By Christy Anyanwu
She is an ex-beauty queen, a stylish Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the founder, Two Six Mall in Lekki. Dabota House of Beauty & Dabota Cosmetics, an award-winning beauty brand providing quality non-toxic makeup and skincare products/services worldwide.
Dabota Lawson is a graduate from the university of Leicester with a first degree in Financial Economics (BA),
She spoke with Saturday Sun recently.
As a beauty entrepreneur, what is your perception of today’s makeup artist, especially the Nigerian folk?
Nigerian makeup artists have the potential to achieve global success by embracing the various opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Beyond traditional handwork and physical products, the future of beauty lies in the realm of digital innovation.
What ignited your passion to go into cosmetics?
My personal passion for beauty has been long coming to manifest the person and path of entrepreneurship I’m expressing in the world today. I have a genuine love for beauty products, cosmetics, skincare, or hair care from an early age, perhaps and most of the women I admired growing up were intelligent successful women who really looked after themselves and were very particular about their appearance.
My desire is to solve problems or address a need in the beauty industry that is not being adequately met by existing products or services, such as makeup that is specifically tailored to acne prone skin. That’s a condition that I’ve had a long term personal experience with. It’s still something that scientists and beauty professionals are struggling with. This condition is something that affects women of all ages and no matter how confident a woman is, no one want to keep dealing with acne.
I consider myself a leading woman and as a leading woman, creativity and innovation is something that I would say is a gift from God to me. I have always had that drive to create something unique, innovative, or groundbreaking in the beauty sector. I’m one to push boundaries and set new trends.
I also see my platform as a beauty entrepreneur as a tool for empowerment, self-expression, and boosting confidence by helping others people feel their best through my products and services.
My willingness to take risks and navigate challenges, and a commitment to building a successful business in the beauty industry is one of my strong attributes I encompass and a conviction as to why I was created by God for this life.
You held the audience spellbound at the Pan-African make-up summit held recently in Lagos. Tell us more about it?
The Makeup Empowerment Summit was a gathering of industry leaders and aspiring makeup artists alike. It featured a lineup of influential voices in the beauty industry.
A defining moment of the event was the launch of Lawson’s debut ebook, “From Likes To Launch,” a comprehensive guide packed with proven monetization tactics for aspiring beauty moguls. This milestone publication offers a roadmap for transforming passion into profit and building a thriving beauty empire in the digital age. The event was a big success with a lineup of influential voices in the beauty industry like: BeautybyAD, Ifeoluwa Agoro, Joyce Jacob, Bolaji Olatoye, and many more.
You stand out like an entertainer. Do you have such dreams growing up?
I come from a lineage of some great entertainers and public figures. I love the world of entertainment and, growing up, because of my physical attributes in terms of my figure and height, I walked the runway for many international brands and graced the covers of many magazines.
As a beauty queen, I’ve had the opportunity to work in various areas of the entertainment industry and still do till date.
Aside your beauty line, what other business do you do?
Before I delved into the beauty industry, I had been working in various industries as a student in the UK up until when I finished my degree and my professional course. Some industries I’ve worked in include retail, recruitment, oil and gas, construction, dredging, media and entertainment. Usually in those fields, I’m usually working in the operations, corporate communications, business development or finance department. As a result, I gathered so many experiences which have allowed me to invest in real estate, consult for business and carry out contracts of various kinds.
I’m also big on empowerment and spend a good amount of my time participating and collaborating in various forms of women empowerment.
I am self-aware, authentic, and have a commitment to staying true to my values amidst the ever-changing landscape of public life.
Tell us more about your lifestyle and daily activities
Being in the spotlight comes with its fair share of advantages and challenges. From the allure of recognition and influence to the scrutiny and loss of privacy, celebrities and public figures often find themselves on a rollercoaster ride of fame.
One key strategy I embrace is the positives that fame brings while mitigating the negatives. I try leveraging my platform for philanthropic endeavours, advocating for meaningful causes, and inspiring others. Additionally, I set clear boundaries to safeguard my personal space and mental well-being.
I also make sure that I’m seeking support from a trusted circle of family, friends, and professionals for emotional guidance and perspective during challenging times.
I also make sure that, above all, I’m spiritually aligning my everyday life with God, so that the Holy Spirit can guide me to deal with the complexities of celebrity status with resilience and grace.