Paris Mckenzie, a NYC-based 16-year-old, is making history in the hair and beauty industry, becoming the youngest Black owner of a beauty supply store. And she’s just getting started.

Mckenzie opened Paris Beauty Supplyz in the summer of 2020 after a space next to her mother’s salon opened up. The young entrepreneur used her savings to lease the space and has since launched a salon of her own, La Eiffel Beauty Bar in Brooklyn.

Paris is no stranger to hair and beauty, after spending plenty of time in the salon her mom opened just months after giving birth to her. Since then, Paris has been soaking up what it takes to run a haircare business, learning how to shampoo clients and sanitize barber tools all by the age of 10.

The inspiration behind Paris’ business endeavors stemmed from her experience as a child, watching the Black women around her having to travel far to get the hair products they need, only to be subjected to higher surveillance at other beauty supply stores.