Summer Phenix
Summer Phenix
The Future of Beauty Has a Name: Aubrey Patton
The Future of Beauty Has a Name: Aubrey Patton
Aubrey Patton is shaping the future. The Spelman College sophomore and founder of AKYN Beauty, LLC, leads with purpose, merging entrepreneurship, advocacy and innovation into an impactful vision.
Building on her drive, Patton reimagines the Black beauty experience with her co-founders and dedicates hundreds of hours to community service as a Bonner Scholar. Her work reflects a commitment to solving real problems while uplifting the communities she serves.
Her vision only grows stronger as she prepares to pursue a dual Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration with a focus on civil rights law. Patton’s journey stands as a testament to the power of intentional leadership shaped by the Spelman sisterhood.
“The Spelman sisterhood has really helped with my entrepreneurial journey,” Patton said. “My sisters are always trying to connect me to the newest idea or the newest opportunity that could get me to the next step.”
This sense of connection extends beyond encouragement. Through leadership roles on campus, Patton has turned community into action, using collaboration as a tool for service and growth. Her involvement in the Bonner Scholars program, in particular, has allowed her to strengthen her leadership style while supporting others, showing that her impact is measured not only by what she creates but also by how she pours back into the communities around her.
“Serving as primary liaison between the Bonner Civic Engagement Office and the sophomore Bonner Scholars expanded my leadership,” Patton said. “Through that role, and connecting with my Spelman sisters, I’ve worked with diverse people, developed solutions and initiatives and uplifted both our cohort and the program. I also served as a national congress representative for Bonner Scholars, which deepened that experience.”
This enduring commitment to others continues to shape Patton’s journey beyond entrepreneurship and campus leadership. Rooted in advocacy, her passion for service has deepened into a commitment to justice, policy and meaningful change for historically underserved communities. As her goals evolve, so does her desire to use her voice and future career to challenge inequity and stand in the gap for those too often overlooked.
“I’ve always been a huge advocate, starting with the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement,” Patton said. “I’ve always been around opportunities that have really pushed me to provide justice for underserved communities.”
Patton’s passion for beauty, combined with her advocacy, ultimately became the foundation for one of her most notable accomplishments at Spelman. Through the college’s 10-Day Startup Competition—a fast-paced entrepreneurial program—Patton and her business partners, fellow Spelmanites Alexandria Howard and Kennedy Sharperson, brought AKYN Beauty to life. Their innovation and vision earned them a Spelpreneur scholarship, marking a major milestone for the brand and affirming that their idea had both purpose and potential.
“I’ve always loved makeup. I loved everything about beauty. Before I even came to Spelman, I knew I had always wanted to start a business,” Patton said. “I was learning how Black women are disproportionately affected by makeup stains, and how we tend to throw away clothes more when we get stains from our makeup because of our melanin. And so it really inspired me to just try it.”
Looking ahead, Patton has set intentional future goals for AKYN Beauty. As the brand develops its flagship product, “Glam Guard,” she and her co-founders aim to secure a partnership with Procter & Gamble to facilitate Glam Guard’s entry into major retailers such as Ulta and Sephora by 2028. Beyond launching this product, Patton’s long-term goal is to establish AKYN Beauty as an industry leader known for innovative offerings and expansion into new markets. She also aspires for the brand to set an example in creating opportunities for underrepresented communities within the beauty sector.
“I hope AKYN Beauty will eventually have its own headquarters and continue revolutionizing the beauty industry in multiple ways,” Patton said. “Glam Guard is only the beginning. We have so many more ideas, and I’m excited about the future because what we’re creating is completely different from any other beauty brand.”
Above all, Patton’s hopes for her legacy at Spelman are rooted in authenticity, resilience and possibility. Reflecting on her journey, she points to the sacrifices her mother made to help her reach this point and the responsibility she feels to honor them.
“I knew that coming here would not only change my life, but my family’s,” Patton said. “The amount of sacrifices that my mom made as a single mom to even get me here; I’ve just worked tirelessly every day.”
For Patton, that perseverance is about more than achievement; it is about showing gratitude and building on the foundation her mother created. As she looks to the future, Patton hopes to inspire other students and give back to her community, continuing the legacy of resilience and possibility she has started at Spelman.
Patton wants her legacy to remind students that their struggles shape their strength. She hopes to be remembered as someone who valued embracing all backgrounds and encouraged students to own their stories, passions and dreams.
“Your biggest weakness, or what you struggle with, is also a strength, because it’s what makes you who you are,” Patton said. “If you're here at Spelman, it is possible. If you have the time, it can be done. All the things that you want to do and that are in your heart, it's very possible to be accomplished.”
