to have unwavering faith, connection, respect, and curiosity. Everyone is worthy and valuable, and most importantly to be innovative! These for me are the best ingredients for a fulfilling life. Maintaining a relationship with being healthy and moving toward a wealthy life for me is all about keeping curiosity at the center and being a creator in all that I do. I don’t always think about being wealthy, though I know I will be. It’s really about fulfilling my curiosities, using it as a tool for innovation, and learning as much as I can about Diamond and her abilities. In order to do this, it is important for me to not only recognize the need to take care of the vehicle that takes care of me (mind, body, spirit), but to also understand that I am on a journey toward self-actualization.

What inspired you to create this digital corner of wellness?

I created this platform out of true desperation for change, specifically on how we build narratives around beauty. I got my start in beauty around the age of 11 when I went to modeling school. I wanted to be a WOC face in fashion and beauty since it was rare to see people that looked like me! Let me tell you: modeling school was a nightmare! I was matched to a concealer that was 7+ shades lighter than my skin! Horrifying! This lead me to become a person who was going to make a change in the industry. So I became a makeup artist, to learn the skills needed to make sure no one ever felt the way I did! It also gave me the platform to connect with people and pour back into them! That career grew rapidly. In one year span of getting started, I was asked to work on music videos, fashion week, and commercials (all of this while I was in grad school with a concussion). During my time as a Celebrity Makeup Artist, (I used to work on music videos and editorials with clients like Asap Rocky, Target, Take That, and more) I noticed the lack of access to indie and inclusive brands, but more importantly, I also noticed how terrible people felt when their glam didn't match their skin tones. It broke my heart to hear these stories, especially when it came to production. These are evergreen pieces of content that would last forever, I wanted nothing more but to create a space where no one felt like that! Fast forward, I got an email in April 2020 from ELLE magazine, which inquired about my work in beauty, but more importantly, they wanted insight into what products I used for my hair as a Black woman during COVID. It was that moment when the lightbulb went off! There needed to be a mission-focused, technology-forward beauty retailer that cared about inclusion! That night after calling many friends and chatting about it, I realized that person should be me. So here we are, with a total of 15 years of working toward spaces on inclusion in beauty and tech: Pothos Beauty is born! It’s still so surreal to me that it is here, real in the world, and not in my head anymore.

Who are the perfect clients of Pothos Beauty?

There are so many unique individuals, artists, creators, companies, and brands out there that align with us! One thing I can say that is consistent for a dream client for us would be partners that truly understand that we are working toward the movement of inclusion. Those are people who understand that beauty expands far beyond beauty products, but about experiences and inclusion, and it creates spaces for all. I really value change makes and spaces that promote connection, creation, and innovation! If you are down to innovate and change the world, we want to work with you! 

Are there any challenges you’re finding yourself in at the moment, as you’re building Pothos Beauty?

I would say my biggest challenge at the moment is getting comfortable with massive growth. I am an artist who can be pretty introverted, but I also love to be outward when I want to be. Building Pothos Beauty has accelerated my growth as a public figure which has been both exciting, yet terrifying. I am getting used to it now. Each day takes one more step forward.  The second challenge is getting more consumers to the platform who can buy products. We focused on building a strong platform infrastructure to support our merchants and features to come in the future, so a lot of our focus time and resources went toward that. Now it’s time to change our focus.

How do you see your position, as Diamond, in the beauty industry? Is that an industry where you feel welcomed, intimidated, or a little bit of both?
In some spaces, I am welcomed into the industry because I have been in it for a long time as a makeup artist. I also have a very strong understanding of how to build and the deep details of data in the space. I am also not afraid to challenge the greatest minds and leaders in the space and have! Surprisingly this has really grown my network with those who move the needle in the industry. I feel intimidated too, which is natural since I am taking the challenge of disrupting an industry that is traditionally not inclusive and doesn’t understand what inclusion really means. Most times I get really nervous about the challenge, but I don’t have any other choice but to be brave and have courage.

With the launch of this app now everyone can get access to Pothos Beauty in a faster and easier way. Do you think that beauty and tech go hand in hand, especially in these last times? Do you have any thoughts on the benefits or curiosities of Web3 encompassing creative and wellness industries, like fashion and beauty?

Beauty and tech go hand in hand 100%! You can’t create, let alone distribute, close to anything without technology! I think the beauty industry is starting to understand the value of using and understanding technology. We are still very early in the space, and I am happy we are a platform that helps the industry understand and adopt technology! I am obsessed with tech and building tech! It really helps connect the world! When it comes to Web 3, I think this can be a powerful move for beauty, fashion, creativity, and wellness! I think we should use Web 3 currently in the light of utility. That’s where the benefits sit. At Pothos Beauty we will be using web3 in a tokenized fashion to connect our community both online and offline.

We wish Pothos Beauty a wonderful journey, with lots of expansion. Speaking of expansion, are the products you sell only available in the USA?

Most of our brands currently only ship to the US, so we are hoping to make strides toward expanding in 2023 and beyond! Africa, LATAM (Latin America), the Caribbean, the UK, and Europe are top of mind for me. 

Make sure to download the app and support the path of Pothos Beauty.