Her bold, entrepreneurial moves made a major impact in the cosmetic world. Her heart for the black community created opportunities for growth, despite segregation.   

Born on August 9, 1869 in Metropolis, Illinois, Annie was the daughter of formerly enslaved parents.

At the age of twenty, she and her sister began experimenting with chemistry formulas and herbal and homemade beauty treatments. 

During that time, women were using chemicals on their hair to straighten it with hot combs, which often badly damaged both the hair and scalp.

Annie's goal: to create a product that would keep a woman's hair and scalp healthy, whether they were straightening it, or taking care of their natural curls. 

In 1900, she created her first product which she sold door-to-door calling it the "Wonderful Hair Grower".  She later changed the name to Poro Products.

In 1902, Malone moved to St. Louis, Missouri and opened her first store. She called her business the Poro Company. This was the beginning of a successful business venture that would make Annie a millionaire.

In 1917 she built Poro College a large, beautiful complex which housed a cosmetology school. The women, called Poro Agents, then took their knowledge and products door-to-door teaching other women how to use the products they were selling them. 

Inside the college there was also an ice cream parlor, sewing room, manufacturing plant for her products, bakery, theater and much more. The college employed a large number of black men and women. 

Annie was a leader in the Black community and spent her life dedicated to its growth and development. She used large portions of her wealth to fund businesses and historically black colleges such as Howard University Medical School and Tuskegee Institute. She also financially supported students in the Black colleges.

Today, Annie Turnbo Malone is remembered for her pioneering role as one of the first black female entrepreneurs creating products for the hair and skin. Her legacy of success and philanthropy lives on, inspiring generations of entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams.

Visit the Annie Malone Historical Society to find out more about this heroic pioneer!