By Molly Schrader on February 2, 2026
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What began as Willo S.’s small, homemade cosmetics line is now being refined in the classroom.
At 11-years-old, to stave off boredom during 2020, Willo and her mom began researching how to make lip glosses from scratch. Together, they ordered lip gloss bases and oils and experimented with different formulas to create a product that was safe and naturally derived.
“We started mixing things around to see what would be best, and that took a long time to do before we actually launched,” Willo said. “But as soon as we started, I felt like I gained a passion for having my own business.”
The growing venture soon became known as Puc.ker Up! By Willo Dior, and is now sold through her own website. With multiple product lines in existence, it was important for her to create glosses that were youthful, fun, and hydrating, using ingredients such as coconut oil, grape seed oil, and avocado oil.
“It was really exciting because going from the things I saw on social media, to having bulk orders coming in every day and seeing my name on it, it finally felt real,” she said.
The lip gloss aficionado says she grew up playing with her mother’s makeup, so it was a natural decision to pursue the beauty industry.
As a student in North Dallas High School’s Career and Technical Education business pathway, Willo is learning how to strengthen her business through lessons in marketing, finance, customer service, and professional communication.
“For students who are already entrepreneurs, like Willo, the pathway provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to guest speakers who are real business owners,” said Merjournie Golightly, Willo’s CTE teacher. “That allows them to gain practical insight, meaningful connections, and real-world feedback while refining their ventures.”
As part of the class, Willo created a comprehensive presentation that examined every aspect of her business, from branding and pricing to target audience and financial planning.
“Eventually, I want to expand into hair care and skincare,” she said. “I always get compliments on my hair, and never knew why, but my mom told me people are going to want to use my products just because of how I present myself.”
Through hands-on assignments in the CTE business pathway, Willo learned to think more strategically about decisions she once made instinctively, from managing her finances to keeping her customers engaged, and that growth has extended beyond her business, strengthening her confidence and desire to inspire other young entrepreneurs.
“I hope people understand the amount of hard work that goes into having a business, but also that they can also do this, especially with a good support system and people who are confident in your dreams,” she said.
