On Fridays We Stay Fleeky: Shureice Kornegay Talks Hustle, Heart, and High Shine

Fleeky Friday is known for bold, high-impact beauty products that blend Afro-futuristic flair with undeniable sparkle. Behind the brand? Shureice Kornegay, a woman who knows innovation firsthand.

For the last seven years, her brand has steadily grown, blending creativity with quality—and all while staying true to her unique vision. Inspired by her grandmother, who always knew how to put that shit on, and her early career roots with Motorola (yes, the folks behind the first mobile phone call), Shureice knows that innovation comes from impeccable timing, authenticity, and trusting your instincts.

For me, balancing my day job as Head of Marketing for a women's fashion brand with my own creative work has been ROUGH lately. Sometimes it feels like I'm shouting into the void. When my analytics flatlined, I couldn’t help but wonder if my time might be better spent just… sleeping. There was even a part of me that thought, "If Shureice cancels our call, I'm gonna fall off and let it happen." Spoiler Alert: She didn't.

Instead, we had a conversation that gave me exactly what I needed. Talking to Shureice felt like catching up with that good homegirl you talk to like 3 times a year about life. You walk away from those conversations feeling lifted and like no time has passed. That's the beauty of Black women sometimes—our sisterhood, our stories, our energy is otherworldly. And her insights hit me right where I was.

Fleeky Friday wasn’t getting the kind of views or recognition it deserved. As a solopreneur, Shureice is her own marketing team, creative director, and product developer—every role is hers, including making the products herself. No private label, no shortcuts. Like many small businesses, marketing often has to be strategic and as close to free.99 as possible.

But Shureice stayed the course, posting consistently and often using herself as the model for her products.

When she posted to Threads, "The only lip oil that shines like this," with a photo of her lips wearing her Glitter Filter Lip Oil Gloss, she couldn’t have guessed who would respond. Here comes MAC Cosmetics talmbout, "obvi u have never seen lipglass" in the comments. *sucks teeth with side eye*

Now, every makeup girlie knows about MAC’s Lipglass, and not to age myself, but I used to be on "Spring Bean" heavy back in the day. But Fleeky Friday's gloss? It's something different. MAC’s backhanded comment wasn’t just petty—it was proof they were paying attention. Because clearly, they knew Fleeky Friday was bringing something fresh to the table.

"You are who is watching you," Shureice said. "If you have those types of people looking at you, then maybe you're doing something right." And she is!

Fleeky Friday’s Glitter Filter Lip Oil Gloss isn’t her only hit. The Crystal Crease Eyeliner Wing has the girls in a chokehold. Made with gems that have 10 times the facets of typical makeup stones and are 5 times smaller, it's lightweight but gives maximum sparkle! Christina Aguilera and Cardi B are already fans. This one’s next up on my list—gimme 14 of 'em!

But Shureice's story isn't just about sparkly products and pop stars; it's about mental fortitude.

"It's easy to get discouraged," she admits. "It's easy to look at the slow days and think, 'Maybe this is it.' But moments like that remind me to keep going."

Innovation has been key to her journey. From bold product choices to strategic social media moves, Shureice has mastered the art of standing out in a crowded industry. She's proof that sometimes the magic is in trusting yourself enough to try something new—even when you’re unsure how it’ll land.

Just as crucial to her success is prioritizing mental health. Shureice emphasizes boundaries, balance, and moments of stillness as key to her creative flow.

"You can't pour from an empty cup," she says.

For those chasing their own goals, her playbook is simple but powerful: Stay consistent and play the long game. With Fleeky Friday set to celebrate seven years in business this year, it's clear she's doing exactly that.

Paid subscribers can access the full interview with Shureice, where she spills the real about resilience, creativity, and what it takes to build something extraordinary. Don’t miss these gems!