Kalamazoo 7th Grader Starts Own Business in the Midst of Pandemic

There have been several things that have impressed me this year. Companies that managed to not fire a single employee during shut downs, the amount of people that learned to make bread at home for the first time, and anyone who has finished this year with nothing but a positive attitude. But, this...this blows my mind.

A local middle-schooler started her own business in the midst of a pandemic. And it's gaining momentum. As reported by WWMT News Channel 3, 12 year old Aniyah Johnson started her own skin care line with the help of family and friends.

The business officially launched in October and currently offers a few different, gender neutral products like:

Peppermint Delight Sugar Scrub
Vanilla Noel Sugar Scrub
Lavender Lush Whipped Shea Butter
Be Alive lip scrub
Anew Skin eczema lotion

You can find the full list of products on her website.

Besides being locally crafted, Aniyah's business, named Lily Kay's Health and Beauty, is also based in faith. In her interview with WWMT News Channel 3, she said that she likes to focus on one particular scripture, Colossians 3:23 which says,

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for human beings

Aniyah also went on to say that she hopes her business can go worldwide. For now, she'll continue to focus on doing what she loves.

I can barely remember what I was doing in 7th grade. Probably crushing on the boys in my class and then crying over the fact that they didn't feel the same. I rushed home to catch my favorite t.v. show. I doodled on everything including myself (no surprise that I now have tattoos)...but starting a business wasn't even on the horizon. It still isn't. So, a 12 year old having the foresight to not only start her own business but to have it be something she loves to do...it absolutely blows my mind. I'm so impressed.

Lily Kay's Health and Beauty is also on Facebook. You can find her page here.