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Sharmadean Reid MBE is an entrepreneur, gender equality campaigner, tech, and beauty visionary. Founder and CEO of The Stack World, Beautystack and the global phenomenon WAH Nails, Sharmadean’s mission of promoting women’s empowerment through media and technology has established her as a leading voice in business and the beauty industry.
In 2005, whilst studying at Central St Martins University, Sharmadean Reid founded WAH Magazine, a fanzine aimed towards the new wave of street-smart feminism and challenging misogyny in the hip-hop scene. WAH quickly became a community-building platform that resonated with a generation seeking a new narrative.
After graduating, Sharmadean Reid became a brand consultant for Nike, Asos and Arena Homme +, becoming the go-to voice to consult on street style and youth culture.
In 2009 the WAH brand set up a physical home in WAH nails, the internationally renowned East London cult nail bar she created to provide a real-life space for her community to connect. WAH nails redefined nail culture and beauty standards, offering more than just a service but a communal space for self-expression and empowerment. In 2015, Sharmadean Reid’s service to women and beauty was recognised when she was awarded an MBE.
WAH Nails expanded into doing the events, shows and parties at London Fashion Week, for brands such as Nike, Marc Jacobs, and Diesel. They launched a product line for Books UK selling £1.2 million worth of products in the first year and the bestselling WAH Book of Nail Art in 2013. From this Sharmadean was named one of the “15 people who will define the future of arts in Britain” by The Independent.
On a mission to increase the global GDP of the women’s economy, Sharmadean launched Future Girl Corp, a series of workshops hosted by herself and aimed at aspiring young businesswomen.
Beauty Stack, a network platform for influential beauty professionals was born in 2018, offering a visual booking system and allowing salon wonders to showcase their work to potential customers. Also turning Sharmadean into one of the first black women in the UK to raise venture capital funding from LocalGlobe and Index Ventures.
Most recently, Sharmadean Reid launched The Stack World, a multimedia platform which works towards gender equality in business by creating a meeting place for like-minded women who are changemakers, entrepreneurs and innovators. It features content, discussions and resources focused on empowering women across various industries and endeavours.
