Latest news with #Commence
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From Calvin Klein Icon To Founder: Brooke Shields Launches Commence At 59, Raises $3.5M And Says 'It Is So Not For The Meek Of Heart'
Actor and model Brooke Shields entered the beauty startup scene at age 59 with the launch of Commence, a haircare brand designed for women over 40. The company debuted its first three products in June 2024 and secured $3.5 million in funding from outside investors to support the launch, Forbes reports. Shields made the announcement during The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything event in New York City, where she described the experience of becoming a founder later in life as 'so not for the meek of heart.' She also shared how the journey has pushed her in new ways, saying, 'I never thought I'd be a CEO.' Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Commence targets a demographic often overlooked by mainstream beauty brands, namely women navigating midlife changes such as menopause and aging hair textures, CNBC reports. According to Forbes, Shields launched an online community during the pandemic to connect with women over 40 and discovered recurring concerns around thinning hair, scalp dryness, and gray hair management. The brand's initial lineup includes a $21 dry shampoo, a $26 leave-in conditioner, and a $30 thickening root serum, Forbes reports. To bring her vision to life, Shields assembled a team that includes Karla De Bernardo, known for her marketing work with Macy's (NYSE:M), and Mark Knitowski, a former fragrance and product expert at Victoria's Secret (NYSE:VSCO). Rather than building a brand centered around her personal image, Shields told the Journal that she opted to keep her name off the product labels. 'The products have to speak for themselves,' she said, reinforcing her commitment to long-term brand independence. Trending: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. While raising capital, Shields said that she encountered skepticism from some venture capitalists who questioned her entry into an already saturated beauty space. One investor told her she would likely fail, prompting her response: "I'm not here for your opinion, I'm here for your money." Although the investor passed on the opportunity, Shields told the Journal that she was proud of herself for speaking up and standing her ground. 'We'll go back to pitch him again,' she added. According to a January report by Beauty Matter referenced by Shields, Gen Xers spend an estimated $279 billion annually on beauty and personal care, with forecasts projecting that number to reach $430 billion over the next said she saw an opportunity to serve a demographic she felt was overlooked by existing beauty brands, according to the Journal. She was included in Fortune's 50 Over 50 list, which celebrates entrepreneurs, scientists, and changemakers redefining what achievement looks like in later stages of life, Forbes reports. Shields doesn't sugarcoat what it takes to build something from the ground up. 'I would tell someone, just don't give up,' she told the Journal. 'You've got to just be avaricious, and if you start doubting, just do something that absolutely stops you and keep moving forward. Be ready to pivot and be ready to surround yourself with the best talent that you can find to support the whole team.' Commence is still in its early days, but Shields is clear about where she wants to take it. She's building toward something lasting that reflects the needs, identity, and buying power of a group that's been ignored so far. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? MACY'S (M): Free Stock Analysis Report This article From Calvin Klein Icon To Founder: Brooke Shields Launches Commence At 59, Raises $3.5M And Says 'It Is So Not For The Meek Of Heart' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNBC
06-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Actor Brooke Shields: I started my first business at age 59, and it's 'not for the meek of heart'
At age 59, Brooke Shields added a new title to her resume: CEO. The longtime actor and model launched a haircare line called Commence, aimed at women over the age of 40, in June 2024 — and as a first-time startup founder and CEO, she was quickly humbled, she said on May 28 at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything live event. "It is so not for the meek of heart," said Shields, now 60, adding: "Every step of the way you're just going, 'I can't believe I've done this." Shields recalled meeting with a venture capitalist in hopes that he'd invest in her startup, for example. He wasted no time telling her that she'd fail in the heavily saturated market of celebrity beauty brands, she said. "I said, 'You know what? I can stop you right there ... I'm not here for your opinion, I'm here for your money,'" said Shields. To her surprise, the gutsy move earned her some respect, she noted. And though he ultimately didn't give her any money — the business was too small — Shields said she was proud of herself for speaking up. "We'll go back [to pitch him again]," she a startup cost more money than Shields expected, so she raised roughly $3.5 