Cassandra Morales Thurswell: Founder and CEO of Kitsch

Cassandra Morales Thurswell is the founder and CEO of Kitsch. However, before starting her haircare and accessories brand, she founded several entrepreneurial endeavors: She opened a restaurant and boutique with her mother, launched a jewelry business, worked at a clothing store, and managed a cupcake shop. She then transitioned to running a series of small businesses, including a spray-tanning company and an inspirational-quote scarf brand, before taking a job designing jewelry for retailers like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. At age 25, she started Kitsch with $30,000 in savings and a handmade hair tie. The brand gained traction, and today, Kitsch generates over $500 million in annual revenue, is in 32,000 retail stores across 92 countries, and is the largest self-funded, female-owned beauty brand in the world.