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Shutterstock.com (doodles); Courtesy of Shenika Paris (Kyra)

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Beauty Boss

This sixth-grader wants kids to love the way they look. 

February 5, 2024
By Rebecca Zissou

As You Read, Think About: What steps did Kyra take to grow her business?

Kyra Milan Brown poses for the camera, playfully showing off her curly locks. In one video, her hair is styled in braids. In another, it’s flowing freely.

Kyra is only 11, but she’s already the proud owner of a hair care business called Koily Kurls. With their mom’s help, Kyra and her 7-year-old sister, Kali, run the online shop from their home in Montreal, Canada. They sell headbands, clips, combs, bonnets, and more. 

Kyra also posts hair tutorials on social media for her more than 110,000 followers. One of her main goals is to help kids love their natural hair, no matter its length, color, or texture.

“Everybody’s hair is beautiful,” Kyra says.

Kyra Milan Brown poses for the camera. She playfully shows off her curly locks. In one video, her hair is styled in braids. In another, it’s flowing freely.

Kyra is only 11, but she’s already the proud owner of a hair care business. It’s called Koily Kurls. Kyra lives in Montreal, Canada. She and her 7-year-old sister, Kali, run the online shop from their home. Their mom also helps. They sell headbands, clips, combs, bonnets, and more.

Kyra also posts hair tutorials on social media. She has more than 110,000 followers. One of her main goals is to help kids love their natural hair. She wants them to love it no matter the length, color, or texture.

“Everybody’s hair is beautiful,” Kyra says.

Courtesy of Shenika Paris

Kyra (left) and her sister, Kali

Beauty Business

Creating videos started as a hobby for Kyra and Kali. In 2020, their mom, Shenika Paris, agreed to help them turn their YouTube channel into a business. They decided to focus on helping young Black girls love the natural texture of their curls.

The first step was coming up with a name and logo. “Koily Kurls,” with the K’s designed to look like strands of hair, seemed like the perfect choice. Next, they set up a website to sell their products.

Then, in 2022, Kyra and her sister won a contest for small businesses. The prize was $10,000! They used the money to expand their shop, adding even more items. Soon, orders were coming in from as far away as Italy and the United Kingdom.

Creating videos started as a hobby for Kyra and Kali. They had their own YouTube channel. But in 2020, they decided to turn it into a business. Their mom, Shenika Paris, agreed to help them. They decided to focus on helping young Black girls love the natural texture of their curls.

The first step was coming up with a name and logo. “Koily Kurls” seemed like the perfect choice. The sisters designed the K’s to look like strands of hair. Next, they set up a website to sell
their products.

Then, in 2022, Kyra and her sister won a contest for small businesses. The prize was $10,000! They used the money to expand their shop. They added even more items. Soon, orders were coming in from as far away as Italy and the United Kingdom.

Courtesy of Shenika Paris

Kyra and Kali created a book that shows different hairstyles.

Hard Work Pays Off

Kyra says being a kid entrepreneur isn’t always easy. She spends about an hour each weekday on her business, plus more on the weekends. She and Kali pack and ship each order.

Some of Kyra’s 15-second videos take only a few minutes to create. But others take up to four hours. Still, Kyra enjoys the time she gets to hang out and bond with her mom and sister.  

She also loves inspiring other kids to try new looks—and testing them out herself.

“I love that my hair is curly. I love its texture,” Kyra says. “I also love being able to do different styles, such as Afros, braids, pom-poms, and buns.”

Kyra says being a kid entrepreneur isn’t always easy. She spends about an hour each weekday on her business. She spends even more time on it on the weekends. She and Kali pack and ship each order.

Some of Kyra’s 15-second videos take only a few minutes to create. But others take up to four hours. Still, Kyra enjoys the time she gets to hang out and bond with her mom and sister. 

She also loves inspiring other kids to try new looks. And she enjoys testing them out herself.

“I love that my hair is curly. I love its texture,” Kyra says. “I also love being able to do different styles, such as Afros, braids, pom-poms, and buns.”

Giving Back

As her business has grown, Kyra has used the attention to help others. For the past few years, she’s teamed up with an organization called The Crown Project to help collect donations for people experiencing homelessness in Montreal. 

As for Koily Kurls, Kyra’s next goal is to add a line of shampoos, conditioners, and hair creams. And she has some tips for young entrepreneurs. 

“You’re never too young to do anything,” she says. “If you set your mind to it, then you can achieve it.”

Most of all, she wants all kids to feel great about themselves.

“You are perfect the way you are, and so is your hair,” Kyra says.

Kyra’s business has grown. And she’s used the attention to help others. She’s teamed up with an organization called The Crown Project for the past few years. She helps them collect donations for people experiencing homelessness in Montreal.

As for Koily Kurls, Kyra has big plans. Her next goal is to add a line of shampoos, conditioners, and hair creams. And she has some tips for young entrepreneurs.

“You’re never too young to do anything,” she says. “If you set your mind to it, then you can achieve it.”

Most of all, she wants all kids to feel great about themselves.

“You are perfect the way you are, and so is your hair,” Kyra says.

Leading the Way

Addison N. Scurlock/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Madam C. J. Walker

More than 100 years ago, Madam C. J. Walker built a hair care business—and paved the way for girls like Kyra.

Walker was born in Louisiana in 1867. Her parents and older siblings had been enslaved. But she was born free.

In the 1890s, Walker developed a condition that caused her hair to fall out. At the time, few hair care products existed for Black women. So Walker developed a treatment of her own to help her hair grow back. The treatment worked so well that she decided to sell it. She later developed other hair care products and hired thousands of women to help her sell them. Soon, her business was booming.

Walker was the first American woman to become a millionaire through her own achievements. She used her fortune to support Black organizations and women’s rights.

More than 100 years ago, Madam C. J. Walker built a hair care business—and paved the way for girls like Kyra.

Walker was born in Louisiana in 1867. Her parents and older siblings had been enslaved. But she was born free.

In the 1890s, Walker developed a condition that caused her hair to fall out. At the time, few hair care products existed for Black women. So Walker developed a treatment of her own to help her hair grow back. The treatment worked so well that she decided to sell it. She later developed other hair care products and hired thousands of women to help her sell them. Soon, her business was booming.

Walker was the first American woman to become a millionaire through her own achievements. She used her fortune to support Black organizations and women’s rights.

  1. What steps did Kyra Milan Brown take to start her business?
  2. What does the author mean when she writes that “Kyra has used the attention to help others”?
  3. Based on the sidebar, “Leading the Way,” what are some similarities between Kyra and Madam C. J. Walker?
  1. What steps did Kyra Milan Brown take to start her business?
  2. What does the author mean when she writes that “Kyra has used the attention to help others”?
  3. Based on the sidebar, “Leading the Way,” what are some similarities between Kyra and Madam C. J. Walker?
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