The American South is known for its traditions and cultural richness, historical complexity, and entrepreneurial spirit. At the forefront of this economic and cultural revival are Black women reimagining what it means to be a business owner in the new South.
From beauty and wellness to food technology and hospitality, these women are not just participating in the economy—they’re revolutionizing it. They’re breaking down systemic walls, injecting community values, and spearheading new industry trends.
This article aims to shine a light on eight Black women-owned businesses in the Southern United States that are making waves—locally and internationally—by disrupting the norm and sparking innovation.
1. My Signature Scent (Atlanta, GA)
My Signature Scent founder Aiesha McKenzie is changing the fragrance game by putting the power of scent creation into the hands of her customers. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the small business offers customized fragrances and consultations that redefine the industry from an indulgent product to a highly personal experience.
Clients can create a unique scent that reflects their personality, identity, and mood. McKenzie’s concept caters to a marketplace increasingly interested in a certain type of retail experience and self-expression, turning the traditional fragrance market on its head.
Her customer-centric approach, combined with her knowledge of fragrant ingredients, has placed her in the driver’s seat of perfume innovation, gaining a loyal following in a space where beauty and customization meet.
2. Freedom Apothecary (New Orleans, LA)
Freedom Apothecary, New Orleans’ wellness haven, is the poster child of community-driven business. Founded by two Black women, it sells a thoughtfully curated selection of skincare, herbal, and wellness products sourced from female—and minority-owned companies.
Freedom Apothecary is special because it offers customers a unique in-store experience, such as yoga classes and wellness workshops. It’s part boutique, part healing center.
Amidst a world of commodified self-care, this business resists the trend by basing its products on community, education, and sustainability. It’s not just a store—it’s a cultural response to wellness exclusion in the broader beauty community.
3. Southern Culture Artisan Foods (Atlanta, GA)
Erica Barrett founded Southern Culture Artisan Foods to honor and modernize Southern food traditions. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, her company reimagines traditional comfort foods as gourmet, non-perishable products, such as banana pudding pancake mix.
This blend of innovation and nostalgia contradicts the idea that quality and convenience are mutually exclusive. Barrett’s products are shipped all over the country, but their soul remains firmly in the South.
By bringing back the flavors of her youth, she bridges the gap between traditional cooking and the speedy nature of contemporary life. Her brand proves that Southern cuisine can be packaged, refined, and accessible without losing its authenticity.
4. Rebundle (St. Louis, MO)
Though St. Louis, Missouri, sits at the edge of the South and the Midwest, Rebundle finds its way onto this list for revolutionizing an industry with deep Southern roots: hair extensions.
CEO Ciara Imani May founded Rebundle to address the health hazards and environmental contamination caused by synthetic braided hair. Her plant-based alternative is biodegradable, nontoxic, and scalp-friendly.
In a market that long ignored the needs of its Black consumers, Rebundle is a virtuous and impactful solution. May’s ingenuity flips the script on a billion-dollar business, making her an outstanding entrepreneur who brings biotech, beauty, and racial equity together in an unexpected mashup.
5. CocoAndré Chocolatier (Dallas, TX)
Andrea and Cindy Pedraza, the owners of Dallas-based CocoAndré Chocolatier, show that cultural fusion can be as delicious as it is powerful. Though Mexican-American in background, the Pedrazas operate in a predominantly Black business landscape and actively collaborate with Black-owned businesses.
Their handcrafted chocolates include flavors such as horchata and tamarind truffle, and their business model celebrates multiculturalism and intersectionality. CocoAndré is among many movements that utilize food as storytelling and community-building tools.
By breaking down barriers between cultures, communities, and cuisines, this store turns the traditional chocolate-making industry upside down and creates a new type of Southern sweetness.
6. Wanderstay Boutique Hotel (Houston, TX)
Wanderstay Boutique Hotel in Houston, Texas, is the brainchild of entrepreneur Deidre Mathis, the first Black female hostel owner in the U.S. Her vision for Wanderstay is more than affordable lodging—it is a cultural destination for millennials and Gen Z travelers.
Each room is unique in design and reflective of the city’s diversity. Further, the hotel hosts regular events designed to foster community engagement and discussion. Mathis’s business model turns traditional hospitality on its head, exchanging sterile professionalism with neighborhood personality and character.
Her success demonstrates that hospitality does not have to be corporate to be professional, and inclusivity can be both a mission and a business model.
7. The Brown Sugar Collab (Charlotte, NC)
Charlotte’s Brown Sugar Collab is a boutique, indeed, but it is also a startup platform for minority women entrepreneurs. Founded by Monique Floyd, this retail space thoughtfully curates products from over 30 Black- and woman-owned businesses, giving artisans a foothold in a predominantly digital and white-owned landscape.
From skincare to home decor, every item sold in the store is a testament to integrity, creativity, and self-reliance. Brown Sugar Collab breaks the retail mold by prioritizing hyperlocal, woman-owned enterprises. It’s a living case study on the power of cooperative economics and visibility to propel success for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the present-day South.
8. The Black Hair Experience (Atlanta, GA & Washington, D.C.)
Started by Alisha Brooks and Elizabeth Austin-Davis, The Black Hair Experience is a hybrid between an art gallery and an experiential museum that celebrates the beauty and culture of Black hair.
While its headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, the company stretches across the South and beyond, with satellite offices in Washington, D.C. The company uses photography, interactive exhibits, and nostalgia—from hot combs on the stovetop to the salon chair—to validate, uplift, and honor the Black hair experience.
More than a photo-op venue, it reclaims the Black beauty story and turns it into a lucrative business model based on cultural pride, artistry, and collective experiences.
The Very Best of the Best
These eight Black women-owned Southern businesses are not merely businesses—they’re cultural revolutions that are changing their industries. From green beauty to interactive art, expertly curated dining, and client-centric hospitality, each founder upends the status quo in ways that challenge stereotypes and create new norms.
These women are not merely filling market gaps; they’re opening new doors to innovation, representation, and ownership. Their success stories are strong case studies of resilience, determination, and the economic strength of diversity.
These women continue to make waves, anchoring a future where Southern businesses are unapologetically Black, bold, and profoundly transformative.
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