Sofia Green is only 15 but she is already the CEO of her own cosmetics business, Apollo Cosmetics, its name an unlikely but meaningful nod to the Apollo 13 space mission.
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"I've always been into space, and, honestly, the story of Apollo 13 is one of my favourites. I've watched the movie about 20 times," the Narrabundah teenager said.
"I thought it was incredible that even though everything went wrong, they never gave up and I want to reflect that mentality and always push through and persevere.
"I have always believed in women becoming bosses, becoming CEOs, and being in STEM and I wanted my brand to show that."
The daughter of diplomats Lisa Gibson and Jeremy Green, Sofia had an early love for make-up, as her mum would bring home hard-to-get brands during her overseas travels.
Sofia has also had a cosmopolitan upbringing, born in Santiago, Chile during one of her parents' postings and also living in New Delhi and Nairobi on other postings with them.
The family, including Sofia's older brother Jack, 17, are now settled back in Canberra, where she is a Year 10 at Canberra Girls Grammar School.
She launched Apollo Cosmetics last year, starting with lip gloss and hoping to move soon into eye shadow.
"I have made every single lip gloss," she said.
Sofia has the items stocked in a store in Tarago, by chance meeting the owner during an outing with her family.
"I just started chatting to the lady about my business and she was like, 'We'd love to stock your products here'. And it's been really great," she said.
The teenager is also negotiating with a Braddon store to carry Apollo Cosmetics.
"It would be my dream for it to continue to grow and for it to be my full-time job," she said.
Sounding like a true entrepreneur, Sofia said the cosmetics line was just a reflection of her desire to squeeze the most out of life.
"I think personally, I've always been a go-getter person," she said.
"I've always had the mentality you don't really know what's going to happen tomorrow so you might as well do what you can today.
"Whenever I've had an idea, I just do it. There are lots of risks, but sometimes risks are worth it."
See more at https://apollocosmeticsco.weebly.com/ and on Instagram @_apollocosmetics_
Megan Doherty
I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au
I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au
