When Stephanie Karikari was crowned Miss Ghana in 2010, few could have predicted that over a decade later, she would evolve into one of West Africa’s most dynamic businesswomen—building a beauty empire rooted in purpose, legacy, and African excellence.
Today, Karikari is the founder and CEO of SK Cosmetics, a skincare and wellness brand born out of a desire to create luxurious, African-made products for melanin-rich skin.
But her rise in the entrepreneurial world was no accident—it was the result of grit, reinvention, and a long-standing passion for redefining beauty standards across the continent.
“I’ve always believed that beauty should empower, not conform,” she tells Forbes Africa from her Accra office, a serene space adorned with African art and minimalist elegance. “SK Cosmetics is about celebrating who we are, unapologetically.”
Karikari’s pivot from pageantry to business wasn’t simply a rebrand—it was a strategic repositioning.
Following her reign as Miss Ghana and her philanthropic work with the Miss Ghana Foundation, she began to study the global beauty market closely. She noticed a glaring gap in products tailored for African skin types—products that were not only effective but also luxurious and proudly made in Africa.
Armed with insight, she launched SK Cosmetics in 2020, at a time when global interest in African beauty rituals was rising, but African ownership in the space remained limited.
Today, the brand offers a curated line of skincare products that blend indigenous ingredients—like shea butter, moringa, and African black soap—with modern formulations. The products have gained a loyal following not only in Ghana but across the continent and diaspora markets in the UK, US, and UAE.
Never one to be boxed into a single lane, Karikari also expanded her influence into media with the creation of The SK Guide—a digital lifestyle and wellness series she serves as Creator and Executive Producer.
The show highlights self-care, confidence, entrepreneurship, and modern African womanhood, further amplifying her brand’s core ethos: empowerment through authenticity.
“With The SK Guide, I wanted to have honest conversations that matter to African women—whether it’s skincare, purpose, or building a legacy,” she says. The show has received praise for its visual storytelling and its relatable, uplifting content, positioning Karikari as a thought leader in the beauty and wellness industry.
Karikari’s journey embodies a new wave of African entrepreneurs who understand that success is no longer just about products—it’s about storytelling, sustainability, and impact. Her business isn’t just profit-driven—it’s purpose-led.
Through SK Cosmetics, she has created employment opportunities for women in rural Ghana by sourcing raw materials ethically and locally. “Empowering women along the value chain is as important to me as the products themselves,” she says.
She also mentors young entrepreneurs through workshops and speaking engagements, advocating for more support for female-led businesses in Africa’s private sector.
Karikari isn’t resting on her laurels. She’s currently working on expanding her product line to include wellness supplements and entering new markets across East and Southern Africa. She’s also in talks to collaborate with other African beauty founders on a pan-African retail platform.
Her long-term vision? “To see African brands on global shelves—not as exotic novelties but as standard-setters,” she says.
In an era where African narratives are being redefined, Stephanie Karikari is not just building a brand—she’s building a legacy. Her journey serves as a reminder that with vision and resilience, the crown doesn’t have to be the climax—it can be the beginning.
