Taylor Thomas (aka Lola) was born with with Spina Bifida, a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord aren’t developed properly. As a result she is in a wheelchair, and last year when she was in the 2nd grade, she was bullied for being different. It was ultimately her passion for nail polish that helped get Thomas out of a dark place and put her on the path to become a successful beauty entrepreneur.

“Not only did kids say mean things to me, I was physically attacked in gym class and the next day my mom pulled me out of school and placed me in counseling,” says Thomas. "I was diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD, and depression. I didn't want to be different anymore and I didn't want to live anymore. My therapist asked me what made me happy and I said riding horses and painting my nails with my mom. When Covid happened I wasn't able to go horseback riding anymore or go to the nail salon due to shutdowns. I asked my mom if I could make my own nail polish at home, she said yes and that is how Lola Marie Polish started.”

Thomas handcrafts all of her polishes and chooses all of her accessories, and her nail polish is vegan, cruelty-free, and 10 free. Her brand has already been picked up by Walmart, and for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, 10% of Lola Marie Polish proceeds for the month were donated to The Youth Mental Health Project.

“Your mental health is important and if you are suffering from depression, please talk to someone—remember, you are beautiful and loved!” says Thomas. “Initially my goal was to save money for a wheelchair accessible van, but now I want to give back to charities like the Casey Cares Foundation and hire people with disabilities. I want to change the world one polish at a time!”

We chatted with Thomas, who shared the inspiration behind the line, what’s next for the brand, and more.

When was Lola Marie Polish founded and what’s the meaning behind the name?

Lola Marie Polish was founded in April 2020. The name represents me because my Gigi calls me by my nickname which is Lola and my middle name is Marie. I wanted the name to really be a part of me so I decided on Lola Marie Polish.

Tell us more about your products and what makes them special.

All of the nail polishes are handmade by me with love and I create them with my heart and soul. My polishes are 10 Free, vegan, and cruelty-free so they are safe for everyone to use. When I am creating a new polish color, I pay attention to how I feel—that is how I come up with all the unique names that are positive and uplifting. When you wear my polish, I want you to feel good about yourself.

One of my favorite things to do is spend time with my mom painting our nails, which is why my polishes are not only kid-friendly but adult-friendly as well. Moms and daughters can paint their nails together and talk about everything. Sometimes it feels hard to talk to your parents about tough subjects; while my mom and I paint our nails I feel safe and use this time to say whatever I am feeling. I want other kids to feel safe while painting their nails and that is why so many of my polishes are bright colors or have sparkles.

My brand incorporates unicorns because unicorns are known for being beautiful, special, and one-of-a-kind. That is how I want people to feel when they use Lola Marie Polish.

Do you have a hero product? What’s your favorite?

This is a tough question! I love all of my products because they all have special meanings. If I had to pick, I would choose my Unicorn Polish Set! This set is perfect for Mommy and me moments. It comes with three beautiful polishes, a unicorn detangler brush, and a unicorn hair clip! I like to call my customers my Best Friends and I wanted to offer them sets that they can use with their family members and friends.

Where are your products sold?

You can purchase my products on my website and also Walmart.com, which is my first retail store! If you are in Colorado you can purchase them at Joy’s House.

What's next for the brand?

I want to be known as the Princess of the nail polish industry. I am 9 now and working hard to turn my business into a million-dollar brand before my 13th birthday! I am hoping to hire my first employee by August and to be in more retail stores like Target and Sally's. I want to be able to give back more! We released a polish set on June 1 for the Casey Cares Foundation where 50% of the proceeds were donated. I want to send 100 kids in wheelchairs to Disney World with their families. My dreams and goals are big, but I know I can do it and I want kids that look like me to see they can do and be anything they want to be to. I'm taking over the beauty world!

For more information, visit lolamariepolish.com and follow on Instagram: @lolamariepolish

[Photos by Lola Marie Polisj]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk