Accelerate Spotlight: Victoria Monari

At London College of Communication (LCC), many of our students and graduates are creative entrepreneurs - making a living doing what they love by establishing their own creative businesses.

Taking the first steps on this journey, however, can sometimes feel quite challenging. The success of a business not only relies on the quality of its product or service, but also on a range of practical factors: from branding and financial forecasting to marketing, pitching and PR.

LCC Accelerate was developed by our Graduate Futures team to support emerging creatives as they expand their skills into the practicalities of entrepreneurship. Designed as a fully funded incubator programme, it enables recent graduates to access the guidance they need to take their business ideas to the next level: connecting with experienced professionals and expert advisers who can help them to define their own success, solve real-world problems and impact society in a positive way.

First launched in 2023, our first class of outstanding participants developed concepts with the capacity for real impact, such as production houses dedicated to celebrating diversity within the film industries, accessible darkrooms that enable more people to tell their own stories, and participatory eco-murals that foster a sense of community.

MA Publishing graduate, Victoria Monari, used the programme to develop her business concept, Monari Skin. Developed with a focus on making wellness accessible, Victoria’s skincare brand not only offers a range of sustainable products such as its Joy Honey Lip Oil, but also offers a ‘beauty assistant’ AI tool that suggests wellness recommendations for experiences ranging from date nights to long flights and holidays.

Providing a tailored and personalised user experience, Monari Skin is a Black-owned business dedicated to social responsibility, with a commitment to donating 1% of its earnings to an impact fund that prioritises the wellness of people of colour through related charities across the UK and the United States.

Graduate Futures Manager Luminita Molico explained that Victoria's success encapsulates the ethos of LCC Accelerate, which aims to support the innovation needed to drive huge shifts in the creative industries.

"As initiator of the LCC Accelerate programme, I'm inspired by Victoria Monari's journey. Her transformation into the founder of Monari Skin, a brand that intertwines beauty, wellness, and tech, highlights the programme's ability to nurture creative entrepreneurs," she said.

"Victoria's experience within the programme reflects our commitment to broadening perspectives on entrepreneurship and empowering graduates to explore beyond conventional boundaries. Her success in combining AI and inclusive skincare is a testament to the diverse skills and innovative thinking we foster.

"I encourage recent graduates eager to revolutionise their fields to join our 2024 cycle."

We caught up with Victoria to discuss the inspiration behind her business idea, how the programme enabled her to build both her vision and her skillset, and her advice for other students who are considering taking their first steps into entrepreneurship.

Tell us about your creative practice.

I’m a writer by trade: mostly in culture and around wider socio-political issues, but I also love writing and generally consuming news about beauty, fashion and music.

My dream job before Monari Skin was actually to be an editor of some kind in the fields of fashion and culture. Maybe, one day, I'll hold that role at a publication - being a guest editor would be super cool!

Why did you decide to study for an MA in Publishing at LCC?

I’ve always had a love for magazines - I'm aiming to build an impressive collection of indie mags at home - so I think this is the passion that links back to my love for writing.

I chose MA Publishing as I wanted to delve deeper into the ins and outs of the magazine world, and wanted to learn more about them. It was that simple really!

Tell us about your business idea, and what inspired it.

Monari Skin is a London-based inclusive skincare range and beauty tech brand that promotes inclusive wellness and wellbeing practices.

Our overall goal is to help our customers engage in more mindful beauty practices using AI. Essentially, tech is the tool, beauty is the canvas of possibility, and wellness is the message.

I wanted to create a brand that goes beyond beauty by focusing on wellness, and specifically prioritising the wellness of BIPOC women - who are so often sidelined in this conversation.

Monari Skin wants to level the playing field, making the concept of ‘wellness’ less about luxury and more about access, and we use tech to make this vision a reality.

How did you first hear about the LCC Accelerate initiative, and why did you decide to take part?

I think I must have heard of if through some internal memo, email or bulletin of some kind, and I’m very glad I did.

I’m a big believer in following your intuition: I just had a strong feeling that I had to apply, so I did!

What kind of activities did you take part in through the programme?

We were taught everything: from learning about the meaning of brands and branding to how to handle your finances while starting a new business.

Every week was pretty much structured to be both practical and foundational, especially to those who were new to enterprise like I was.