Shontay Lundy
Shontay Lundy | |
---|---|
Born | Fort Knox, U.S. | October 12, 1982
Nationality | American |
Education | State University of New York at Cortland St. Thomas University (Master of Business Administration in Management and Operations) |
Occupation(s) | Cosmetic Innovator Founder of Black Girl Sunscreen[1] |
Shontay Lundy (born October 12, 1982) is an American entrepreneur and activist.[2] She is known for advocating for the visibility and sun safety[3] within communities of color.[4] She is the creator and founder of Black Girl Sunscreen,[5] a sunscreen brand created specifically for people of color.[6] She was awarded the 100 Greatest Innovations of 2018 by Popular Science.[7]
Early life and education
[edit]She was born on a military base in Fort Knox, Kentucky[8] but grew up in Upstate New York.[9][10] [11] Lundy attended Valley Central High School in Montgomery, New York[12] and received her Bachelor's from the State University of New York at Cortland.[13] She then relocated to Miami, Florida to complete her MBA in 2004.[14] In 2006, she completed her Master of Business Administration, Management and Operations from St. Thomas University.[15]
Career
[edit]Lundy had a decade-long career in middle and upper management within corporate America.[16] At age 34, Lundy relocated to Los Angeles, California to continue on her career in Cosmetic industry, which led her to formulate the idea of Black Girl Sunscreen.[9] She moved back to south Florida to launch the business.[17] In Miami, Lundy used $33,000 from her personal savings to secure a chemist and manufacturer to introduce the brand birthing,[18] her Sunscreen has since expanded its reach, becoming the first Black-owned sunscreen brand sold in major retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Ulta.[19] In 2020, it secured $1 million in private funding, bringing the company's valuation to $5 million.[20] She has secured partnerships, including collaborations with Disney Studios, USC Women's Track & Field Team, and iHeart Media.[21] Lundy hosts the “Radio-to-Podcast” show, Shamelessly Shontay.
She has partnered with dermatology programs at schools such as George Washington University and Howard University.[22]
Lundy has appeared on Good Morning America, The Sherri Shephard Show, The Real and featured on national radio and news stations across the country,[23] and a guest spot on the 2024 BET Awards.[24] She has been featured on Peacock's original documentary Founding In Color.[25]
Activism
[edit]Her activism centers on inclusivity and health in sun care.[26] Lundy raises awareness about the importance of sun protection for people of color, particularly in the Black community.[4] She has critiqued the lack of representation of Black women in the beauty and skincare industries and calls for more research and development focused on the needs of Black consumers.[27]
Awards
[edit]- Lundy was awarded the 100 Greatest Innovations of 2018 by Popular Science.[25]
- In 2021, she was listed as one of the Forbes Next 1000.[28][29]
- In 2022, Lundy was awarded the RevolutionHER Trailblazer Award.[30]
- In 2023, Lundy received the Where Brains Meet Beauty Podcast's Archive Award.[31]
- In 2024, Lundy was honored by the Regional Cal Black Chamber of Commerce with a Phenomenal Women Award.[18]
- In 2024, Lundy was honored at the inaugural Visionary Awards hosted by the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) organization.[32]
References
[edit]- ^ Butler, Michael. "A St. Thomas University grad had a simple idea: sunscreen made with Black users in mind". Miami Herald.
- ^ Ware, Asia Milia (27 October 2020). "Black Girl Sunscreen Wants to Change Black People's Relationship With SPF". Teen Vogue.
- ^ Asiedu, Lawrencia (2018-10-30). "Shontay Lundy, Founder of Black Girl Sunscreen Brand". DELUX Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b Lebsack, Lexy (19 September 2024). "Black Girl Sunscreen founder Shontay Lundy: 'The retail landscape is not what it used to be'". Glossy.
- ^ Fluker, Dominique. "Black Girl Sunscreen Secures $1 Million From Female Investor Amid COVID-19". Forbes.
