- Words by Angela Cowan Lia Crowe Photography

Founder and CEO of Kyla Dufresne is an ambitious businesswoman, philanthropist and self-proclaimed 害羞草研究所渉ustler.害羞草研究所� And to say that she害羞草研究所檚 driven is a wild understatement.

The 34-year-old powered through a number of careers in her late teens and early 20s害羞草研究所攆rom mental health worker to creating a clothing line and bartending害羞草研究所攂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.

害羞草研究所淥ur goal is to award 20 franchises this year,害羞草研究所� says Kyla, and she害羞草研究所檚 confident they害羞草研究所檒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.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e just so big on community impact and giving back,害羞草研究所� says Kyla. She describes 害羞草研究所淔oxy Fest,害羞草研究所� an annual event that害羞草研究所檚 been raising money for various charitable causes, held each year on International Women害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 intense passion for supporting women is deeply rooted, and it害羞草研究所檚 what fuels her ambition to see Foxy Box in the hands of more franchisees.

害羞草研究所淢y mom had a bakery, and she worked all the time,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淪eeing her work so hard and just killing herself to make ends meet害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

If I had to pick just one, I害羞草研究所檇 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害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所�I害羞草研究所檓 drooling just thinking of what I害羞草研究所檓 going to eat next.

Greed:

You害羞草研究所檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

This is easy. I害羞草研究所檇 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, 害羞草研究所淵ou can get anything you want for $20.害羞草研究所� I got to create my own style and rock clothes that I chose for myself, and as an adult, it害羞草研究所檚 my favourite way to shop.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

My brain literally can害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所攚hich with my step-kids happens very often!害羞草研究所攖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害羞草研究所檝e always loved to sleep. I love relaxing in bed, whether it害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檙e secretly

proud of?

Overcoming depression was the biggest personal win for me. I don害羞草研究所檛 talk about it in depth very often, but my younger years were a pretty dark time for me. I think that害羞草研究所檚 why I害羞草研究所檓 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害羞草研究所檓 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害羞草研究所檛 laugh, you害羞草研究所檒l cry. Oh, and also my dog. I害羞草研究所檓 literally obsessed with him!

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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