- Words by Angela Cowan Lia Crowe Photography

Founder and CEO of Kyla Dufresne is an ambitious businesswoman, philanthropist and self-proclaimed 乌鸦传媒渉ustler.乌鸦传媒� And to say that she乌鸦传媒檚 driven is a wild understatement.

The 34-year-old powered through a number of careers in her late teens and early 20s乌鸦传媒攆rom mental health worker to creating a clothing line and bartending乌鸦传媒攂ut she ultimately followed a lifelong love of the beauty industry when she created Foxy Box, and simultaneously filled a need in the market for affordable, inclusive and straight-forward hair removal.

Kyla celebrates 10 years in business this year, and has big plans to grow her empire.

乌鸦传媒淥ur goal is to award 20 franchises this year,乌鸦传媒� says Kyla, and she乌鸦传媒檚 confident they乌鸦传媒檒l achieve it.

With nine stores already in operation and another three under construction, Foxy Box has spread out across the country, including locations in Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Toronto.

With a straight-forward and fun approach to hair removal, Foxy Box has become wildly popular over the last decade, in part because of its unique business model (which offers 10-packs and memberships, similar to a gym) but also because of the brand itself.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e just so big on community impact and giving back,乌鸦传媒� says Kyla. She describes 乌鸦传媒淔oxy Fest,乌鸦传媒� an annual event that乌鸦传媒檚 been raising money for various charitable causes, held each year on International Women乌鸦传媒檚 Day. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the festival hosted musicians, spoken word poets, comedians and more, all of whom volunteered their time so that the revenue from ticket sales went to the non-profits. The last two years the event has been virtual, but no less successful, with support going to the BC Society of Transition Houses, which helps women transitioning out of abusive situations.

Kyla乌鸦传媒檚 intense passion for supporting women is deeply rooted, and it乌鸦传媒檚 what fuels her ambition to see Foxy Box in the hands of more franchisees.

乌鸦传媒淢y mom had a bakery, and she worked all the time,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淪eeing her work so hard and just killing herself to make ends meet乌鸦传媒� when I found a recipe with Foxy Box to make money and enjoy being a business owner, all I wanted to do was give that opportunity to other women.乌鸦传媒�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

If I had to pick just one, I乌鸦传媒檇 pick Adele. I am so far from being talented in anything music-related, so to experience firsthand the influence an artist holds would be a cool day for me. To first be blessed with the courage and confidence to walk onto a stage in front of thousands of humans and then magnetically shift the entire energy of a stadium is a feeling I would love to be able to give to the world.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

I could live off of any Asian cuisine! I don乌鸦传媒檛 think I can narrow it down to just one thing! Thai curries, Vietnamese pho soups, fresh papaya salads, sushi rolls wrapped with fresh fish, avocado and mango乌鸦传媒�I乌鸦传媒檓 drooling just thinking of what I乌鸦传媒檓 going to eat next.

Greed:

You乌鸦传媒檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

This is easy. I乌鸦传媒檇 pile all my girlfriends into the Tahoe and head on a road trip to visit all the greatest consignment stores. As the youngest of three girls, I always wore hand-me-down tights and oversized sweaters, and on his visits home, my father used to take me to Value Village and tell me, 乌鸦传媒淵ou can get anything you want for $20.乌鸦传媒� I got to create my own style and rock clothes that I chose for myself, and as an adult, it乌鸦传媒檚 my favourite way to shop.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

My brain literally can乌鸦传媒檛 function unless my space is organized and clean. A messy space actually impacts my whole mood. If I come home and a bomb has gone off in the kitchen乌鸦传媒攚hich with my step-kids happens very often!乌鸦传媒攖he first thing I must do is clean it immediately so I can relax.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time

doing nothing?

Bed. Since I was a baby I乌鸦传媒檝e always loved to sleep. I love relaxing in bed, whether it乌鸦传媒檚 reading a book, listening to a meditation or just lying with my thoughts, a cosy bed is literally heaven to me.

Pride:

What is the one thing you乌鸦传媒檙e secretly

proud of?

Overcoming depression was the biggest personal win for me. I don乌鸦传媒檛 talk about it in depth very often, but my younger years were a pretty dark time for me. I think that乌鸦传媒檚 why I乌鸦传媒檓 such a happy person as an adult, because once I made the necessary shifts to be happy, I recognized that I never want to go back to that place.

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

Laughing with my loved ones. I乌鸦传媒檓 not a doctor but I do know that laughter is always, in fact, the best medicine. I say it all the time, if you don乌鸦传媒檛 laugh, you乌鸦传媒檒l cry. Oh, and also my dog. I乌鸦传媒檓 literally obsessed with him!

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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