How Passionate Badass and CEO Shontay Lundy Changed the World of SPF

This is Project Passion, a series where we ask change-makers, aspirational creators, and passionate badasses about what fuels them in their work and beyond. 

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“I’ll look like a ghost,” was Shontay Lundy’s response when, years ago, a friend suggested she put on sunscreen. Having recently moved to Los Angeles, she was spending more time in the sun hiking and doing yoga. 

Curious to see if she could find sunscreen that didn’t leave a white cast on her complexion, she turned to Google. After a series of keyword searches came up empty, “I can’t be the only woman of color looking for a product like this,” she thought. The homogenous world of SPF needed to be shaken up — and Shontay had the confidence and nerve to make it happen. 

Shortly after, from the bathtub of her Miami high rise where she first stored product, Black Girl Sunscreen was born. “We had to filter through seven manufacturers and chemists that would even be willing to talk to us just based off our name,” she tells me. 

The naysayers weren’t a deterrent for Shontay who cashed in her savings, hired a designer and developer, and ordered as many units as she could afford. “It was about 176 boxes that I loaded into an SUV right from the manufacturer to my high rise,” she says.

Today, as I chat with Shontay from the BGS headquarters in LA, the brand is a definitive success story — one she credits to following her instincts. Below, we get into the nitty gritty with the CEO and founder, from the tunes that keep her fueled at the office to her homebody tendencies. 

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What’s your go-to motivational song? Right now it’s Beyonce on repeat. Everyone in the office says I can’t sit next to them because I’m always requesting Beyonce You Can’t Break My Soul. But I also love Marvin Sapp Never Would Have Made It and East Side by Benny Blanco. 

Power suit or sweat suit? It depends. But I could wear sweatpants all day, every day. 

Last thing you do before bed every night? Put in my retainer.

First thing you do when you wake up every morning? The first thing I do is walk to the window to see what it looks like outside. 

Early bird or night owl? Night owl. That’s why Black Girl Sunscreen start-time is 10 am. 

Preferred form of caffeine? Red bull.

What’s a habit you’re trying to cultivate right now? I would say seriousness and work ethic.

What do you think it means to live unapologetically free? One thing that’s important to me is being able to make your own decisions. As children, every decision is pretty much made for us. What’s unapologetically free to me is being able to make good, sound decisions for yourself without thinking twice. Like, just live your life.

How do you maintain work-life balance? I don't right now.

What’s a mantra you live by? Follow your intuition. That’s first and foremost, and I apply it to literally everything: how I feel about the people around me, situations, outcomes. Follow how you feel, follow your heart. You don’t know how the story is going to end but if you can write it, then write it. 

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Night in or night out? I'm a social introvert. I could totally just be home and not even have FOMO and just step out when I absolutely have to.

What’s the latest TV show you’ve binged-watched? Law & Order. I watch it whenever I can — even on repeat. But I was on holiday in my hotel room recently and 90 Day Fiance was on. So, now I’m hooked on this reality show (laughs). 

What’s something that always cheers you up when you’re feeling down? Talking to my 5-year-old niece, Nova. 

Who is your biggest source of inspiration? My grandmother. She passed in 2015. She was always the epitome of class and grace. 

What’s a piece of advice you’d give your 16 year old self? Nothing. I like to give my current self advice. As adults, we need that encouragement. We're not often checked in on enough because we’re adults and we’re supposed to have it figured out. I thought I knew it all at 16. Now I look in the mirror, as an adult, and say “you got this girl.” 

What makes you feel excited about the future? Money. I'm just kidding (laughs). But coming from really humble beginnings, I don’t take things for granted. Opening up my fridge and seeing it full of food is a big deal. I don’t think those things should be overlooked. 

I also look forward to my staff progressing in their professions. Black Girl Sunscreen is 99% female. I’m excited to see the business grow beyond Shontay and the legacy that will be left behind.