Hej, predivna! Spremna za malo ljepote i inspiracije?

Hey gorgeous! Ready for a little beauty and inspiration?

Happy International Women’s Month! 

If you know me at all or have read even a single one of these posts, you probably know by now that community is a central part of my identity. And that includes A LOT of incredible women, which makes me extra excited to spend this month giving them their flowers. Keca’s Usna, from its first twinkle in my mind to its full realization as a business, has been made by, for, and with women. 

When I think over my journey as a lipstick lover, it doesn’t start with Keca’s Usna. It goes back much further and deeper, to my glamorous grandmother who was never seen without her “rouge” and lipstick. She wasn’t focused on being perfectly polished, but instead used cosmetics as a sort of armor to help her feel her best. I can’t help but smile when I realize how similar both my personal and brand philosophies resemble the example she set.

One of my earliest forays into the powers of makeup was in eighth grade with my best friend Brenda. We would play with makeup coming home from school, even though we weren’t allowed to wear it. So, being clever preteens, we put body lotion on our hands AND faces to remove any trace of our incriminating beauty adventures. Ironically enough, this was around the time that we both were crowned with our nicknames, Keca and Nena – it’s touching and awe-inspiring to look back on these little pieces of life that now form the mosaic of my world. 

It’s been my pleasure as a female founder and CEO to dive into an industry that is so beloved by women. There’s a true sense of warmth and connection that the makeup world creates as it unites us beauty lovers, and I’m absolutely honored to be a part of it – and to have received so much support from so many women. Connecting with them via trade show, conference, or networking group has been such a blast, and changed my life for the better, forever.

Ladies aren’t just friends of the brand; they help form the face of it, too! Many are personal friends of mine, and all are beautiful inside and out. One that will always have a special place in my heart is my niece, Natalia – she constantly inspires me and I am so proud of her, so getting to share Keca’s Usna with her and have her contribute to it is something I deeply cherish.

And of course, if you go behind the scenes, you’ll find even more women. From the early days of my cosmetic adventure to my current in-house team, I’ve been lucky to have some amazing women helping me pack boxes, ship orders, market, work events, and create content!

One of the things that’s surprised me along my professional makeup journey was the power of the online beauty community. Coming from HR, I hadn’t imagined my lipstick connecting me to its users so personally, but it’s been an absolute joy and honor to meet Keca’s Usna wearers and get to share their beautiful looks on our social media. Another amazing example of the depth and strength of female support systems. 

Thank you to all the ladies who have been part of the Keca's Usna journey, and to the rest of the wonderful folks who have supported us. I am eternally grateful to have you along on this ride. Stay tuned this month as we continue to celebrate the women of our communities, from those who came before us to those who are tracing our footsteps!

Ljubav, sjaj i poljupci!

Love, shine, and kisses!