About Us

 

What is Curly Girl Meetup?

Welcome to Curly Girl Meetup, your go-to destination for curly hair empowerment and education! Founded by Canadian-Caribbean sisters Candicia and Camillia John in 2018, our mission is to build a vibrant community of curly-haired individuals who uplift and support one another.

 

We're proud to be a two-time award-winning organization hosting a variety of events across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, focusing on curly hair education and empowerment. From intimate meetups to seminars, vendor pop-up marketplaces, panel discussions, and brand activations, we create engaging experiences that celebrate the beauty of curls while setting the standard for excellence in our industry.

 

Explore our retail website for a curated selection of apparel along with our own brand merchandise and e-books filled with tips and tricks for curly hair care and styling.

 

At Curly Girl Meetup, we prioritize representation and education in the beauty industry, ensuring that everyone feels confident and empowered, regardless of their hair type or texture. By partnering with global brands, small businesses, and individuals who share our passion for curly hair, we've built a supportive community that's making waves.

 

Don't miss our signature event, The Ultimate Curly Hair Experience, the first and largest natural curly hair event in Toronto! Featuring panel discussions, fireside chats with Canadian icons, activations, photo ops, professional hair styling, and a vendor marketplace showcasing small businesses, it's an event you won't want to miss. Plus, catch us on City News Toronto for media coverage highlighting our journey and charitable initiatives. Join us and let your curls shine!

Featured On

Bold Journey, The Penthouse Magazine, and Canvas Rebel

How it all started

Camillia and Candicia, two second-generation Caribbean sisters had chemically permed their hair during their childhood. After Candicia had suffered from a chemical perm incident that left her with clumps of hair in the sink in 2012, she quickly had to learn how to grow her natural hair and remedy the damage. In June 2018, Candicia dreamed of having an event in the metropolitan city of Toronto where people would be able to learn more about natural hair, get their questions answered, and learn how to use their curly hair products to the best of their ability. 


Pitching this idea to her sister, Camillia John, a marketing graduate, they decided to make their dreams a reality and create the first-ever Toronto Curly Girl Meetup in 3 short months. Due to great feedback from attendees, they decided to make this an annual event; breaking the ground for their 2019 event. Since then the company has grown beyond the co-founders' wildest expectations by rebranding to The Ultimate Curly Hair Experience in 2023 with Fireside Chat Guest Miss Jully Black, having key sponsorships including Shea Moisture, Sephora Canada, Maui Moisture, Curl Keeper and Bounce Curl to name a few. The event also got media coverage from City News Toronto highlighting the event and to co-founder's journey for two consecutive years and having charity initiatives where attendees can give back through product donations to several inner-city charitable organizations. 


Curly Girl Meetup is a two-time award-winning organization and the pioneer behind the first and largest natural curly hair event in the City of Toronto. Our signature annual event, The Ultimate Curly Hair Experience, has become the most sought-after celebration of curls each summer. This highly anticipated gathering features an inspiring panel discussion with Canadian influencers and hair industry experts, a fireside chat with a Canadian icon, immersive brand activations, curated photo-op moments, an on-site hair salon where attendees can get their hair cut and styled by professionals, and a vibrant vendor marketplace showcasing small business owners.

Meet Camillia

Camillia, as the Head of Marketing and Partnerships at TCGM, brings a unique flair to their mission. She champions both in-person and online connections, curating a safe and engaging space for the community to share stories and discover enriching content. Her interactions with community members, brands, and local content creators online and offline fuel her dedication.

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Meet Candicia

Candicia, with her creative spark as a content creator, conceived TCGM in 2018, envisioning a vibrant hub in Toronto where individuals could embrace and enhance their natural curls. As the Chief of Operations and Logistics, she is passionate about fostering a tight-knit community among curly-haired folks, striving to instill confidence and pride in every curl.

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City News Toronto Coverage 2023

City News Toronto Coverage 2022