Beauty Vending Machines Bring Representation and Access to SUNY Students
Chantel Francis is rewriting the beauty experience for Black students on college campuses. The Bronx native launched Hello Beauty, a beauty supply vending machine brand designed to meet the needs of students who often feel overlooked in mainstream campus retail spaces.
Her first machine launched in January 2025 at State University of New York College at Brockport. Since then, the brand has expanded to State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Morrisville, with a bold plan to reach all 62 SUNY locations.
Francis says the mission is bigger than selling products. “Hello Beauty places culturally relevant beauty products inside vending machines directly on college campuses, where students already live, work, and study. We’re not just a vending company—we are a representation-driven brand, committed to helping students feel seen, celebrated, and supported,” she explained.
Filling a Gap Black Students Have Faced for Years
The idea was born from personal experience. While attending SUNY Brockport, Francis struggled to find textured hair products or skincare made for melanin-rich skin. “As a Black woman, it wasn’t just inconvenient, it was isolating,” she told Canvas Rebel. “That lack of access affected how I showed up in my classes, at events, and even in my own confidence.”
She realized she wasn’t alone. Many Black students across campuses face the same struggle, often traveling off-campus or going without essential beauty and personal care products. That reality inspired her to create a vending solution that met students where they are.
Hello Beauty vending machines are stocked with curated products like edge control, bonnets, lashes, setting spray, lip gloss, durags, loc gel, and self-care kits. These are items that are often unavailable in campus bookstores or nearby stores.
From Campus Pitch to Statewide Expansion
Francis launched her business after winning a campus pitch competition, which gave her the funding and support to open her first vending location. The early success at SUNY Brockport helped her secure a second location in August 2025.
The young entrepreneur now has her eyes set on statewide growth. Her goal is to make Hello Beauty a staple across all SUNY campuses. By providing inclusive and accessible products, she hopes to transform how Black students experience campus life.
“This isn’t just about convenience,” she shared. “It’s about belonging. Every product in these machines tells students, ‘You matter. You’re seen here.’”
Overcoming Rejection and Building Resilience
The road to Hello Beauty’s launch wasn’t easy. Francis spent two years facing constant rejections from her campus. Funding was scarce, and she juggled multiple jobs to keep her idea alive. “Every ‘no’ felt like a setback,” she recalled. “But each rejection pushed me to be more determined.”
At her lowest moments, she reminded herself of the students who would benefit from the access she never had. That purpose fueled her to keep going. “That struggle taught me resilience in its purest form,” Francis said. “It showed me entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line. It’s full of setbacks, patience, sacrifice, and faith.”
Today, Hello Beauty stands as a growing symbol of innovation, representation, and empowerment. For Francis, every vending machine is a step toward changing the way Black students experience campus beauty access for good.
