Meet the Women Who Are Shaping London's Business Landscape

Happy International women’s day to all our customers, friends, family and peers!

Auralia believes that women should be celebrated every single day.

They deserve to feel good, look good, and be appreciated all year round.

But on a day like International Women’s Day, it’s the perfect chance to shine a spotlight on the incredible women in business who inspire us all.

These women aren’t just making waves, they're leading the way, challenging norms, and showing us what it means to pursue passion, purpose, and progress.

Today, we’re celebrating some of the most inspiring female entrepreneurs in London, each one carving out her own space in the world of business and making a difference along the way.

Ama Johnson – Founder of PlantMade (Plant-Based)

Ama Amo-Agyei is a powerhouse entrepreneur who turned adversity into opportunity. After being fired from her recruitment job just before the 2020 lockdown, she founded Plantmade, a hair and skincare business, using just £100 to buy ingredients for a natural hair growth oil. What started as a personal solution to her own hair loss quickly turned into a game-changing brand in the beauty industry.

What Makes Her Special: Ama’s ability to spot an opportunity, pivot in tough times, and build a high-growth brand with minimal startup capital is nothing short of incredible. Without traditional funding, she reinvested every penny to scale her business and create a brand that now serves thousands worldwide.
Her Impact: In just one year, Plantmade hit £1 million in revenue. But that was only the beginning. In 2021, she made £1.3 million, followed by £3 million in 2022. By 2023, the business had reached £5.3 million, and now she’s on track to generate a staggering £11 million in revenue. Ama’s story is proof that with the right strategy and dedication, you don’t need a huge investment to build a multi-million-pound empire.

Natalee Barnett – Founder of The Girls Spot (Women-Only Gym)

Natalee Barnett, a social media influencer, invested money to create The Girls Spot, a women-only gym in South West London.

Why She Started It: To address harassment women face in mixed-gender gyms and to build a space where women feel accepted, comfortable, and protected.

Her impact: Through networking events, cold emails, and selling digital products, Natalee successfully raised funds to build The Girls Spot. She even secured a donation from Gymshark and held a community fundraiser to bring women together in support of the project. Set to open in Spring 2025, The Girls Spot will be more than just a gym, it will be a sanctuary where women can feel safe, supported, and empowered. By involving the community in its design, Natalee is ensuring that every detail reflects the needs of the women it serves.

Cassandra Stavrou founder PROPER SNACKS (Health & Wellness)

Cassandra Stavrou MBE is the co-founder of PROPER Snacks, one of the UK’s most successful healthy snack brands.

What Makes Her Special: Cassandra turned a simple idea into a multi-million-pound brand, growing it without large initial investment and gaining significant backing in 2016 with a £7 million investment.
Her Impact: In just five years, PROPER Snacks reached £24 million in revenue, expanded into ten countries, and became a leader in the healthier snack market. The brand’s success was cemented with a merger in 2021, marking its place as a healthy snack legend.

Melissa – Founder of Mel’s Wardrobe (Luxury Fashion Stylist)

Melissa is a content creator and stylist for Stormzy. Known for her collaborations with major brands like M&S and Blank Street, Melissa has built such a good brand that mixes her expertise as a fashion buyer and stylist with her passion for lifestyle.

What Makes Her Special: Melissa stands out in an influencer industry where the pay gap is still significant, and Black content creators statistically earn less than their counterparts. Seeing someone like her lead the way, partnering with big brands, building a genuine brand, and getting paid to simply be herself—serves as powerful inspiration.
Her Impact: Melissa is a beacon for those looking to break into luxury fashion and content creation. She’s an example of what’s possible when women, especially Black women, are empowered to build their own paths in an industry that historically underrepresents them. Melissa’s success shows that authenticity, hard work, and creativity pay off.

Chante Bennett – Founder of CB Consulting (Business Operations & Strategy)

Chante Bennett is the go-to expert for business owners looking to scale without burnout. As an Operations Consultant and Online Business Manager, she specialises in strategy, business operations, project management, and team leadership.

What Makes Her Special: Chante isn’t just about business efficiency, she’s about empowerment. With a strong passion for helping female entrepreneurs build sustainable, scalable businesses, she provides hands-on support that goes beyond strategy. Whether she’s setting up systems, making strategic decisions, or helping clients think ahead, she ensures they have the tools and clarity to succeed.
Her Impact: Having worked with over 20 clients through her membership club, Chante has helped countless business owners refine their operations and gain confidence in their leadership. Her work is more than just consultancy, it’s about creating real, lasting change in how businesses run.

Georgina Holt – Founder of SheerLuxe (Digital Publishing and Media)

Georgina Holt is a pioneer in digital publishing, founding SheerLuxe in 2007. Her platform has grown to become one of the UK’s leading luxury lifestyle resources, covering everything from fashion to food and wellness.

What Makes Her Special: Georgina’s vision for SheerLuxe was to provide a space where independent luxury brands could thrive, long before digital marketing became ubiquitous.
Her Impact: Through SheerLuxe, Georgina has made luxury lifestyle content more accessible, elevating smaller brands and giving them visibility in an increasingly crowded market. Her efforts have been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape of luxury lifestyle marketing.

Emma Grede – Co-Founder of Good American and SKIMS (Inclusive Fashion)

Emma Grede is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in fashion today. As co-founder of Good American with Khloé Kardashian and SKIMS with Kim Kardashian, she’s changing the way we think about inclusivity in fashion.

What Makes Her Special: Emma’s focus on body positivity and inclusivity has forced the industry to rethink its approach to sizing and representation. With Good American, she was the first to offer a full-size range in denim, and SKIMS continues to redefine shapewear.
Her Impact: Emma’s work has made fashion more accessible for women of all sizes, and her businesses have set a new standard for diversity in the industry.

Tanya Staples – Founder of FitOn (Health and Fitness App)

Tanya Staples is the co-founder of FitOn, a health and fitness app that offers free, personalised workout plans and connects users with celebrity trainers.

What Makes Her Special: Tanya is part of a new wave of female entrepreneurs making fitness accessible to everyone. FitOn’s app lets people access expert workouts anytime, anywhere, without the need for a gym membership.
Her Impact: FitOn has quickly become one of the most popular health apps globally, with millions of users benefiting from its unique approach to affordable, on-the-go fitness.

Why These Women Matter

These women are not just succeeding, they’re leading. They’ve turned their passions into thriving businesses, each creating a ripple effect of change in their industries. But it’s not just about business for them; it’s about making the world a better place. They mentor others, promote inclusivity, and continue to challenge the status quo.

Their stories show us that success is about more than just profit, it’s about creating impact, driving change, and inspiring others to follow their lead. And on this International Women’s Day, we celebrate these women who show us every day what it means to be bold, ambitious, and unapologetically ourselves.

Supporting women in business

While celebrating these incredible women, it’s important to recognise that there is still much work to be done. Women don’t need advice; they need sponsorship, funding, and opportunities to scale their businesses and lead with the same access and resources as their male counterparts.

Resources for Women in Business:

The Female Founders Fund: Providing seed funding to women-led businesses.
Stack World:
Innovate UK: Supporting innovation, including for women-led startups.

What Industries should do:

Commit to equal pay: The gender pay gap remains a significant issue. Businesses must ensure women are paid equally for the same work.
Support flexible working: Especially for women balancing careers with other responsibilities, flexible work arrangements can help retain top talent.
Provide mentorship and access: Women need opportunities to network, gain insights, and receive guidance from experienced leaders in their fields.

Let’s continue to support and empower each other, today, tomorrow, and every day.