Melissa Butler is a visionary entrepreneur, beauty disruptor, and cultural changemaker who reshaped what inclusivity looks like in the cosmetics industry. Born and raised in Detroit, she turned her frustration with narrow beauty standards into fuel for creating something revolutionary. Melissa went from working on Wall Street to formulating lipsticks in her Brooklyn kitchen, ultimately launching The Lip Bar — a brand built on authenticity, representation, and unapologetic self-love.

Through The Lip Bar and later Thread Beauty, she has championed accessible, vegan, high-performing products designed for real people, real skin tones, and real life. Her fearless commitment to diversity challenged an industry that long excluded Black women and underserved communities. Today, her products are sold in major retailers nationwide, proving that purpose-driven brands can shift culture and scale.

Melissa Butler’s mission is clear. Beauty should belong to everyone, and no one should have to change themselves to fit into someone else’s standard. Her journey from kitchen formulas to national shelves is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of standing in your truth.

Her story reminds us that when we challenge the status quo and build what the world is missing, we create legacies that empower generations to come.