Aug 6, 2024 5:46:12 PM
At just 12 years old, Zoe Oli is already making waves in the business world. This young entrepreneur from Atlanta is the mastermind behind Beautiful Curly Me, a doll company dedicated to empowering young Black girls. Her journey began at the age of six, when she struggled with confidence issues related to her natural hair, often comparing it to the straight hair of her classmates. Even after her mother bought her a Black doll, Zoe noticed that the doll's hair still didn't reflect her textured curls and braids.
Determined to make a change, Zoe became an entrepreneur by age seven. “My mom got me a Black doll that looked like me to help, and it really did, but I noticed that the doll did not have hair that looked like mine and I wanted dolls with curls and braids," Zoe explained during the ForbesBLK Summit 2024. "I decided that I wanted to make my own business and do something about it, and that’s how I got started.”
Beautiful Curly Me quickly grew from this seed of inspiration. Zoe’s vision expanded to include not only dolls but also children’s books, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) puzzles, and an empowerment club. Recently, Zoe introduced a new line of dolls available at Target, featuring three inspiring characters: Binta the scientist, Bella the entrepreneur, and Imara the ballerina, each with beautifully curly hair.
This milestone made Zoe the youngest CEO to launch a toy brand at Target. “Seeing our dolls on the Target shelf for the first time was surreal,” she expressed in an Instagram post. “It was so emotional thinking about the journey over the past four years and seeing this dream come to life is amazing. Thank you all so much for your support on our journey!”
Beautiful Curly Me is more than just a toy company; it’s a movement promoting self-love, representation, and empowerment for young Black girls.
Zoe's dolls come with a powerful message, encouraging girls to explore their interests, whether in entrepreneurship, dance, or STEM.
Each doll purchase from the Beautiful Curly Me website also supports a greater cause, as the company pledges to donate a doll to an underserved girl for every doll sold.
Zoe Oli's achievements and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Forbes, and Black Enterprise platforms. Additionally, she is the youngest Black TEDx speaker and a finalist for Time and Nickelodeon Kid of the Year.
With her passion for STEM, art, music, and reading, Zoe aims to inspire at least one million Black girls within her lifetime.
Her story is a testament to the power of representation and the impact that one determined young girl can have on the world. Beautiful Curly Me is making the world a more inclusive and loving place, one curl at a time.
Lisa Hollenbach is Senior Digital Manager for Education Post. Prior to joining Education Post, Lisa developed digital and content strategy for Teaching Channel. She served on the Bill and Melinda Gates Teacher Advisory Council from 2014-2017 and was active in the planning and execution of several Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching (ECET2) convenings at both the regional and national level. Lisa attended both private and public schools in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and holds a bachelor’s in secondary education social studies, a bachelor’s in public policy, a minor in women's studies and a master’s in community psychology and social change. A former educator, Lisa taught for more than 15 years in both traditional public school and public charter school settings. She also served as a leader of her local and regional teachers association from 2001-2016. Lisa has worked with several universities throughout her career and is currently an adjunct professor at the Pennsylvania State University, teaching courses in sociology, psychology, education and their intersections. She is passionate about helping education advocates share their stories and creating an equitable education system that serves all students.
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