We had the good fortune of connecting with Margaret Jones-Paige and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaret, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process was to leave the job I was working at in which had little opportunity for advancement despite having multiple degrees. My next thought process was that I have always had the ability to make people feel good and I wanted to do that. I’ve always wanted something that I could pass along to my children.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have an all-inclusive makeup brand. I sell lipstick lip gloss, & eyeshadow for women of all skin tones. My inspiration for starting Bad Beez was to create something that made all women feel beautiful. My brand was created to be a love letter to women of all shades. I was inspired after struggling for years to find lip products that I felt looked good on me due to my darker skin complexion. My family is also my inspiration. I love beauty, skincare, & fashion.

It definitely has not been easy. I was able to overcome many challenges by seeking help from others in my business. I cannot do everything. Sometimes I have to seek the help of others who are better at a particular thing. My faith in God also makes the tough times easier. For years, I had worked 50-60 hours a week and worked to get my degree’s. I wanted to create something that I loved that would allow me to spend more time with my family.

I’m most proud of the community that my brand has built. My brand works to create a connection with today’s busy woman who wants to look good. She may be a makeup rockstar or a newbie who just wears a little lip gloss but we continue to build strong connections. I take so much pride in customer service. My brand is for anyone who isn’t afraid to be who they are. Makeup is about creativity & we love to see it.

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?
Okay so since I have a 2 year old, I’m gonna assume she’s in on this trip! Hopefully it would be basketball season, we’d go to Staples Center and check out the lakers. My friend would most likely get an Air BNB by one of the beaches. We’d hang out on the beach, most likely make our own food .We would make a lot of seafood. We could not let the week go by without going to Disneyland and the Getty Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to God, my family, employees, collaborators, brand ambassadors and my earliest customers dating back to 2012. I believe anyone who I’ve ever learned from deserves some credit in my story. I thank God for never letting me quit.

Website: https://badbeez.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/beezbad

Facebook: https://facebook.com/badbeez

Image Credits
Beyond the Pond Photography (La’Quitia Denson) Thee Photosmith (Dionna Smith) Bailee Lewis Photography Hells to High (Alesia Dowden) Yvez Ortez Miyuki Huuga

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.