Ep. 46 | Bobbi Brown Mentorship and Oprah’s Favorite Things with Eritrean Twins Makeup Company, 241 Cosmetics Founders, Feven and Helena Yohannes.
feven & helena"YOU ARE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON YOU WILL MEET."
Feven and Helena are the inspiring Eritrean twin founders of 241 Cosmetics, a makeup company born from their passion and creativity. You’ll hear us talk about their journey from mentorship with Bobbi Brown to being featured in Oprah’s Favorite Things, building a brand rooted in culture and empowerment, and navigating entrepreneurship as twin sisters.
description:
In this heartfelt episode of It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin, Delina is joined by Feven and Helena Yohannes, twin sisters, Eritrean immigrants and the visionary co-founders of 2•4•1 Cosmetics. Together, they open up about their extraordinary journey from a refugee camp in Sudan to entrepreneurial success in Los Angeles. The conversation dives into their deep family bonds, their unique “twin-sense”, and how cultural pride shapes both their lives and their brand.
Feven and Helena reveal how unconditional support, both from each other and their family, was key to overcoming challenges as first-generation Americans. They give listeners an inside look at founding 2•4•1 Cosmetics: from the story behind the name to the realities of being self-funded and launching a business during the pandemic. Learn how the mentorship of beauty icon Bobbi Brown, hard work and the power of manifestation helped land their products on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2020 and 2022.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration or simply love founder stories, this episode celebrates resilience, sisterhood and building a business that empowers women.
Show Topics:
Twin connection and “twin-sense” intuition
Eritrean heritage, immigration, and growing up in Rochester
Family support, unconditional love, and Helena’s birthing story
The founding of 2- 4- 1 Cosmetics and the brand’s meaning
Staying self-funded and overcoming pandemic-era hurdles
Mentorship with Bobbi Brown and advice for founders
Manifesting their Oprah’s Favorite Things moment
Building a beauty brand rooted in confidence, kindness, and community
Empowering women and the meaning behind their mission
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
3:28 Early Life and Growing Up in New York
8:58 The Numbness of the Car Accident
10:51 Strategies for Landing Your First Job
13:39 The Joy of Becoming a Parent
14:58 Being Born in a Refugee Camp
21:26 Exploring Astrology and Personal Beliefs
24:31 The Story Behind 2-4-1 Cosmetics
29:00 Entering the Beauty Industry
32:35 Financial Insights on Starting 2-4-1 Cosmetics
35:31 The Role of Cross-Cultural Entrepreneurship
41:59 The Power of Manifestation
43:48 Mentorship and Collaborations with Bobbi Brown
50:07 People Behind the Business Creation
ABOUT Feven and Helena Yohanne
Feven and Helena Yohannes are twin sisters, Eritrean Americans, and co-founders of the celebrated clean beauty brand 2•4•1 Cosmetics. They launched their privately owned label to offer effortless, confidence-boosting products that embody kindness and integrity. Recognized twice on Oprah’s Favorite Things, their cosmetics are now available at Bloomingdale’s, Amazon, and QVC. Both passionate about empowering women, Feven with a background in Media & Communications, and Helena in Government and Sociology. They’ve built their business, community, and lives in Los Angeles.
Connect with Feven, Helena and 2•4•1 Cosmetics:
@thereal_feven | @thereal_helena | @241cosmetics
Websites:
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
If you love the episode, please share it with a friend and leave us a review! It means the world to me and helps more people to find and join the community.
Join us by shouting out and celebrating your village by using the hashtag #ShareYourVillage