Kim Cross is a proud U.S. Navy Veteran and Happy Skin Formulator. Her military service as an Aviation Technician took her coast to coast and overseas, defending the country she loves. After Kim’s service, she was never completely satisfied being out of the military, so she began to follow her first passion, cosmetology. A trade she had been active in on and off since middle school.
Constant exposure to water and chemicals made a skin condition Kim had developed while in the Navy worsen; she finally came from behind the stylist chair after almost 20 years in the cosmetology industry. With her skin out of control, she began her journey to entrepreneurship when finding skincare products that did not agitate her already inflamed skin became almost impossible. Knowing the hardship of finding gentle skincare good for the skin and smells amazing, Kim used the grit and determination learned in the military to research and formulate her solution. Zhi Bath & Body was born from years of trial and error with formulas and testing. For almost 17 years, her goat milk skincare and soy candles have been helping people of all ages and skin types to love their skin…naturally.
Over the almost two decades since starting Zhi (pronounced chee), Kim has begun teaching future generations the art and science of formulating and crafting natural skincare products. As a multi-passionate creative, she takes great pleasure in calming her soul through prayer and adult coloring books (the newest book she designed is coming Fall 2022 release). Kim has been featured in numerous magazines such as Fashion Gxd, Huami Magazine, and SwagHer Magazine.
About the Family
In 2020, she was recognized by her local VA for her work collecting cold-weather gear for local homeless veterans and their families. She was a 2021 Finalist for the 5th Annual Veteran & Military Spouse Entrepreneur Awards most recently. She is also a published author known for writing on natural skincare, military news, and youth leadership.
Kim comes from a family of people who serve--in both the military and as ministers in the community. She is a mom to two teenage business owners and a military spouse to a Navy Seabee Veteran. When she isn’t working on a new private label product for a client or teaching a class on soapmaking, Kim loves to teach her boys the ins and outs of business outside of creating a new paracord braid or tee shirt design.
Kim’s boys, Chaz & Joshua, budding entrepreneurs themselves, attended The Rosie Network’s Kidpreneur Camp last summer to accelerate their businesses. We asked Kim to chat with the boys about themselves, their businesses, and the future.
Cross T's, Chaz KidPreneur Camp Graduate & Owner of Cross T's
"It was a very educational camp. I learned things I didnt know but can really help with my business. I like that the teachers were nice and taught business in a way that I could understand easily. My mom says we are starting out with things in our business toolbox that she did not have when she began...I think that's awesome that we can teach her from what we learned in camp."
Bee Bracelets, Josh KidPreneur Camp Graduate & Owner of Bee Bracelets
"I thought it was a very helpful camp and the instructors made it so I understood what my mom already does a bit better. I learned quite a bit form the instructors and the other kids too! How to market my bracelets and keychains effectively (and easier) is what I remember to be most helpful."
