From Passionate Hobbyist to Beauty Mogul: Suzanne’s Rise

There’s this feeling that you too may be familiar with: that spark of passion for something, a ‘hobby’ that lights you up inside every time you engage with it. You pour hours into it, honing your craft, lost in the sheer joy of creation. But then comes the question that strikes at the heart of it all, ceaselessly nagging at you from the moment it barges into your mind: “Passion alone rarely pays the bills… does it?”

This is precisely where Suzanne found herself in her 20s. Fast forward to today, when she’s the driving force behind Zanne Beauty and Keiko World, and a fierce voice against gender-based violence. Her journey began not with spreadsheets and projections, but with brushes and colour palettes.

"I started with makeup as a hobby," Suzanne reflects, thinking back to those early days. It’s not an easy state of being, navigating life after a divorce at such an early age. Yet, she had reason to keep going. "I was driven by a love for the craft,” her voice resonates with intensity at this point, “but completely lost when it came to business."

Before the makeup brushes took centre stage, life felt uncertain. Unemployment loomed, and a clear path forward seemed elusive. Armed with only her high school education, she scraped together her modest savings, paying a friend to teach her the basics of makeup application. It was a start, but without the foundational understanding of how to run a business, progress felt painfully slow. "I was passionate," she admits, "but passion alone doesn't pay the bills."

It’s a statement many creatives may be all too familiar with.

For two long years, she existed in the beauty industry's informal spaces, a talented artist certainly, but one without a map, drifting without a clear direction.

Then, a potential breakthrough. A collaboration with a local media platform offered her something invaluable: visibility. Yes, it’s a word synonymous with another that often brings a cold shudder when some hear it, that “e” word that has a tarnished reputation in many creative sectors - “exposure.”

And yet a stage was exactly what Suzanne needed at this point to, quite literally, showcase her talent. That stage, and the visibility it brought with it, began to build her reputation; people in her city started to recognise her name, her skill. Things were looking up.

But then… There’s always a twist, isn't there?

The ground beneath her shifted abruptly when the media house relocated. Suddenly, Suzanne lost not only her workspace, but also the stability she’d just begun to grasp. She was adrift once more.

What was on the horizon, though, was something completely new, something that would serve to help in answering that one constant, nagging question: “How do I make money from this thing that I really love doing?”

When she heard about the Sanara programme - an initiative specifically designed for creatives like her - she applied to join some of the classes that are part of the programme. Hearing her speak about it, you get the sense that her applying was an act of faith unto itself: an act of faith in her own ability to make something tangible, something dignified, something sustainable and fulfilling out of her craft.

"I applied hoping to improve my makeup skills," Suzanne explains, "but I received so much more."

Joining Sanara was a watershed moment. This was about taking this ‘hobby’ she’d become so good at, and building a business based on that skill she so deliberately honed. The programme presented to her access to structured training, mentorship, a supportive network, and an entire toolkit she’d been missing: Business development strategies, effective marketing approaches, the crucial discipline of managing finances. Sanara proved to be the catalyst she needed to formalise Zanne Beauty, sharpening her brand and refining how she reached her clients.

And the transformation was remarkable.

Her connections with media platforms didn't just resume; they evolved. She found herself in a marketing manager role, leveraging her creative eye in a new capacity. Crucially, she secured a dedicated workspace in a busy commercial centre. Investing in the monthly rent wasn't any other cost - it was an investment in professionalism, creating a space that truly reflected the quality and vision of her brand. An investment that underscored that faith she held true.

The results followed. That December, her business hit an incredible peak, generating revenue that was once unimaginable and a substantial profit. It was a world away from the hand-to-mouth existence she’d known before.

Momentum is a powerful force. Recognising the potential, Suzanne expanded, launching Keiko World, a beauty shop bringing in sought-after, high-quality imported wigs. But talk to Suzanne, and you quickly realise her ambition stretches far beyond her own balance sheet. Having navigated financial instability and the specific hurdles young women often face, she feels a deep-seated drive to lift others. She now employs two permanent staff members - both young women finding their footing. Simultaneously, she began offering makeup training classes, sharing her hard-won knowledge and mentoring aspiring artists, diversifying her income in the process.

"I want to empower women," Suzanne states with conviction, "Especially those from underprivileged backgrounds and those escaping abusive situations. I want to show them that they can build a better future."

Of course, rapid growth rarely comes without its own set of challenges. Managing two distinct business locations essentially as a solo entrepreneur is demanding. Keiko World, being newer, faces the slower financial growth typical of a start-up. And the very success of her makeup training creates logistical hurdles - high demand straining her current space and requiring careful navigation of legal requirements. These are the realities of scaling a dream, hurdles she seems determined to clear.

Her roadmap is clear. The next two years are focused on pushing her training programs beyond the city centre, reaching those who might otherwise miss out. Looking further ahead, over the next five years, she envisions a partnership with Sanara itself, in pursuit of the mission woven into the fabric of her business and her long-term vision: expanding her training programmes and formalising her educational offerings to create lasting impact.

Suzanne’s story is more than just a case study; it’s a narrative of resilience finding opportunity. It underscores the incredible difference targeted support - like that offered by the Sanara programme - can make in transforming passion into a sustainable livelihood.

As Suzanne herself puts it: "Sanara didn't just teach me business. The programme gave me the tools to build a legacy."

And it feels like there’s very little that can stop her.