06.28.21
Scarlett Johansson is joining the beauty world.
The actress will launch a skincare brand, with funding provided by The Najafi Companies—the same company that backs Tracee Ellis Ross' hair care line, Pattern Beauty.
Johansson is not just putting her name on the brand—she's a full-fledged beauty entrepreneur. As founder and chairman of the new company, which will operate independently, Johansson will be involved in every aspect of it—to execute her vision for the brand.
Kate Foster, a beauty and fashion executive, is co-founder—and will work with Johansson to launch their new skincare brand by early 2022.
Johansson comments, “I’ve been fascinated by the transformative power of beauty since I was a child. My mother instilled in me a passion for self-care from my early teenage years. Several years ago, I took a step back from my beauty deals with the goal of creating something true to me. The result is a clean, accessible approach to beauty."
Johansson is 36 years old—and a five-time Golden Globe nominee, and two-time Academy Award nominee, as well as the highest grossing female actor of all time. She was recently in Avengers: Endgame, and will reprise her role starring as Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow, in theaters July 9th, 2021.
Foster's first foray into entrepreneurship was as founder and CEO of SwearBy, a digital platform focused on word-of-mouth product recommendations. It was acquired by Meredith Corporation in January 2020. Her knowledge of ecommerce, marketing and brand strategy was built through a career of leadership roles at companies including the beauty division of Victoria's Secret and Juicy Couture.
Foster says, "We are proud to have built a brand that fills a void in the market and addresses a true consumer need. Our brand platform is differentiated and has a great deal of runway for growth and expansion. This is truly just the beginning."
Jahm Najafi, founder and CEO of The Najafi Companies, comments, "It's so rare to find the right partners with the right products at the right time. With Scarlett and Kate, it became immediately clear to us that this is a special opportunity. Scarlett has been on a mission and her level of commitment, engagement and passion is both inspiring and a key differentiator in the marketplace. We are thrilled to be supporting Scarlett's entrée into entrepreneurship and are so excited for the future of this company."