NY Student Brings Self-Care to Black Students With ‘Hello Beauty’ Machines.
Chantel Francis is revolutionizing access to beauty and self-care on campus through her Hello Beauty vending machines.
Chantel Francis is changing the way Black and brown college students access beauty and self-care, with her growing network of vending machines. Through her company, Hello Beauty, she’s now expanding across State University of New York campuses.
The Bronx native came up with the idea while studying at SUNY Brockport, where she earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in 2024. Francis often recalled the frustration of not having beauty essentials readily available on campus.
“Back in college, I often felt my campus lacked the beauty and personal care items I needed,” she shared with AfroTech. “The options weren’t inclusive, and I had to travel off-campus, sometimes far, just to find the right products. That’s when the idea of a vending machine came to me.”
Her vision became reality after winning a campus pitch competition modeled after Shark Tank. Hosted by the school’s Small Business Development Center, the contest awarded her $2,500 in seed money and the support she needed to get started. In January 2025, Francis launched her first vending machine at SUNY Brockport, stocked with essentials like durags, bonnets, hairspray, skincare products, and Vaseline—items chosen to meet the needs of Black students on campus.
By August 2025, Hello Beauty had expanded to SUNY Morrisville, where Francis expressed her gratitude at the launch.
“What began as a vision to make beauty and self-care products more accessible for students is now a reality,” she said. “To the SUNY Morrisville community, thank you for embracing Hello Beauty with open arms.” She emphasized that this is just the beginning: “Our mission is to expand across all SUNY campuses, creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated.”
For many Black and brown students—some new to the area—Hello Beauty provides a sense of comfort and belonging. Francis explained that the vending machines reassure underserved students that their needs matter.
“Since launching, I’ve gotten countless texts from students saying, ‘This is exactly what I needed,’ ‘Thank you,’ and ‘I’m so grateful for this,’” Francis shared. “I may not be able to provide everything, but these basics help students feel comfortable and cared for.”
