Christina of 54 Thrones

This week, we're talking to Christina, who is on a mission to change the narrative surrounding Africa as a continent to be pitied, by introducing beauty secrets from the 54 distinctive countries and traditions through her product line 54 Thrones.

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BLK+GRN: Why do you do what you do? CHRISTINA: My name is Christina Tegbe and I am passionate about all things Africa! I am Nigerian-American and created 54 Thrones to shift the “pity Africa” narrative by showing how I directly do business with African artisans in curating the African beauty secrets which make up the 54 Thrones product line.

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BLKGRN: What was your "Aha Moment" and when did your vision start to manifest? CHRISTINA: The name 54 Thrones represents Africa's distinctive 54 countries. I grew up in the States and throughout my childhood, my Aunts in Nigeria would always find a way to send small tubs of Shea Butter, Black Soap and Palm Oil for my siblings and I to use. These fond childhood memories inspired me to create a medium to make luxury African beauty secrets more accessible to women of color everywhere. BLK+GRN: How is your brand green? Why was this important to you? CHRISTINA: Being green was extremely important to me in starting 54 Thrones. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer right before I launched 54 Thrones and that just reinforced our green initiative. Every 54 Thrones product is sustainably hand-crafted and pure, no chemicals, no parabens, no dyes are ever used. Everything is 100% pure and 100% Made in Africa. BLK+GRN: Why do you think it is important to Buy Black? CHRISTINA: It’s important for a number of reasons but most of all we need to increase the number of circulations the black dollar makes within the Black community. This is the very key to economic empowerment.

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