🌸 Our Founder

Beauty begins with courage.

AY’ann Cosmetics & Beauty is the creation of Annette Aurelie Kouakou, a woman of vision, resilience, and radiant authenticity.

A proud Canadian of Ivorian heritage, Aurelie embodies the very values her brand represents: natural beauty, creative spirit, and unwavering purpose. From a young age, she believed in the power of simple, raw ingredients — not just to heal the skin, but to uplift the soul.

While completing her Social Sciences studies in Ottawa University, Aurelie began experimenting with homemade skincare blends in her student apartment. Her love for nature and aesthetics merged with intuition, discipline, and passion. What began as a personal ritual soon blossomed into a deeper calling.

In Côte d’Ivoire, during the stillness of the pandemic, she fully embraced her roots. Surrounded by local women, artisan markets, and the healing richness of raw butters and botanicals, she launched her very first product line — by hand, with heart. She opened a boutique, formulated each item herself, and shared her vision with a growing, loyal community.

But true to her bold spirit, Aurélie wasn't done evolving.

In 2024, she returned to Canada — this time to Alberta — not just to relaunch a brand, but to rebuild it stronger, more luxurious, and more intentional than ever. Through her participation in Alberta’s entrepreneurship program, she refined her mission: to create a brand where eco-luxe meets identity, ritual, and bold feminine energy.

Today, Aurelie leads AY’ann as a founder, formulator, and storyteller, inviting every woman to reconnect with herself — naturally, beautifully, unapologetically.