Kemah
“Being a woman for me is being able to adapt to any situation with grace and poise.”
Kemah is an inventive entrepreneur who has made major strides in the self-care industry with her vegan nail polish company, Harmon Polish. She is a determined self-starter, who prioritizes goal setting, especially after she was laid off and distraught about which path to take next. She has carried this goal-oriented vision into her product lines, especially her Polished Goals nail care subscription boxes and Goal-Getter collection. Her mission is to inspire and encourage those who purchase her products to embrace the positive affirmations and words that encompass her collections, so they too can be the best versions of themselves. Meet Kemah. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
KD: Hi! My name is Kemah and I’m the owner of Harmon Polish. Harmon Polish is a vegan nail & selfcare brand inspiring our community to be their ultimate self. Each nail polish is named after positive affirmations and words. I created Harmon Polish to inspire people like myself, aspiring entrepreneurs and young adults seeking to discover their passion.
In 2018, I was living in Los Angeles, miles away from my family in Minneapolis, everything was going great until I was laid off from my job. The day it happened I sat in bed and cried myself to sleep but the next day, I got in my car and started delivering food with UberEats and Postmates. I hit rock bottom, but I refused to pack my bags and head back to Minneapolis. I wanted to prove to myself that I can overcome my hardships. My mantra was, “If I have enough money to get my nails done then things are not that bad.” The minute I decided to make my goals and self care a priority, my life began to change. I was able to secure a new job which led to me obtaining 3 investment licenses and moving to Houston TX with my son. I truly believe that setting goals and nail polish (lol) changed my life for the better. I wanted to inspire people through nail care so I created Harmon Polish.
Harmon Polish is dedicated in the memory of Patricia Harmon. She was the epitome of success, fiery, and sophistication. She came to America from Liberia with nothing, but made a life for herself and her family. She inspired me to go after my dreams so Harmon Polish is my way of paying it forward. I hope any person that wears Harmon Polish is inspired to chase their dreams and shoot for the stars. Everyone has that fire in them to do great things in this world, I just want every person to see that.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
KD: Persistent, outgoing, resourceful and loud (I don't know how to whisper) lol.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
KD: My resourcefulness. I may not have a lot of resources but the ones I do, I maximize them.
K: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
KD: Be confident in yourself and your capabilities. Don’t let anyone steal your happiness!
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
KD: Being a woman for me is being able to adapt to any situation with grace and poise. From children rearing to making high pressure business decisions, we can do it all.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to them if they were here now?
KD: My aunt. I would thank her for just being her, hug her and tell her I missed her <3