Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanissa Smith.
Hi Tanissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Lotusbtr. started in 2016 after battling burnout that nearly broke me! I realized I had spent so much time pouring into everyone else that I had completely neglected myself. I wasn’t looking to start a business as much as I was searching for a way to reconnect with myself through intentional moments of rest and care. What began as a personal journey soon became a mission: to create a brand that reminds others they deserve that same experience.
From the beginning, I wanted to create products that were more than just skincare. I wanted to make self-care feel joyful, approachable, and something people genuinely looked forward to. That’s why Lotusbtr. combines vegan, skin-loving ingredients with color therapy, beautiful scents, and everyday rituals that encourage people to slow down. The message has always been simple: rest isn’t something you have to earn, it’s your birthright!
Like many small business owners, my journey hasn’t been a straight line. Over the past ten years, I’ve balanced building Lotusbtr. while working full-time, navigating profound personal loss, learning every aspect of entrepreneurship, and continuing to show up for a community that has supported me from the very beginning. There have been incredible highs like growing a loyal customer base, participating in amazing markets and events, and watching people genuinely connect with the experience I’ve created—and there have also been seasons where simply keeping the business going felt like a victory.
Today, Lotusbtr. has grown into a colorful, vegan body care brand rooted in the belief that self-care should feel accessible, joyful, and woven into everyday life, and not just reserved for special occasions. It’s become something I can share with my nieces (who often help at markets)! Every product is created with the hope that someone will pause, take a deep breath, and remember to care for themselves. Looking back ten years later, I’m proud that the mission hasn’t changed. If anything, life has only deepened my understanding of why it matters, (and always will!)
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey/road has not at all been smooth. If there’s one thing entrepreneurship has taught me, it’s that resilience isn’t about never struggling, It’s about continuing to move forward even when the path changes!
In the early years, one of my biggest challenges was learning how to build a business without sacrificing myself in the process. I started Lotusbtr. after experiencing burnout, so it would have been easy to fall into the same cycle while trying to grow it. Finding a healthier balance between working a full-time job, running a business, and taking care of myself has been an ongoing lesson that I sometimes fail!
Like many small business owners, I’ve also had to navigate limited resources. I’ve worn every hat imaginable: from product maker and photographer to marketer, accountant, website designer, and customer service representative. There have been moments when opportunities didn’t work out, products didn’t sell the way I hoped, or I questioned whether I was doing enough. Those moments can be discouraging, but they’ve also forced me to become more creative, adaptable, and resourceful.
More recently, I’ve learned what it means to lead a business through grief. Losing my father, grandmother, and nephew in a short timespan changed my perspective on life in ways I never expected. There were days when simply showing up felt impossible, but my community reminded me why I started Lotusbtr. in the first place. That experience reinforced my belief that self-care isn’t just about bath products, it’s literally about creating moments of peace when life feels overwhelming.
Looking back, I don’t think I’d change the difficult seasons. They’ve shaped not only the business but also the person behind it. Today, I lead Lotusbtr. with more compassion, more intention, and a much deeper understanding of why caring and showing up for ourselves matters!!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In my professional life, I like to jokingly refer to myself as the NonProfit Bae! Due to my father cofounding a local youth center, I have always had a strong sense of community and desire to give back, which led me to non-profit organizations ProsperUs Detroit and Change Is Reel (formerly Detroit Women of Color).
At ProsperUs and Change Is Reel, our work sits at the intersection of storytelling, economic empowerment, and community impact. While the organizations have different missions, they share a common belief: when people have access to opportunity and the ability to tell their own stories, entire communities thrive!
At ProsperUs, I work with entrepreneurs throughout their business journey by connecting them to resources, technical assistance, funding opportunities, and programs designed to help them build sustainable businesses. My role as Business and Alumni Services Manager is centered on relationships; supporting business owners as they navigate challenges, celebrate milestones, and access the tools they need to grow. One of the things I love most is helping entrepreneurs realize they’re not alone. Sometimes the greatest resource isn’t just capital, it’s knowing someone believes in your vision and is willing to walk alongside you!
Through Change Is Reel, I help create spaces where storytelling becomes a catalyst for change. Our work uses film and media to amplify voices that have historically been overlooked, spark meaningful conversations, and encourage young people, specifically Black and Brown girls, to see themselves as creators, leaders, and changemakers! We believe stories have the power to preserve culture, shift perspectives, and inspire action.
What I’m most proud of is being apart of work that creates lasting impact beyond a single event or program. Whether it’s watching an entrepreneur gain the confidence to take the next step in their business or seeing a young person discover the power of telling their own story, those moments remind me why this work matters!
What sets both organizations apart is that we lead with community. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions or surface-level engagement. We take the time to listen, build trust, and create programs and experiences that are rooted in the real needs and lived experiences of the people we serve. At the end of the day, my work at these respective organizations isn’t just about business development or filmmaking, it’s about creating pathways for people to be seen, supported, and empowered to shape their own futures.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
If I’m being honest, I’ve had to reinvent what happiness looks like after diving headfirst into agonizing grief. The person I was a year ago isn’t the same person I am today, and I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t always arrive in big, life-changing moments. Sometimes it’s much quieter than that.
These days, happiness looks like finishing a good book (my poison of choice is romance!), watching something that makes me laugh until I cry, tending to my garden, creating a new product, or sharing a meal with the people I love. It’s watching a customer discover their new favorite scent or reading a message from someone who says Lotusbtr. reminded them to finally slow down and care for themselves! I’ve learned to celebrate the small moments because they’re often the ones that carry us through the hardest seasons.
That perspective has changed the way I approach both life and business. Lotusbtr. was born from burnout, but it’s been sustained by the belief that even in the midst of life’s most difficult moments, we all deserve opportunities to rest, heal, and experience joy, and If my products can help create even one of those moments for someone else, that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for!
Pricing:
- Artisan-Crafted Luxury Body Bars: $10
- Bath Bombs: $9
- Whipped Body BTR.: $16
- Creamy BTR. Scrubs: $18
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lotusbtr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lotusbtr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lotusbtrbody
Image Credits
*Product Photos – Perry Haselden
*Peace Sign Photo – Olivia Feldman Photography
*Personal Photo – Veronica White (V. Nikole Photography)
