From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

In the world of startups and entrepreneurship, I find myself constantly inspired by individuals who dare to challenge the status quo and push boundaries, much like Liu mentioned. One such individual is Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, whose innovative spirit and tenacity have left an indelible mark on the fashion industry.


Successful celebrity-backed brands like Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty and Dwayne Johnson’s Teremana started from a simple idea and the bravery to bring it to life. As one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 30 Star Entrepreneurs in 2024, Selena expresses her admiration for those who take risks and overcome obstacles, saying, “I applaud anyone who dares to take that leap.”

Leading figures in the agent, investment, and brand-building sectors aided THR in uncovering six fresh celebrity ventures that are merely taking off. Discover what these prominent entrepreneurs have to share about the craft of business and navigating the competitive startup landscape.

Christina Aguilera

Playground

In March 2023, Christina Aguilera assumed the roles of chief brand adviser and co-founder for the sexual wellness company, Playground. Her innovative idea led to the creation of their newest lubricant product, Pillow Talk, priced at $20 for a 109 ml bottle. As she stated, “With startups, it’s essential to challenge established conventions.” Aguilera prefers products and artistic expressions that are more daring and push the limits of creativity. Playground completed a seed funding round in October and has partnerships with retailers ranging from Amazon to Target.

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

“Lessons I’ve discovered about myself while starting and running a company: The experience has been enlightening and full of surprises. It’s not just about having big ideas, but being flexible, learning from mistakes, and staying authentic. Building a business is like composing music – it needs drive, perseverance, and the bravery to experiment. I discovered that I am not only a singer and entertainer, but also a businesswoman capable of tackling obstacles, creating something meaningful from scratch, and giving it my heart and soul.”

Beyoncé

Cécred

Experts in beauty circles are eagerly anticipating the success of megastar’s new hair care line, Cecréd, having been introduced in February with an initial offering of eight items priced between $30 and $52. This launch comes on the heels of her successful Cé Noir fragrance debut.

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

Beyoncé, who parted ways with Adidas for her Ivy Park apparel line in March, has revealed that she personally established Cécred from scratch and financed it herself. In April, she posted a #cecredwashday video tutorial on her Instagram account, which boasts over 317 million followers.

Kaley Cuoco

Oh Norman!

A pet-care business named Oh Norman!, known for donating a part of each purchase to canine rescues, officially started operations in October with an initial investment of $3 million from venture capitalists. It created quite a stir when it made its Amazon debut during Prime Day in July, with two of its items reaching the No. 1 position among the hottest new brands. Co-founder Kaley Cuoco looks up to Jennifer Aniston, founder of LolaVie hair care, and Courteney Cox, creator of Homecourt household products line, as her business role models.

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch
From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

“Through the process of creating my own business, I’ve discovered it requires endurance rather than speed, and that collaboration consistently proves vital to achieving success!”

“The inspiration behind starting Oh Norman was my quest for wholesome, charitable products that weren’t widely available. It would be advantageous for Hollywood to invest in fresh, groundbreaking concepts emerging from unconventional sources.”

Simu Liu

MìLà

In 2023, Simu Liu became the chief content officer for MìLà, a renowned brand known for its authentic frozen soup dumplings priced between $40 and $45 for a pack of 50. This move came shortly after MìLà successfully raised $22.5 million in funding. Prior to this, Liu had experience as an angel investor. Today, you can find MìLà products in about 2,000 stores, ranging from Costco to Whole Foods. Regarding his new role, Simu Liu expresses, “I appreciate the culture of startups that encourages us to be innovative and question the existing norms.”

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

My inspirational entrepreneur within the realm of celebrity partnerships is Ryan Reynolds. He has significantly elevated expectations for what such collaborations can achieve. Through employing his distinctive wit and self-deprecating humor in all his branded ventures, he’s transformed endorsements into an entertaining and enjoyable experience.

Matthew McConaughey & Camila Alves

Pantalones

Amidst the bustling market, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have managed to draw attention with their unconventional, pants-free advertisements for their Pantalones tequila ($45-$55 per bottle), which debuted in October. McConaughey credits his wife’s “remarkable ability to negotiate shrewdly and insightfully” for the success of their business, while Alves acknowledges McConaughey’s genius in marketing.

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

“As I embark on this entrepreneurial journey alongside Camila, I can’t help but share some insights I’ve gleaned from her. In business, she’s meticulous about scrutinizing every move at each subsequent phase. She recognizes the ripple effect of each decision, so she’s always evaluating how a new idea might impact an existing arrangement. This thoughtful approach has prevented us from overlooking critical decision-making implications that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Brooke Shields

Commence

In June, Brooke Shields’ over-40 hair care brand, Commence, debuted with a waiting list of over 23,000 individuals and an initial offering of three products priced between $21 and $30. Among them was a shampoo that quickly ran out within two weeks following the launch. The star found confidence in launching her brand, stating it reinforced her instincts. She admitted to being more ambitious than she previously believed, and adept at handling contrasting thoughts.

From Christina Aguilera’s Sexual Wellness Line to Beyoncé’s Hair Care, 6 Celebrity Startups to Watch

As a Gamer, Here’s What I Learned: “In the fast-paced world of gaming, patience often trumps instant glory. The slow and steady approach can lead to enduring success.”

Originally, this tale was published in the August 7 edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. To stay updated, consider subscribing here.

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2024-08-12 20:25