Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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If St. Louis could introduce itself, it might say, "I am the place where one of the country's first Black Female Millionaires made her riches".

Annie Malone was born in Metropolis, Illinois in 1877. She would later come to St. Louis and develop a groundbreaking Black haircare product that would begin her beauty empire. With her business success and wealth, she also became a prominent philanthropist.

In this episode of the I Am St. Louis Series, in partnership with the Missouri Historical Society, Veronica Mohesky talks to Jody Sowell about Annie Malone's story.

Learn more at ninepbs.org/iamstl

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