Beautiful Blessings

Sometimes a tough turning point can be a blessing in disguise. 

After working for M.A.C Cosmetics for 13 years, Shay Bailey found herself at a turning point. The company was experiencing a restructure, which forced Bailey to ask herself the tough question: What’s next? Bailey had to decide what she wanted to do in the next phase of her career. 

She chose to bet on herself, leaving a career in corporate beauty behind to start Shay B. Beautiful LLC, a beauty and brand development consultancy. 

The bet paid off. Shay B. Beautiful has been a huge success. 

Shay Bailey is a 2005 graduate from Oakland University and a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board. She's the owner of Shay B. Beautiful LLC.

“I was never someone who sought out to be an entrepreneur, that wasn't necessarily on my vision board of my life,” Bailey says. “In the moment, when I created Shay B. Beautiful, I didn't necessarily consider myself a newfound entrepreneur. I just knew I had expertise that I could leverage. I thought I could be a value to beauty enterprises, beauty startups and beauty consumers. So I figured, why not? This was also the start of a technology idea I had considered for some time and I decided to pursue that as well.”

Bailey’s technology idea has grown to be known as My Beauty Kit, a consumer tech platform helping consumers take the guesswork out of beauty. My Beauty Kit connects people to brands, offers beauty education and gives users the ability to shop directly from its mobile app.

Bailey has won several awards, including first place in Tech Town Detroit’s Start Studio Showcase, and has been featured in a number of media outlets (Black Tech Saturday Showcase, Michigan Chronicle, Canvas Online Publication, Voyage Mag, Detroit is Different, OU Alumni Magazine, Bold Online Publication and more). 

Bailey had the confidence to pursue a career as an entrepreneur in part because of her expertise in the beauty field, but also because of her education. Bailey graduated from Oakland University in 2005 with a degree in communication. 

She credits her time at Oakland for helping her have the skills to be a successful businesswoman.

“It's so funny because when I first went into beauty, I would often get asked, ‘How are you utilizing your degree?’ ” Bailey says. “My degree is in communication with a minor in advertising and those two skill sets set me up for success. From Day 1, I had an ability to connect with people, meet them where they were and be really responsive to their needs, many times without them being able to communicate those needs. I credit that to my education. 

“I understand communication styles and that has really helped me be a global beauty ambassador,” Bailey added. “I have the ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and social-economic statuses in the beauty and wellness space.” 

As Bailey continued to have success in the beauty world, she felt a need to renew her relationship with Oakland. She joined the College of Arts and Sciences advisory board in 2023 and was invited to be a speaker for Oakland’s Alumni Relations Leadership program. 

“I really felt that it was important that I reconnect with the university,” Bailey says. “I felt I was at a point personally and professionally where I needed to reconnect with OU. My involvement with the CAS board gives me the ability to advocate for a college education by showing how much it impacted my career. Even though my career path might be considered college optional, it’s important that I bring an entrepreneurial lens to the board.” 

Bailey also felt the need to give back by starting “The Be Beautiful Project,” an initiative helping young girls build healthy habits around beauty and self care. 

Shay Bailey's non-profit organization "The Be Beautiful Project" has partnered with Mt. Clemens schools to offer beauty and self-care programming.

“We partner with local school districts and organizations to offer beauty and self care programming for young girls,” Bailey says. “We currently have a partnership with Mount Clemens Community Schools and we've also partnered with Detroit Public Schools. Financial donations from community members and products collected from our beauty drives help fuel this movement.” 

Bailey combined two of her passions — OU and The Be Beautiful Project — when she met current Oakland communication student D’Zariah Hopkins. 

Bailey met Hopkins after her speaking engagement at OU and the two clicked. Bailey agreed to be Hopkins’ mentor and Hopkins is currently interning at Shay B. Beautiful LLC for “The Be Beautiful Project.” 

“We connected because she is really trying to figure out how to utilize her degree in the real world after graduation,” Bailey says. "She's still a student, but she's thinking ahead. She's interning with me this upcoming year and she is a part of ‘The Be Beautiful Project.’ She actually worked in Mt. Clemens schools recently where she facilitated a workshop solo. I was super happy to have a student from my alma mater present the work I’m committed to doing in our community. That was really exciting.” 

Bailey is hopeful her success and work with Oakland will inspire others, including her three daughters whom she has with her husband Charles Bailey, also a successful entrepreneur. She hopes to see all three of her daughters pursue a college education and then utilize those skills to have a successful career of their own. 

“It's completely encouraged and expected that they continue their education through college,” Bailey says of her daughters. “We have two in high school, one in elementary school, and we are huge advocates for them continuing on to college.” 

As Bailey moves into the next phase of her career, she’s always looking towards the future, and she hopes to create a better future through her work in the community. 

“Community impact is my No. 1 driver right now and that is across the board,” Bailey says. “Whether I'm working on a professional project, partnering on an initiative, showing up as a board member or a volunteer, whatever it may be. I’m super committed to impacting the community.”