From Rihanna to Shonda Rhimes: Stars Who Mastered the Art of Success in Businesses

It’s not news that brands ask the help from celebrities to expand their reach or engagement, while others tap so-called influencers, who boast a massive following on various social media platforms. However, a handful of stars are already trying their luck in putting up their businesses, using their A-lister status to promote their ventures.

Thanks to the advent of social media, entrepreneurs can now take advantage of the platform, which means that marketing has reached new heights. Here are some renowned personalities behind some of the biggest businesses:

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty promises inclusivity from the get-go

Fans of the artist already know why Rihanna’s makeup line is called Fenty Beauty, but for those who don’t, the newly minted entrepreneur’s real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

While she first came to the spotlight as a singer, the Barbados native later on tapped into the beauty industry after launching a cosmetics line that champions inclusivity – she took into account her observation of the market gap that’s too obvious but yet neglected.

In 2017, she finally released her foundation line with 40 shades, much to the excitement of not just her supporters, but those looking for a product that actually matched their skin tone. The launch rocked the makeup industry and more importantly, established Fenty Beauty as a strong competitor that other brands try to mimic or surpass.

Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland

What do Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and How to Get Away With Murder have in common? Apart from the fact that these are all shows that require binge-watching because they’re so addicting, these were released by the television production company Shondaland, founded by multi-award-winning writer Shonda Rhimes. If you are wondering how massive she is, she signed a $150-million deal with streaming platform Netflix in 2017.

On the surface, it looked like it was just another multimillion-dollar contract, but little did people know that this would send a shockwave through the industry.

When she inked her name on the deal, she already knew that there were bigger budgets and more creative freedom, which included swearing, all without having to think about ratings.

It also showed just how she was trusted, which wasn’t surprising if you consider her prowess in producing and writing impressive stories.

David Chang’s Momofuku

David Chang is known for being a chef with a feisty attitude

It’s hard to stand out in the culinary industry if you are just another chef. Because of the intense pressure from competitors who are undeniably talented, the only chefs who get exposure are the ones doing something different.

Formidable chef David Chang is doing exactly that: he is not just a restaurateur; he is also a television sensation who quickly marked his name on the culinary map after opening Momofuku, his first restaurant, in the Big Apple.

What sets him apart from others is that, he has an unapologetic and edgy attitude that surprisingly hooked people even more. With an entertaining personality, a Netflix show is just bound to happen … and it did as the Ugly Delicious premiered on Netflix in February last year.

Karlie Kloss’ Kode with Klossy

Karlie Kloss is famous for being the host of Project Runway nowadays, but she used to be widely known as the iconic model who donned a pair of angel wings on the runways of prestigious fashion shows.

She is also friends with this year’s highest-paid entertainer, Taylor Swift, and has investor Joshua Kushner for a husband. But more so, she is also the founder of Kode with Klossy that was launched four years ago.

Model Karlie Kloss launched Kode with Klossy in 2015

Her organization empowers young women who wish to enter the world of programming and tech. Kode with Klossy offers free summer camps for girls aged 13 to 18, all they need to do is to apply.

During the two-week course, participants learn about building apps and the good news is, you don’t need to be an expert to be chosen.