I AM BLACK HISTORY | Angel Cornelius

Angel Cornelius

Angel Cornelius is Black History because she proves that innovation does not have an age limit and that lived experience can be the most powerful research and development tool of all. Her journey reflects courage, reinvention, and the ability to build national impact from the most humble beginnings.

Angel Cornelius is a New Orleans native whose love for beauty began early. As a child, she spent time in the kitchen mixing elixirs and experimenting with ingredients, never imagining that those moments would later shape a thriving beauty brand. Years later, after deciding to step away from chemical relaxers and toxic beauty products in 2012, she became frustrated with an industry that failed to serve women like her with products that were both clean and effective.

Rather than settle, Angel returned to the kitchen. She began blending multi purpose body butters and creams using simple, pure ingredients that performed across climates without leaving oily residue or stickiness. Her signature Pomegranate Kiss Body Butter quickly gained attention through her church community in Sugar Land, Texas. Word spread organically, and what started as a personal solution soon became a movement.

In 2016, Angel’s products reached nearly 15,000 ESSENCE BeautyBox subscribers. That moment officially launched Maison 276 and catapulted the brand to national recognition. The name Maison 276 pays homage to her New Orleans roots while signaling craftsmanship, intention, and care.

Angel continued to innovate, introducing the Maison 276 3 Step System for silver and blonde hair. This groundbreaking system brightens and hydrates hair without harsh purple dyes, addressing the unique needs of mature hair with respect and science. True to her process, Angel personally hand blends each formula before taking it to the lab for mass production, ensuring quality and integrity remain central.

At 57 years old, Angel made the bold decision to leave her lifelong career in healthcare management to pursue entrepreneurship full time. What followed was a rapid education in manufacturing, formulation, and scaling. From learning that manufacturers would not turn machines on for small batches to navigating national retail opportunities, Angel adapted quickly while staying rooted in authenticity.

Her next major breakthrough came through televised retail. After a successful appearance on a home shopping network, Angel went on to win a competition on QVC, expanding Maison 276’s reach even further. Today, the brand is nationally distributed and widely respected for its clean formulations and honest messaging.

At the heart of Angel’s work is a commitment to middle aged women. She rejects narratives centered on age correction and instead celebrates evolution, confidence, and vitality. Maison 276 reflects the belief that midlife is not a decline but a powerful chapter filled with clarity, strength, and beauty.

Angel Cornelius is Black History because she built a brand that honors truth, experience, and community. She turned personal pain points into products that serve thousands. She chose evolution over fear and proved that it is never too late to create something extraordinary.

Black History is not only about where we start. It is about the courage to begin again.

And Angel Cornelius did exactly that.