A 14-year-old entrepreneur is on a mission to teach self-love one curly crown at a time.

It’s only been five months since Laila Quallis started her hair care line, YBT Kids, and she’s already doing big things from charitable donations to expanding her business. 

At the core of all of that, she’s promoting a positive self- image for her peers. “ If you love yourself and someone tells you, 'No, you’re not all that,' yes you are, don’t listen to anybody else,” said Quallis. 

Quallis’ YBT Kids hair care line started because she and her cousin both struggled with grooming their hair. 

“I used to do her hair. I would blow dry her hair, her hair was so curly and thick sometimes the comb on the blow dryer would break and she would cry and scream, and she just never wanted to get her hair done,” said Ahisha Quallis, her mother. 

YBT is an acronym for You’re Beautiful Too, which was an important message, especially to Black children with an array of hair textures, not always celebrated.