Danika Berry knows learn how to power through.

She was in a position to work her way up from producing local television to being probably the most sought-after entertainment and wonder publicists/managers working with everyone from Destiny’s Child’s management company to Mielle Organics founder Monique Rodriguez. Regardless of the skilled ask, she got it done, effortlessly.

But she’d found herself hitting a wall after going through two significant concurrent personal challenges: a divorce and a PMDD diagnosis.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a more severe type of premenstrual syndrome that always results in bouts of depression, forced Berry to reevaluate the way in which she navigated her life.

“I used to be thriving in my profession because on the time I used to be representing three of the highest natural Black hair brands (Mielle, Camille Rose and Curls) but I used to be at my limit.”

It didn’t stop there—while attempting to address managing PMDD symptoms, she was then told she also had fibroids.

“It was really a double whammy—really bad,” she tells ESSENCE. “For the primary time in my life I discovered myself having suicidal thoughts.” The unsettling realization that her mental health was affecting not only her skilled life, but her personal responsibilities as well, Berry, an energetic single mother of three, vowed to make a change.

“I just kept excited about my kids and the way I needed to be the perfect version of myself after giving a lot to others for years.” The stress began to take a toll on her body and caused her eczema to flare up, so she began mixing her own skincare solutions in her kitchen as an alternative of leaning on harsh topical medications and steroids.

Thus, Glam Body was born.

“It was created out of affection, first for myself, then for others truthfully,” she tells ESSENCE. “I do know there are such a lot of people, specifically women, who forget to deal with themselves, so I would like to assist reconnect with themselves from the neck down.”

The brand offers various high-quality cruelty-free coffee scrubs that helps with brightening and tightening the skin, to reducing the looks and irritation of pimples, eczema, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite, and dark spots—all issues Berry faced herself.

“I would like my products to make you are feeling much more beautiful,” Berry says. “We live in a world where everyone seems to be vain, especially with social media persons are doctoring their photos. They’re airbrushing. I would like to give you the chance to make it to where you don’t need to do all of that. You may feel confident within the skin you’re in.”

Along with scrubs, Glam Body also offers its spa product kit, which incorporates a nourishing body gel, hydrating all-natural body butter, an exfoliating body butter, detoxing bath salt and an anti-aging glaze.

Since its launch in 2017, the corporate has been completely self-funded, which is yet one more challenge Berry is tackling head on attributable to her tenacious nature.

“Every little thing comes from me,” she shares. “And it’s so crazy because, as everyone knows, in relation to being a Black beauty founder, we’ve got the toughest time securing funding.” She’s right. To this point, US Black women founders only receive .02% of enterprise capital.

It’s for this reason Berry created National Black Beauty Founders Day (August 30), a national holiday geared toward bringing awareness and honor the numerous contributions the group brings to the wonder industry.

As Glam Body continues to grow, Berry says she’s aiming to scale quickly, but needs the suitable investors to make that occur.

“I don’t need to shoulder the financials alone anymore so I’m working towards that immediately, like many ladies founders. I’m okay immediately but when I receive an enormous purchase order, I’m definitely going to be funded identical to quite a lot of my clients which can be founders,” she shares. “When you get 1,000,000 dollar purchase order, I don’t have 1,000,000 dollars sitting within the bank. I would want someone or even when I did, I wouldn’t need to spend my very own money—that’s something aspiring business owners should understand as well. When you can avoid spending your personal money, try this.”

Later this yr into 2024, Berry says she’s laying plans for an expansion into retail.

“I would like to be certain everyone has the chance to experience Glam Body,” she says. “All of us deserve to be ok with ourselves from the within out, especially after fighting so hard to construct the lives we would like. We should feel whole—we deserve that.”

This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.