CAMILLE ROSE
Janell Stephens regards her grandmother as the guiding figure behind her now-multi-million-dollar enterprise, Camille Rose Naturals. The chief executive, who hails from Morgan City, Louisiana—a small town with a strong Catholic presence located around 80 miles east of New Orleans—grew up beside her “second mom.” Stephens portrays her matriarch as a tranquil, easygoing nurturer who crafted lotions and products from wild herbs because “she couldn’t afford a lot.”
As a chief executive who leans naturally toward nurturing others, Stephens explained that she saves one hour each day to invest in her own wellbeing. She focuses on staying physically fit, feeling energized, and keeping a positive outlook; that hour of movement—whether lifting heavy weights or sculpting through CTR Pilates—serves as an investment not only in herself but also in those she serves, such as her team, her husband, and her children. Her self-care routine includes juicing with natural ingredients like sea moss and maintaining a clean, low-sugar diet, a practice that once helped her children who battled chronic eczema. “I tried everything, everything on the shelf, but I do want to tell people who are struggling with it that it starts internally. You have to really make sure you’re label-reading everything. You have to take out a lot of the junk. You have to stay away from sugars,” she said.
As Camille Rose broadens its haircare lineup (Stephens notes she is now a certified trichologist) and moves into skincare, soap-treatment bars, and collagen-infused hair powders this year, the brand is expanding its holistic approach to wellness. The goal is to help customers make healthier daily choices that support gut, hair, and skin health. “We are tackling hair growth internally,” she stated, and aim to help women “bear your beautiful” through education and research that explores how diet, chemical exposure, and hormonal shifts influence how we appear on the outside. “I think we should take care of our core without needing anything,” Stephens said. “So just bearing your beautiful on the outside matters a great deal to me.” A legacy of beauty that shines as the long-held dreams of her ancestors—especially her grandmother—come to life.
Danielle Brooks
I am a staff writer at New York Beacon, where I focus on culture, entrepreneurship, and the emerging voices redefining Black America. My work highlights innovators, artists, and founders whose stories often unfold beyond mainstream headlines but shape communities in meaningful ways. Through precise reporting and thoughtful storytelling, I aim to document progress, challenge narratives, and contribute to a stronger Black press tradition.