We had the good fortune of connecting with Kenne Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenne, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?

I was born in Ontario, California and grew up in a small town called Lake Los Angeles in the Antelope Valley. When I was 4 years old, my mother decided to get licensed to open an in-home daycare. She always stressed to my siblings and I the joy and freedom she had from being an entrepreneur, despite the many hurdles she had. During slow business times, it was her perseverance and determination that stuck with me most. I would see her using what I now know as guerilla marketing tactics; putting up flyers, handing out business cards, etc., to make sure her business could succeed.

With my mother as my inspiration, going into college, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. My upbringing taught me how to hustle, to be resilient, and to remember that any obstacle can be overcome.


Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

The creation of Terra and Self was definitely a result of working from home at the start of the pandemic. Although I always had a plan to start my own business, I still had not figured out what and why. So, with extra time at home, I sat down and thought about what I was passionate about. The first thing that came to mind was beauty. I loved makeup and skincare, so I started researching ingredients and formulas. My degree is in graphic design, so creating branding and a website was nothing new to me, although Shopify was very foreign to me. There was a lot of trial and error. I learned more about social media, changed my branding after launching, and found out about SEO.

Although Terra and Self started two years ago, it was not until the beginning of this year that I solidified my ‘why’. Growing up as a plus-sized black woman, I learned early on what beauty standards are and how I did not fit into them. One of the things that I knew was broken within the beauty industry was using women’s insecurities for profit. So, I have now set out to create a brand that thrives on building women’s confidence, celebrating their uniqueness and encouraging their reconnection with their natural beauty.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

First, I would start in our little town of Scotts Valley, nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains. The first stop is Redwood Sandwiches. I love the BBQ Tri-Tip sandwich. Since it’s summer, our local farmer’s market is back, so we could pick up some fresh produce there. Another place I love to eat is Los Gallos Taqueria. The asada taco salad, please. Of course, what is life without coffee? So we made a quick stop at Scotts Valley Coffee on our way to Santa Cruz.

One of my favorite things to do on a sunny day is stroll down Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz, peruse the bookstore, or try on hats at Hat Co. We would have to visit Abbott Square and get some delicious cassava fries from Veg on the Edge, or all you can sushi nearby at Sushi Mori. For some ocean breeze and waves, I love Wilder Ranch State Park. For nightlife, my favorite activity is karaoke at Blue Lounge.


Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Of course, as mentioned before, my mother and family’s support have helped me tremendously. Not everyone’s parents encourage them to take an unconventional path. I also want to recognize my husband for being my biggest cheerleader, or what he likes to call my unpaid intern. He believes in me, helps build on my crazy ideas and even comes up with some of his own. It can be scary to be married to someone who seeks an unstable career path, but he has never discouraged it. I cannot even count how many times other small business owners tell me how lucky I am to have a partner who uplifts and supports me.

Website: https://terraandself.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terraandself/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terraandself/

Image Credits
Headshot photo credit: Amanda Nicole Goss

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