GTCO FSHN WKND 2025 DAY 2 HOW NIGERIAN AMERICAN BORN CHRISTINA FUNKE TEGBE TURNED TRADITIONAL AFRICAN RITUALS INTO GLOBALLY CELEBRATED PRODUCT~Starimagenews.com
…. Her journey from corporate America to global entrepreneurship highlights how passion, storytelling, and innovation can transform indigenous wisdom into modern success.
By Tokunbo Ibikunle
In 2016, entrepreneur Christina Funke Tegbe launched 54 Thrones, a luxury beauty brand inspired by African heritage and natural rituals. But her journey started years earlier—with courage, curiosity, andq111 a deep desire to reconnect with her roots.
A Leap of Faith
Before founding 54 Thrones, Christina worked as a corporate consultant in the U.S. Despite having earned two master’s degrees and a stable career, she felt unfulfilled. In 2015, she decided to quit her job, cash out her 401K, and embark on a life-changing journey across Africa to learn about her Nigerian heritage.
Discovering Africa’s Hidden Beauty
During her travels to Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and Egypt, Christina became fascinated by the continent’s rich traditions and beauty. In Morocco, she observed women grinding nuts by hand to make argan oil, a product she had only known from store shelves. When she shared her experience online, hundreds of women reached out, sparking the idea for a brand that celebrated Africa’s authentic beauty rituals.
The Birth of 54 Thrones
Launched in 2016, 54 Thrones filled a gap in the beauty industry. While many brands used African ingredients, few told African stories. Christina set out to change that—partnering with artisans across the continent who produced shea butter, argan oil, and other natural ingredients. Her mission: to elevate Africa’s image and showcase the diversity and richness of its 54 nations.
Cultural Roots and Inspiration
Christina’s Nigerian-American upbringing played a key role in shaping her creativity and leadership. Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit and her mother’s background as a hairstylist inspired her love for bold, confident beauty. “I grew up around women who were unapologetically beautiful,” she recalls. “That energy fuels everything I create.”
Naivety and Determination
Starting out, Christina admits she was “naïve” about running a business—but that became her superpower. She would travel to Africa with an empty suitcase, fill it with oils and butters, then return home to handcraft products in Texas. Her belief in her vision, combined with hard work and research, laid the foundation for 54 Thrones’ success.
Recognition and Growth
The brand gained major attention after appearing on Shark Tank and being featured on Oprah’s Favourite Things list. Over time, Christina’s vision evolved. She now emphasises the science behind African ingredients, not just their cultural heritage, collaborating with labs to explore innovations like extracting peptides from shea butter.
Changing the Global Beauty Narrative
Christina draws parallels between African beauty and the global rise of K-beauty (Korean beauty). She believes A-beauty (African beauty) can follow a similar path—by investing in clinical testing, research, and world-class marketing. “Africa has the most biodiversity in the world,” she says. “We have everything we need—we just have to value it and tell our stories.”