Lip Legend: Marviano Cosmetics Founder Marvella Akiojano On Viral Shades, Sold-Out Drops & Redefining Beauty

When beauty goes viral, it usually fades fast—unless Marvella Akiojano is behind it. The Dallas-based CEO and creator of Marviano Cosmetics has built a sell-out empire one smudge-proof lip liner at a time, with launches like Brick Mocha #3, Midnight, and her new fall/winter Muah Magic glosses disappearing in minutes (sometimes hours). With celebrity fans, over a million social followers, and a pop-up that sold out in 30 minutes, Marvella is rewriting the rules of indie beauty—and doing it with intention, inclusivity, and undeniable glam.

We caught up with the powerhouse founder to talk viral formulas, shade innovation, community-driven beauty, and what’s next for the Marviano takeover. —Noa Nichol

Your brand’s story is as bold as your lip liners. What inspired you to take the leap from beauty content creator to CEO and build Marviano Cosmetics from the ground up?

I’ve always loved beauty, but I reached a point where recommending products wasn’t enough anymore. I wanted to create solutions, not only for the problems I was facing, but for my friends, my family, and the women who trust me online. Becoming a founder felt like the natural evolution of my creativity. I wanted to build something that reflected our community’s needs, instead of waiting for another brand to get it right. That’s how Marviano was born: out of intention, innovation, and the belief that we deserved better.

Your products keep selling out in record time—hello, 30-minute pop-up sellout! What do you think makes Marviano’s formulas and shades resonate so deeply with your community?

Everything we make starts with real people. Our shades were developed from real customer stories, real makeup struggles, and real requests. I think the resonance comes from that intention, our community can feel that we’re not just dropping colors for aesthetics or trends. We curate formulas and shades for every girl, across every skin tone, and we test until it feels right. People trust us because they know the products were made with them at the center.

You’ve said that “Espresso Martini” was inspired by celebrating deeper skin tones and your friend Golloria George. How does inclusivity and representation shape every decision you make as a beauty founder?

Inclusivity isn’t a marketing angle for me, it’s a standard. As a darker-skinned woman myself, I know what it feels like to settle for products that weren’t made with me in mind. I believe beauty should feel effortless for everyone, not something you have to manipulate to make work. So, every shade, every formula, every launch considers the full spectrum of skin tones from the start. Everyone deserves to find their perfect match without compromise, and I take pride in ensuring Marviano delivers that.

You recently spoke at the Black Beauty Roster Summit alongside major voices like Kayla Nicole and Shayla Mitchell. What did that moment mean to you personally—and how did it feel to represent your own brand on that stage?

It was surreal. Being in a room full of women who’ve shaped our industry, and who I’ve admired for years, felt like a full-circle moment. Speaking on that stage reminded me that staying true to myself was the most powerful choice I made when I first picked up a camera. Representing Marviano on that platform made me feel seen, validated, and deeply proud. It confirmed that my vision is not only clear to me, it’s resonating with others.

From viral lip gloss moments to smudge-proof lip liners, Marviano Cosmetics keeps shaking the table. What dream product are you dying to create next?

Let’s just say… I’m working on a banger of a setting spray. That’s all I can reveal for now, but trust me when it drops, it’s going to change the game.