million from outside investors to fund the launches of her company's first three products, Forbes reported on August 2. Similarly, at the Journal's event, she spoke about the unexpected skills you need to succeed as an entrepreneur — ones you might not know if you've never done it before. Building a strong team is only the start, she said: You need endurance and resilience to recover from setbacks, which will inevitably happen, and stand apart from your competitors. "You have to be really clear about your vision, your mission, and you have to really be clear that you can find a way to differentiate yourself," said Shields. Shields referred to Commence's target demographic as an example of a differentiating factor: As she aged, she noticed that her many of her peers felt like menopause and wrinkles made them feel less worthy as people, compared to when they were younger, she said. She saw an opening in the market. Gen Xers spend $279 billion per year on beauty goods, according to a January report. That number is expected to grow to $430 billion in the next 10 years, Shields said. Launching a startup is typically very challenging: Roughly 20% of new businesses fail within their first year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But don't let the belief that you've already peaked in life, or your doubts about succeeding, stop you from taking the risk, she advised. "I would tell someone, just don't give up," said Shields. "You've got to just be avaricious, and if you start doubting, just do something that absolutely stops you and keep moving forward. Be ready to pivot and be ready to surround yourself [with] the best [talent] that you can find to support the whole team." Successful entrepreneurs including Mark Cuban and Jeff Bezos have given similar advice over the years. "View setbacks as helpful obstacles that drive learning," Bezos wrote in an October 2021 social media post. "Whatever your goals are, don't give up no matter how hard it gets." ,
Fox News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Brooke Shields celebrates 60th birthday in bikini on the beach
Brooke Shields is proving age is just a number with new social media posts. The "Mother of the Bride" star took to Instagram over the weekend to celebrate her 60th birthday with photos of her lounging on the beach in her bikini. "Woke up today in paradise… and in a new decade of life! This is 6️⃣0️⃣! Thank you for all of the birthday love," she captioned the post. The photos featured Shields sitting in a hammock on the shore in a black bikini, which she accessorized with a sun hat and a chunky gold chain choker and sand-covered feet. Her famous friends quickly flooded the comments sections with well-wishes, with Christie Brinkley writing "Happy Birthday Beauty 60 looks GREAT on you," and Ricki Lake adding, "Yes Queen! Happy milestone Birthday!" In a separate Instagram post, shared on the account of her haircare brand, Commence, Shields spelled out "propaganda we're not falling for" anymore, writing in the caption, "We're not making any more time for nonsense." "That 60 means slowing down. That change is only for your twenties," the list written on the screen said. "That it's too late to learn something new. That my best days are in the rearview. That women 'of a certain age' aren't a force to be reckoned with. That I don't deserve products made specifically for me. That not every day can be a good hair day." "Woke up today in paradise… and in a new decade of life! This is 6️⃣0️⃣! Thank you for all of the birthday love." Shields is no stranger to sharing bikini photos. The star took to Instagram in April, to share photos from her time in the Bahamas, in which she posed on the beach in a black and white bikini. Having started her career at a young age, Shields has often spoken out about how difficult it was to grow up in the spotlight, telling AARP The Magazine in March 2024 she felt as if beauty "was a burden and a responsibility," but that now it "means freedom." "The 'Pretty Baby' documentary definitely empowered me," she explained. "I had never seen my life in its entirety. It made me feel very proud of my resilience and that little girl. I would be shocked as a kid to know that there would come a time that I would feel like I was enough. I would be shocked if I knew that I would one day really be confident and like myself." The 2023 documentary, "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," chronicled the actress' life as a sexualized young actress and model, "to a woman who embraces her identity and voice," according to the description on Hulu. When speaking with AARP The Magazine, she explained she has grown accustomed to hearing other people's opinions about her appearance, saying "it's an affront to people if Brooke Shields gets older." "You can't grow up, you cannot age. It's disappointing to them that I don't have the same face I had when I was 16," she said. "But it's been so liberating for me not to worry about it all the time. The pressure of being skinny is just so exhausting. I like food, and I like tequila!" She further discussed aging in Hollywood in her memoir, "Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old."
