Kristen Dunning has received a stamp of approval from Oprah Winfrey.
The entrepreneur’s recognition is the result of her foray into entrepreneurship. As AFROTECH™ previously shared, Dunning’s journey as a founder began with a desire to create a soap for sensitive skin and people struggling with skin conditions. She has battled severe scalp eczema since the age of four, but prescribed remedies like creams and steroid shots continued to cause discomfort.
According to her website, Dunning turned to medicinal plants and botanicals, deepening her knowledge while studying agricultural communication and horticulture at the University of Georgia. Under the guidance of faculty member Dr. David Knauft, she was able to discover botanical alternatives commonly found in anti-inflammatory treatments.
Her first soap was created in 2019, and she developed more recipes during the COVID-19 quarantine. In 2020, Gently Soap made its official debut in the market and now offers four products, including:
- Field of Joy Bath Bar
- Reign Cloud Bath Bar
- Breathe and Bloom Bath Bar
- Treasures of the South Bath Bar
By 2023, $113,000 worth of products had been purchased, according UGA’s Terry College of Business. That year, she also gained recognition as the 2023 Black Ambition Prize winner, receiving a $7,000 check, and was featured on “Shark Tank”, securing a $75,000 investment from Candace Nelson in exchange for a 25% stake in the company.
Additionally, in 2024, Dunning earned a spot on Oprah Winfrey’s coveted Favorite Things list.
“WE’RE ONE OF OPRAH’S FAVORITE THINGS. The road to OFT was an incredible one. It gave me the opportunity to elevate and reposition my brand how I’ve always envisioned it – with gentle pastels and touches of herbal elegance. This journey was not done alone. There were tons of late night conversations, branding remixes, stories and tears shared with people I could not be more grateful for,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
