WNBA standout Angel Reese has taken a significant step into the beauty and business world by investing in Topicals, a Black-woman-led skincare brand that recently closed a fresh round of funding.
The latest investment push — which also includes Nigerian singer Rema and other figures from sports and entertainment — brings the company’s total capital raised to more than $22.6 million since its inception in 2020.
Founded by Olamide Ayomikun Olowe, Topicals was created to address common skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, eczema and dark spots — issues Olowe experienced personally. The brand’s product lineup includes best-selling items such as its under-eye masks and the Faded Serum, both of which have gained traction online and in retail environments.
Reese’s participation in the funding round builds on a relationship with the brand that began publicly in January 2025, when she featured Topicals’ under-eye masks in a Vogue beauty video, helping boost awareness and cultural resonance among young consumers.
Topicals CEO Olowe told The Business of Fashion that bringing in investors like Reese and Rema reflects a strategic pivot toward cultural influence as traditional institutional funding slows, especially for Black-owned businesses.
Olowe highlighted the importance of aligning with cultural leaders who “control culture,” noting that their involvement strengthens the brand’s storytelling and marketing reach.
Rema, in addition to his investment, will serve as a creative partner, advising Topicals on connecting with younger audiences — particularly male consumers, a demographic the company aims to grow. Meanwhile, Reese’s profile as a top-paid women’s athlete and influential voice in fashion and beauty positions her as a valuable advocate for the brand’s expansion.
Although specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the roster of cultural investors underscores Topicals’ growing influence within the beauty sector and points to broader shifts in how startups are raising capital.
This article was compiled from reporting by AfroTech and additional industry coverage.
