After a decade of working with the US Air Force, Kelly Cooper resigned from a steady paycheck in order to build something for herself and her family. As a mother of two, she craved a more flexible lifestyle that wasn’t bound to the 9-5 and was more aligned with her children. The inner fashionista inside motivated her to pursue her lifelong passion; and so her label Tomato Superstar was born.
Tomato Superstar is a digital clothing boutique for children with a mission to empower young girls to embrace their most authentic selves. Kelly saw a gap in the children’s clothing market and decided to fill it with trendy, reasonably priced clothing matched with a positive message. The brand’s name was actually coined by her daughter as a tribute to the uniqueness and individuality that all children possess, and it stuck.
Cooper experienced challenges along the way, like people who questioned her ability to build a fashion brand from the bottom up. But with a belief in failing forward, she never gave up. She learned the hard way that the fashion world is more than photoshoots and creativity, and although she dove into the artistic side, she also had to learn about sales and merchandising with no prior experience.
Clearly that didn’t break her as the brand has exploded on Instagram with over 36k authentic followers who love and engage with their mission. In addition to spreading body positive information to teens and young women, a portion of all sales are donated to non-profit organizations that target human trafficking. Kelly has found her niche, and her desire to integrate social justice and self-love into the brand has definitely set her apart.
One of Kelly’s favorite parts about being an entrepreneur are the constant challenges forcing her to grow and evolve. Over time she’s learned to tune out the criticisms and negativities, and has emerged as a successful Mother, Wife, and boss who is positively impacting future generations with every sale she makes. Her message? Be patient and learn from the many mistakes you are bound to make. Find a mentor along the way but most importantly, trust yourself.
You can support Kelly and shop boho chic clothing, inspirational stickers, and even facemasks for the young women in your life at www.tomatosuperstar.com.
