Meet Nina Franqui-hollomon | Artisanal Body Care Aficionado

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nina Franqui-hollomon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nina, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
BootieButtah is rooted in more than just skincare—it’s a movement for empowerment, sustainability, and wellness. Here’s how BootieButtah contributes to the community and the world:
1. Empowering Underserved Communities: By prioritizing natural, safe, and high-quality skincare solutions, BootieButtah focuses on uplifting underserved communities. The brand’s mission centers on making wellness accessible to those who often lack resources for self-care.

2. Education and Advocacy: BootieButtah fosters awareness around self-care practices, natural ingredients, and eco-friendly lifestyles through workshops, presentations, and wellness encounters. These initiatives help educate communities on reducing stress, prioritizing personal health, and embracing holistic wellness.

3. Sustainable Practices: By adopting eco-friendly packaging and embracing a circular economy model, BootieButtah actively reduces waste. This not only promotes environmental sustainability but also sets a standard for conscious consumerism in the skincare industry.

4. Fair Trade and Ethical Sourcing: BootieButtah is committed to sourcing ingredients sustainably and supporting fair trade practices. This ensures that the supply chain benefits both the environment and the workers producing raw materials.

5. Community Herb Garden: BootieButtah’s future endeavors to create a sustainable community herb garden to provide access to fresh, natural consumables for the community while fostering education on plant-based wellness and independent environmental stewardship.

6. Creating Opportunities: BootieButtah’s expansion plans, including a retail container store, are not only about explaining our e store online business but also offering spaces where the community can connect, learn, and create
wellbeing together.

By combining ethical business practices with a genuine passion for wellness and community awareness of toxic substances in beauty products sold to humans of color , BootieButtah serves as a herald for non toxic, clean self care choices in our community.

What should our readers know about your business?
BootieButtah stands apart because it’s more than just a skincare brand—it’s a commitment to wellness, sustainability, and community empowerment.

Our products are crafted with the purest, sustainably sourced ingredients and designed to nourish not just the skin but the spirit. What makes us unique is our holistic approach to self-care, our dedication to eco-friendly practices, and our deep-rooted mission to uplift underserved communities through education and access to quality skincare.

I’m most proud of the impact we’ve made—not just in helping people feel confident in their skin but also in building connections with the community.

I’m excited about our future, particularly the expansion plans for a retail container store and community herb garden. These initiatives will create a physical space where self-care, sustainability, and community come together.

Getting here wasn’t easy. BootieButtah started as a dream fueled by passion, after a vision from my grandmother and giving out samples as my career as a social worker to offer plant based body care options to people that don’t have Whole Foods paychecks!

However , turning that dream into reality required grit, tears, starts and stops, my daughter’s cancer diagnosis.

There are challenges—limited resources, the steep learning curve of building a business, and the pressure to stand out in a competitive skin care market.

I overcame these obstacles by staying rooted in my mission, seeking mentorship, and listening to the needs of my community and customers.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that authenticity is everything.

When you stay true to your values and build your brand with integrity, people resonate with it.

I’ve also learned to embrace growth as a journey and not rush this learning process. Every challenge has been a stepping stone to greater opportunity and epic failures that build resiliency!

I want the world to know that BootieButtah isn’t just about skincare—it’s about reclaiming wellness and creating a space where everyone, especially those often overlooked, can feel seen, valued, and cared for.

This brand is built on love, rooted in community, and driven by a passion for making the world better one jar at a time.

My story is about resilience, self-care, and the belief that when we care for ourselves, we have the power to uplift others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Now with the fires that have devastated So Cal…. Much love to all that have lost everything but their love for Cali!

Start in Leimert Park to shop from Black-owned businesses and check out the culture and Afro American culture and food.

Lunch: Enjoy Jamaican flavors at Ackee Bamboo.

Afternoon: Visit The Getty—it’s not just an art museum, but a place where the views and gardens are just as stunning as the art. Take the tram and chill.

Evening: Swing by Dulans Soul Food for a little comfort food on Market Street in Inglewood California!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, all of those who are caregivers for those with cancer! Those warrior who battle this heinous disease who could have given up but continue to swing till they win!

I dedicated this shoutout to my Daughter Daryl who is a warrior in this ten year battle! You are my Shero, Daryl N. Porter, never forget that! And Husband Michael P. Hollomon who has been a source of support and strength in my pursuit of growing BootieButtah botanicals!

Website: https://www.BootieButtah.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bootiebuttah/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bootiebuttah

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BootieButtah4U/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bootie-buttah-inglewood

Youtube: https://youtu.be/vGiFE1qj1yA?si=fETgm4jbq8wANuPa

Other: TicTok: @bootiebuttahllc.

Image Credits
Nina E Franqui personal photo