21-year-old Zandra A. Cunningham has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the youngest millionaires in America. Zandra’s fascination with entrepreneurship began when she was nine years old; inspired by a simple “no” from her dad. That “no” sparked what is now a full line of plant-based skincare available on the shelves of major retailers such as Target.
Zandra is one of the youngest internationally recognized formulator and plant-based skincare moguls. She has grown her brand Zandra from a kitchen table hobby into an international brand.
Her mission is simple, to educate and empower girls and women across the globe via STEAM and entrepreneurship.
Zandra is an author, international speaker, consultant, and trainer. She travels the country teaching and hosting community girl empowerment/entrepreneurship events via her Zandra TLC Foundation.
Zandra is the youngest to graduate from The Allstate Minority and Women Entrepreneurial Program at the University at Buffalo School of Management at 13. Zandra is also a graduate of Lucky Break University and a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She teaches classes on entrepreneurship, advising youth and adults on how they can get started early building their dreams.
As a TEDx speaker, Zandra is a recognized entrepreneur due to her work in the Buffalo community and beyond. Her recent features and collaborations include Black Enterprise, NPR, Seventeen Magazine, Teen Boss, Girls Life Magazine, Teen Boss, Forbes, INC, USA TODAY, and Nickelodeon. The TODAY Show, Steve Harvey’s Funderdome, The Harry Connick Jr. Show, Good Morning America, and ABC Nightline are also on the growing list.
Zandra started her creative journey by mixing up lip balm in her home kitchen. Today she has a GMP compliant manufacturing and distribution facility. As an eco-friendly social good company in Western New York, Zandra is committed to sustainable practices that prioritize how gentle and sensitive teen skin can be. The mission is to create high-quality, fun + fresh products that smell amazing but don't have all the unnecessary yucky stuff + chemicals.
Zandra, who has been named the 2017 Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Teen Vogue’s #21u21 class of 2019, is the youngest maker to win an Etsy Open Call Golden Purchase order. As a trained maker and proud member of the Indie Business Network and Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, she facilitates workshops on natural product creation and formulation. Her “Science Behind It” Product and Business Formulation Program has touched young people across the nation.
Zandra has built a brand that gives back. It is about confidence and inner beauty; she believes that young ladies should be confident in their skin and learn what beauty is from the inside. She hopes to inspire youth to take action and make things happen for themselves and their communities. Zandra is an agent of change, donating up to 10% of all net profits to support girls’ education.
She founded Day of the Girls Buffalo, an international movement. This girl-powered all expenses paid day for girls has one goal: to connect girls with their community, provide educational options and ideas.
