Martial arts master to beauty entrepreneur
A North Queensland mum has revealed what sparked her journey from being a Taekwondo master to creating a breakthrough beauty product wowing women.
Townsville
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In the realm of entrepreneurial success stories and inspiring personal journeys, the narrative of Renee Nightingale stands out for its unique blend of resilience, creativity, and discipline.
As a 37-year-old mother of one, a wife, a full-time worker, and now the founder and CEO of OG Ponytail, Renee’s life is a testament to the boundless possibilities one can achieve through passion and dedication.
Born and raised in Townsville, Renee’s upbringing was steeped in the values of discipline and perseverance, thanks to her family’s deep involvement in South Pacific Taekwondo.
“My whole family did it, but it was my brother that inspired me. I saw how talented he was, and I wanted to do whatever he did.”
It’s clear that her brother’s talent and her family’s commitment to the martial art sowed the seeds for her own dedication.
Currently a 5th Degree Master Instructor - the only female in South Pacific Taekwondo to hold such a prestigious rank - Renee’s achievements in the martial arts world are significant.
Next year, she aims for her 6th Degree, a goal that underscores her continuous drive for excellence.
“My father is the grandmaster and one of the most highly ranked in the southern hemisphere,” Renee explains, highlighting a family tradition deeply embedded in their lifestyle. “He is the very definition of what a martial artist is and my role model.
“My mother is a 1st Degree Black Belt and my brother is also a Master Instructor.
“My son also trains now too. My father is in a very prestigious role in South Pacific Taekwondo, so many people have been impacted by his way of teaching.
“He instilled in me that it doesn’t matter if you are female or male, it matters how you think, conduct yourself and how you believe in yourself. This is probably why I just went for OG, I never saw obstacles because my father told me there are only solutions.”
Many people are often taken aback when they discover the gentle-spoken Renee is a high-ranking Taekwondo master.
“I think a lot of people are genuinely shocked and start to realise there is more to me than meets the eye. I was brought up to have good manners, respect, and etiquette and I only mention my achievements when needed,” she says with humility.
The Genesis of OG Ponytail
Renee’s journey from martial arts master to beauty innovator began with her personal struggles and triumphs over insecurities related to hair extensions.
“I have worn clipin extensions since they first came onto the market.
“I have struggled to find a product that was strong enough to stay in with my Taekwondo training and also be discreet.
“So I created my own product and solved a gap in the market.”
The inspiration behind OG Ponytail was also deeply personal.
Renee recalls experiences where others would embarrass her by tugging at her hair extensions, creating insecurities about the visibility of her hairpieces.
“So I got my clipin hair extensions, pulled them apart and reconstructed it to form the OG Ponytail. I succeeded because no one could identify that I was wearing a hair piece,” Renee proudly declares, underlining the innovation behind her product.
“In fact people were commenting saying how lush and thick my hair looked and asked how I managed to get my hair so healthy…that’s when I realised I was onto something.”
The OG Ponytail’s unique selling proposition lies in its invisibility and security.
“Our biggest difference to the traditional ponytail extensions is we have no wrap around at the base of the ponytail, this is the game changer, no one will ever know you are wearing a hair piece.”
One of the most rewarding aspects for Renee is the genuine disbelief and amazement from people when they realise she’s wearing a hair extension.
“Everyone believes it’s my natural hair…they can’t believe it was a hair piece!” she says, with a sense of achievement that her product seamlessly blends with one’s natural hair.
Renee admits there has been challenges setting up and growing her business.
“Every step is a challenge, the only step that wasn’t was the actual idea and concept of OG, that was the easy part.
“Applying for patents, trademarks, launching to influencers to eCommerce, the entire journey is a challenge but I love the product and believe in the concept so much so it’s all worth it.”
Balancing Multiple Roles
Balancing the roles of entrepreneur, martial artist, and mother is no easy feat.
Renee juggles her responsibilities with a meticulous prioritisation of her time.
“I prioritise my time. I wake up and either workout or work on OG, do my full-time job, go home and be mum, Taekwondo, and then OG at night. Triage method is in constant use, what is priority and what can wait,” she reveals.
This structured approach allows Renee to manage her commitments effectively.
Despite the rigorous demands on her time, Renee finds moments of relaxation in her Taekwondo practice, which she describes as her “Zen”.
“I switch off my thoughts and in that moment I am just thinking of Taekwondo,” she says. “The way my body moves, the way the technique feels and from that I gain my centre, my confidence and I remember who I am.”
This practice not only helps her stay centred but also reinforces the discipline and resilience that are crucial in her entrepreneurial journey.
Reflecting on the lessons learned along her journey, Renee emphasises the importance of persistence and intuition.
“Biggest lesson is ‘never give up’.
Doing South Pacific Taekwondo has taught me to follow and trust my intuition and also to see there are no limits, no obstacles, simply lessons to learn and challenges to overcome,” she shares.
This mindset has been instrumental in navigating the challenges of patent applications, trademarks, and launching OG Ponytail into the market.
Looking ahead, Renee is excited about expanding her product line and working with leading beauty suppliers such as Sephora.
She advises other aspiring entrepreneurs, especially working parents, to believe in their vision and persist despite doubts.
“Anything is possible, it all comes down to ‘how badly do you want it and how much do you believe in it’.
“I go through doubt daily but then I also remind myself to never give up. I have a product that solves a problem and if there is something I don’t know, I can learn it.
Renee has also applied to the Spark Biz Grant.
To win the grant she is asking the community to vote for her,with voting closing June 30.
The $10,000 grant will be strategically allocated to elevate OG Ponytail’s marketing and advertising efforts as well as enhance the business’ website search engine optimisation.
To vote for Renee, head to her Spark Business voting page here.
Originally published as Martial arts master to beauty entrepreneur
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