Annie Turnbo Malone

Pioneering Black businesswoman who built America's first major Black-owned cosmetics empire

Before Madam C.J. Walker became famous, Annie Turnbo Malone (1869-1957) established the first multimillion-dollar Black-owned business in the United States. Her Poro Company revolutionized beauty standards while creating economic opportunities for thousands of Black women.

Malone developed innovative hair care products for African American women at a time when few commercial options existed. She pioneered the "door-to-door" sales model, training 75,000 agents across North and South America, Africa, and the Philippines. At its peak, Poro employed 200 people at its St. Louis headquarters complex containing a factory, beauty school, and auditorium.

Key innovations:

• Invented the first hot comb for textured hair (1900)
• Established charitable foundation supporting Howard University and St. Louis orphans
• Created corporate training programs decades before modern MBA concepts

Despite being largely erased from history due to business setbacks and legal battles, Malone's legacy lives on through her philanthropic contributions and empowerment model that inspired generations of Black entrepreneurs.