Mercury
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mercury
Brooke Shields celebrates 60th birthday with bikini shoot
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brooke Shields celebrated her 60th birthday in paradise. The Blue Lagoon actress took to Instagram Saturday to share photos of herself rocking a black bikini while lounging on a hammock on the beach. 'Woke up in Paradise … and in a new decade of life,' she captioned the post. 'This is 60! Thank you for all the birthday love.' Shields styled her beach day look with a wide-brimmed hat and choker necklace. Brooke Shields posted images to her Instagram to celebrate her 60th birthday. Picture: Instagram. Shields celebrated the milestone in a bikini. Picture: Instagram. The Hollywood star didn't disclose the tropical location where she was enjoying her milestone birthday. In honour of the big day, her haircare brand, Commence, also shared 'a non-exhaustive list' of 'propaganda' she refuses to believe as she gets older. 'That 60 means slowing down,' read text on an Instagram Reel of Shields at a photo shoot. 'That change is only for your twenties. That it's too late to learn something new. That my best days are in the rearview. 'That women 'of a certain age' aren't a force to be reckoned with. That I don't deserve products made specifically for me. That not every day can be a good hair day.' Shields previously revealed she's against using Botox on herself. Picture: Getty. Shields got candid about ageing in a November 2023 interview with Glamour magazine, confessing she's afraid of certain cosmetic injectables. 'I'm scared of not looking like myself; the times that I've had Botox, I end up with this Spock eye and I'm like, 'I don't look like myself,'' she said at the time. 'But I'll get Fraxels, and peels, and whatever the newest thing is, and I'll try it. I just don't want to not look like myself.' But Shields has maintained her youthful glow; she stunned as she hit the beach in another bikini in April. At the time, the former model flaunted her figure while lying in the sand in the Bahamas wearing a black-and-white two-piece. The Mother of the Bride star went makeup-free, accessorising with a gold necklace and statement bracelets. This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission. Originally published as Brooke Shields celebrates 60th birthday with bikini shoot
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Brooke Shields celebrates 60th birthday with bikini shoot
Brooke Shields celebrated her 60th birthday in paradise. The Blue Lagoon actress took to Instagram Saturday to share photos of herself rocking a black bikini while lounging on a hammock on the beach. 'Woke up in Paradise … and in a new decade of life,' she captioned the post. 'This is 60! Thank you for all the birthday love.' Shields styled her beach day look with a wide-brimmed hat and choker necklace. The Hollywood star didn't disclose the tropical location where she was enjoying her milestone birthday. In honour of the big day, her haircare brand, Commence, also shared 'a non-exhaustive list' of 'propaganda' she refuses to believe as she gets older. 'That 60 means slowing down,' read text on an Instagram Reel of Shields at a photo shoot. 'That change is only for your twenties. That it's too late to learn something new. That my best days are in the rearview. 'That women 'of a certain age' aren't a force to be reckoned with. That I don't deserve products made specifically for me. That not every day can be a good hair day.' Shields got candid about ageing in a November 2023 interview with Glamour magazine, confessing she's afraid of certain cosmetic injectables. 'I'm scared of not looking like myself; the times that I've had Botox, I end up with this Spock eye and I'm like, 'I don't look like myself,'' she said at the time. 'But I'll get Fraxels, and peels, and whatever the newest thing is, and I'll try it. I just don't want to not look like myself.' But Shields has maintained her youthful glow; she stunned as she hit the beach in another bikini in April. At the time, the former model flaunted her figure while lying in the sand in the Bahamas wearing a black-and-white two-piece. The Mother of the Bride star went makeup-free, accessorising with a gold necklace and statement bracelets. This story originally appeared on Page Six
