Nene’s Secret ethnic hair care collection founders Nene (pronounced Nay-Nay) and Brian K. Marks are a New York married, entrepreneurial couple who have made beauty and babies their mission.

Nene was born and lived in Liberia, West Africa until she was 17 and immigrated to the United States. Barely speaking English, a friend suggested she become a model in New York City. Nene was a success and broadened her modeling career as an actress appearing in music videos alongside Jay-Z, The Fugees and Heavy D. She’s the official model for Nene’s Secret and is pictured on each product box.

Brian K. Marks, born and raised in Brooklyn, attended Samuel Tilden High School. His career began selling African-Americans hair care products using the trunk of his car as warehouse. An award-winning innovator, Brian has spent 32 years creating products like All Ways Natural, African Pride, Ginseng Miracle, 911 and Dr. Miracle’s that continue to be popular today.

In 2013, the couple joined in creating Nene’s Secret, a new line of hair care products that include natural ingredients line inspired by her mother and grandmother in West Africa. Ingredients like baobab, kalahari melon and chocolate. She even created a signature fragrance that’s in each product.

Family is important to this dynamic couple, who have four children – two boys and two girls – ages 11 months to 12 years-old. Nene and Brian K. Marks have merged personally and in business. They have a 15 year quest saving babies lives in the US and in Africa. The couple are major supporters of The Birthing Project, an international organization and resource center for improving birth outcomes for women of color in the U.S. and Africa. (www.birthingprojectusa.org/). Over the last 15 years, they have donated approximately $1 million to The Birthing Project. For more information, check out www.nenessecret.com.