Meet Autumn Stokes | CEO and Founder of Katoria S. Kosmetics LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Autumn Stokes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Autumn, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
The end goal would be to own successful, flourishing, and growing companies while also giving back to the Memphis community, the mental health community, and most importantly, the black & brown community! I truly am an advocate when it comes down to supporting a cause that is beneficial for the mental health community and the black & brown community. Professionally, I want to own and create several businesses that align with my interests and support a cause that I advocate for! I can see myself going down the creative lane, such as coloring books, markers, crayons, paint/paint accessories, creative studios for individuals, etc. I also see myself professionally catering to the music world as well in a creative aspect, such as a coffee shop with live music from locals, music scholarship for individuals interested in pursuing the music industry, incorporating music programs into schools, etc. I’ve always had a passion for music ever since I was in elementary school! I would also love to open a nonprofit that caters to the mental health community! I would love to have it implemented in schools (elementary, middle, high, and university settings) because mental health develops when you are young and developing. It would be so beneficial to kids, parents, etc. I would love to provide resources and materials for the mental health community! To sum all of that up, I have a lot of interests I would like to explore successfully and professionally! Where do I want to be by the end of my career? I want to generate generational wealth for my family, being able to provide great resources to my city (Memphis), the mental health community, and most importantly, the black & brown community! I also plan to inspire many individuals to follow and pursue their dreams!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Katoria S. Kosmetics LLC is a black-owned and Memphis-owned beauty brand! Katoria S. Kosmetics LLC, founded by Autumn Stokes in December 2021. Here at Katoria S. Kosmetics, we offer clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and luxurious products! Our product ranges from lip glosses, lip liners, and butterfly mirrors (pink + black options available)! More options are coming soon; I can not wait to expand my brand into different aspects of makeup and skincare options, possibly! Many things set me apart from other businesses. For example, my backstory of Katoria S. Kosmetics LLC, the mission/purpose of my goals associated with Katoria S. Kosmetics LLC, how mental health is connected with my beauty brand, my support for the black & brown community, etc. Something I am most proud of would be my journey to where I am right now! I typically hate the process of growing because it feels like it takes forever to get through that stuck phase in your life. I’m truly proud of my resilience, especially throughout my college journey and in my esthetician journey now! There will always be challenges upon your journey; it is how you react to them and handle them! I got to this place business-wise with the support of my family, colleagues, close friends, etc. It was not easy because I do have anxiety, and it’s a constant battle every day. I have to make sure that I block out the unnecessary noise that is trying to get me off track and listen to the feedback that will help me better myself! I overcame the challenges by permitting myself to have an emotional health day or mental health day. I practice this a lot because my energy will not look the same every day, and I have to practice giving myself and others grace! Another way I overcame the challenges I had was by taking out the perfectionist mindset. Having that perfectionist mindset will drive your anxiety through the roof. Daily, I have to remind myself that I am not perfect, but I am trying and showing up, and that counts for something! Some lessons I learned along the way is being transparent about your goals, purpose, drive, mental capacity, etc. I truly try to make a safe space in my business, especially for those who suffer from a mental health aspect. I believe in extending grace, remaining patient, and checking in because I don’t like to just assume everything is okay! I want the world to know that my brand is truly one of a kind. I hope we gravitate to individuals who see the value and purpose of our brand. We are a makeup brand, but we also are on a mission to cater to the black and brown community, the mental health community, and the Memphis community! I would also want the world to know my journey as a student entrepreneur, the foundations of this business, the process, the good times, and even the not-so-good times! I want people to see that it is capable for a young black girl to succeed with a big vision/dream and has patiently gone through the process to build a brand. It’s what makes me human and feel realistic!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would say Midtown has some nice shopping areas and dining areas to visit! I have never been to The Bayou Bar & Grill, but it is always a first time for everything! A nice walk downtown by the river, it’s so pretty during the night because there is a light-up park nearby, the Bass Pro Pyramid, and it’s so lovely! During the day, a nice trip to the Brooks Art Museum to discover new talents/artists, then take a stroll on downtown Beale Street. Find a nice eating spot, Slim Husky’s pizza, perhaps! For a fun activity, I would recommend going to the AMUSE – Adventure Museum. It is so fun and active, and it is worth the cost and time! It is a great activity for bonding with family, friends, and partners! As for fun and exciting places, I would recommend the Midtown area, Downtown area, Germantown area (Saddle Creek), Collierville area, etc.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many people that deserves their flowers for building/developing me into the young lady I am today! The first few people on my list would be my parents + siblings (Janice Stokes, Danny Stokes, Ashley Stokes, and Austin Stokes)! My parents both encouraged me to pursue my dreams, continue my education, and so much more. Their impact on me is out of this world! I am truly grateful for my parents! I plan to give them the world and make sure they both receive their flowers! Even though my dad passed in 2020, I still plan to make him proud and give him flowers for his impact on my life! He was the first person to pique my interest in the makeup world! He knew how curious I was about makeup, but it all started with lipgloss! I greatly appreciate him for taking an interest in something I am extremely passionate about! My mom has always encouraged me to follow and pursue my dreams! I have always known that I wanted to own a cosmetics line, I just didn’t know when it would finally fall into place. My mom has always been a huge supporter when it comes to things I’m truly passionate about and interested in! She has been through my ups and downs throughout my college journey and even my entrepreneurship journey, and I thank her and my siblings so much for being there through it all! My close friends (best friends) encourage me to aim for better! They always speak words of encouragement to me, especially when I get to a place where I can be mentally and emotionally drained! If I need help at an event, I can count on them to be there, support, advertise my events/products/launch, etc! As my close friends, they were the first to know about the creation of my small business, Katoria S. Kosmetics LLC! I thank them so much for their endless support and love, so it’s only right I give them their flowers as well! Lastly, I would say my work family from the Center for Professional Career Development at the University of Memphis! Typically, I don’t express to others I have a small business, but it came naturally, especially when I found out my past supervisor loved lipgloss! I happened to gift her some lipglosses from my small business because we were celebrating her academic accomplishments! Then, after that, my work family became interested and involved with my small business! They were genuinely interested in the process of my small business, my passion for it, my creative thoughts, and, most of all, my drive for my business! I truly thank them and give them their flowers because if an opportunity arises, they always think of me and a way my small business can be involved as well!

Website: https://katoriaskosmetics.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katoriaskosmetics

Twitter: https://x.com/katoriasko

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katoriaskosmetics

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@katoriaskosmeticsllc

Image Credits
Morgan Stewart
Autumn Stokes
Sedrick Askew
Courtney Crawford