- ^ Davis, Dominic-Madori. "Meet the millennial entrepreneur who just scored a $1 million investment for her inclusive 'Black Girl Sunscreen' brand". Business Insider.
- ^ Manso, James (23 April 2021). "The Greatest Indie Skin Care Products". WWD.
- ^ "321: How Shontay Lundy Got Black Girl Sunscreen in Every Target in America – Side Hustle Pro". Side Hustle Pro.
- ^ a b Jones, Alexis (7 September 2020). "'I Made A Million Dollars By Taking Risks—And Never Having 7 A.M. Meetings '". Women's Health.
- ^ Mallick, Mita (13 October 2021). "How This Entrepreneur Bootstrapped Her Business, Landed on the Shelves of Target and Ulta and Disrupted the Sunscreen Category". Entrepreneur.
- ^ Chikhoune, Ryma (7 August 2020). "Black Girl Sunscreen Founder Shontay Lundy on Her Rising Beauty Brand". WWD.
- ^ Bryant, Taylor (25 June 2021). "Black Girl Sunscreen Founder Shontay Lundy On Raising $1M, Launching At Ulta Beauty And The Drama Surrounding Sunscreen". Beauty Independent.
- ^ Dorisca, Samantha. "Shontay Lundy Found A Problem In A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry Then Addressed It With Black Girl Sunscreen". AfroTech.
- ^ "Shontay Lundy". www.uscownit.com.
- ^ Alleyne, Lisa (2023-02-27). "Founder of Black Girl Sunscreen Shontay Lundy Shares How She Built A 7 Figure Business From Scratch". BAUCE. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Episode 208: Shontay Lundy, Founder and CEO of Black Girl Sunscreen | WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY™ Podcast". www.wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Shontay Lundy Created Skincare with Black Girl Sunscreen: A Melanin-Friendly Solution for UV Protection". saobserver. 2024-06-26. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b Shepherd-Brierley, Zara (2024-07-23). "Black Girl Sunscreen Hits $1.1 Million In First Three Months On Amazon". UrbanGeekz. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Black Girl Sunscreen Lands On Walgreens Shelves As Shontay Lundy Continues Efforts To Educate The Black Community On Sun Protection". Yahoo Finance. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Black Girl Sunscreen Triumphs: $1.1M In Sales In Just Three Months On Amazon". POCIT. Telling the stories and thoughts of people of color in tech. 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Shontay Lundy Creator & Founder Black Girl Sunscreen". Cosmetic Executive Women.
- ^ "Blackfishing or Black Empowerment?". Truth Be Told. 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Entrepreneur: Afro Unicorn was discovered on social media and has generated over 20 million in total sales in 5 yrs. | Strawberry Letter Podcast". Everand. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ How Shontay Lundy Created Black Girl Sunscreen - The Glam Gap | BET AWARDS. 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2024-09-23 – via www.bet.com.
- ^ a b Scott, Lorel (2023-02-23). "MEET SHONTAY LUNDY". StartupStarter. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Let's Talk About Black Women and Sunscreen with Shontay Lundy, Founder of Black Girl Sunscreen – MELANIN MOI". Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Black Girl Sunscreen – Discover My New Favorite SPF and Interview with Founder Shontay Lundy". Afrobella. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Shontay Lundy". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Forbes Next 1000 2021". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Announcing Our Winners for The 2022 RevolutionHer™ Awards". RevolutionHER. 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Episode 248: And The Listen Again Awards Go To… | WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY™ Podcast". www.wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ Gluk, Didi. "Shontay Lundy Moved Ahead with an Idea That Put Her on the Sunscreen Map". Cosmetic Executive Women.
External links
[edit]- 1982 births
- American cosmetics businesspeople
- 21st-century American inventors
- 21st-century African-American businesspeople
- Living people
- African-American activists
- People from Knox County, Kentucky
- Businesspeople from New York (state)
- Businesspeople from New York City
- State University of New York at Cortland alumni
- St. Thomas University (Florida) alumni