Aubrey Patton is shaping the future. The Spelman College sophomore and founder of AKYN Beauty, LLC, leads with purpose, merging entrepreneurship, advocacy and innovation into an impactful vision.
Building on her drive, Patton reimagines the Black beauty experience with her co-founders and dedicates hundreds of hours to community service as a Bonner Scholar. Her work reflects a commitment to solving real problems while uplifting the communities she serves.
Her vision only grows stronger as she prepares to pursue a dual Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration with a focus on civil rights law. Patton’s journey stands as a testament to the power of intentional leadership shaped by the Spelman sisterhood.
“The Spelman sisterhood has really helped with my entrepreneurial journey,” Patton said. “My sisters are always trying to connect me to the newest idea or the newest opportunity that could get me to the next step.”
This sense of connection extends beyond encouragement. Through leadership roles on campus, Patton has turned community into action, using collaboration as a tool for service and growth. Her involvement in the Bonner Scholars program, in particular, has allowed her to strengthen her leadership style while supporting others, showing that her impact is measured not only by what she creates but also by how she pours back into the communities around her.
“Serving as primary liaison between the Bonner Civic Engagement Office and the sophomore Bonner Scholars expanded my leadership,” Patton said. “Through that role, and connecting with my Spelman sisters, I’ve worked with diverse people, developed solutions and initiatives and uplifted both our cohort and the program. I also served as a national congress representative for Bonner Scholars, which deepened that experience.”
This enduring commitment to others continues to shape Patton’s journey beyond entrepreneurship and campus leadership. Rooted in advocacy, her passion for service has deepened into a commitment to justice, policy and meaningful change for historically underserved communities. As her goals evolve, so does her desire to use her voice and future career to challenge inequity and stand in the gap for those too often overlooked.
“I’ve always been a huge advocate, starting with the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement,” Patton said. “I’ve always been around opportunities that have really pushed me to provide justice for underserved communities.”
Patton’s passion for beauty, combined with her advocacy, ultimately became the foundation for one of her most notable accomplishments at Spelman. Through the college’s 10-Day Startup Competition—a fast-paced entrepreneurial program—Patton and her business partners, fellow Spelmanites Alexandria Howard and Kennedy Sharperson, brought AKYN Beauty to life. Their innovation and vision earned them a Spelpreneur scholarship, marking a major milestone for the brand and affirming that their idea had both purpose and potential.
“I’ve always loved makeup. I loved everything about beauty. Before I even came to Spelman, I knew I had always wanted to start a business,” Patton said. “I was learning how Black women are disproportionately affected by makeup stains, and how we tend to throw away clothes more when we get stains from our makeup because of our melanin. And so it really inspired me to just try it.”
Looking ahead, Patton has set intentional future goals for AKYN Beauty. As the brand develops its flagship product, “Glam Guard,” she and her co-founders aim to secure a partnership with Procter & Gamble to facilitate Glam Guard’s entry into major retailers such as Ulta and Sephora by 2028. Beyond launching this product, Patton’s long-term goal is to establish AKYN Beauty as an industry leader known for innovative offerings and expansion into new markets. She also aspires for the brand to set an example in creating opportunities for underrepresented communities within the beauty sector.
“I hope AKYN Beauty will eventually have its own headquarters and continue revolutionizing the beauty industry in multiple ways,” Patton said. “Glam Guard is only the beginning. We have so many more ideas, and I’m excited about the future because what we’re creating is completely different from any other beauty brand.”
Above all, Patton’s hopes for her legacy at Spelman are rooted in authenticity, resilience and possibility. Reflecting on her journey, she points to the sacrifices her mother made to help her reach this point and the responsibility she feels to honor them.
“I knew that coming here would not only change my life, but my family’s,” Patton said. “The amount of sacrifices that my mom made as a single mom to even get me here; I’ve just worked tirelessly every day.”
For Patton, that perseverance is about more than achievement; it is about showing gratitude and building on the foundation her mother created. As she looks to the future, Patton hopes to inspire other students and give back to her community, continuing the legacy of resilience and possibility she has started at Spelman.
Patton wants her legacy to remind students that their struggles shape their strength. She hopes to be remembered as someone who valued embracing all backgrounds and encouraged students to own their stories, passions and dreams.
“Your biggest weakness, or what you struggle with, is also a strength, because it’s what makes you who you are,” Patton said. “If you're here at Spelman, it is possible. If you have the time, it can be done. All the things that you want to do and that are in your heart, it's very possible to be accomplished.”