We recently connected with Antoinette Morris and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Antoinette, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic was born from lack, but nurtured by love.
I grew up surrounded by instability—poverty, broken homes, and cycles of incarceration. At a young age, I realized I didn’t want to live the life I was born into. I saw how money—or the lack of it—could destroy families. I witnessed what it meant to survive instead of live. But more than anything, I watched. I was a quiet child. I observed behavior, I studied patterns, and I noticed what was missing—peace, guidance, & love.
In the middle of that chaos, God placed someone special in my life: my auntie. She wasn’t even my biological aunt—she married into the family when she was just 21—but the role she played in my life was divine. When the rest of the world seemed to fall apart, she poured into me. She made me feel valuable. She reminded me I didn’t have to be a product of my environment. She pushed me to go to school, to go to college, to be something more. And even when her relationship with the family ended, she never left me behind.
She passed away from COVID-19 in 2021, but her words and her love never left me.
Because of her, I chased something better. I stayed focused. I read books. I paid attention. I didn’t speak unless it was necessary. I worked hard because I wanted to be different. I didn’t want to sell my body or drugs. I didn’t want shortcuts. I wanted honor, purpose, and a legacy.
Even when I lived in a shelter as a teenager—because my family was in and out of prison—I still told myself I’d break every generational curse. I wanted to build generational wealth. I wanted to be someone the next generation could look up to.
So I did the work. Not only did I work I worked Hard and never lost felt in God
I earned a degree in Human Services with a minor in Political Science. I served as a teacher for nearly 7 years, worked as a youth counselor, and even served as a probation officer. I’ve spent years pouring into my community—especially children who, like me, needed someone to believe in them.
And today, my entire family looks up to me—from every branch of my tree. Not because I’m perfect, or because I have it all figured out—but because I made it out. I took the pain and turned it into purpose. I used education as my escape route, and now I advocate fiercely for educational equity in communities of color.
Because I know what can happen when a child is given just one person who believes in them. I know what can happen when we plant seeds of love and expectation in the hearts of children who only know survival.
So yes, my work ethic came from God. From pain. From watching what I didn’t want to become. But mostly, it came from my auntie—who showed me what it means to rise with grace, push through with integrity, and serve with love.
I honor her with every step I take.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Antoinette Morris, and I’m the founder and heart behind A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics—a beauty brand that’s rooted in purpose, love, and community. While I’ve worn many hats throughout my professional journey—teacher, youth counselor, probation officer—my work has always been focused on healing, uplifting, and creating safe spaces for others. That calling led me to build my own brand, where I could offer not only skincare, but self-care with intention.
This brand was born from pain, passion, and purpose. I’ve lost seven family members to cancer. That kind of loss changes you. It opened my eyes to the dangers of false labeling, toxic ingredients, and the lack of accountability in the so-called “clean beauty” industry—especially when it comes to the products marketed toward communities of color. Many products approved as “organic” or “safe” by large institutions like the FDA were filled with harmful ingredients. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I wanted to be the change.
A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling whole. Every product I make is handcrafted, infused with love, and built from the same resilience that shaped my story. I create organic, moisturizing lip glosses and clean body care products using high-quality, skin-nourishing ingredients. But what truly makes my brand special is the message behind every product: that you are worthy of love, of care, and of healing—no matter where you come from.
What excites me most is hearing how my products change people’s daily routines—not just because they’re effective, but because they represent peace, joy, and empowerment. Whether it a mom who cant sleep at night because of the chemical lotions and mom refusing to use steroids l& medicine that for her baby eczema ,Whether it’s a mom trying to reclaim her self-care, a teen who needs a confidence boost, or someone overcoming hardship who finds hope in a small moment of luxury—those are the people I create for.
My brand is also about visibility and inclusion. I create products that center women and men of color—formulas that work for all skin tones, with scents and essential oils that bring comfort and healing. I’ve always believed that luxury should be accessible, and that “clean beauty” should never leave out the communities that need it most.
A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics is more than skincare—it’s a promise. A promise that our skin will be nourished, not harmed. A promise that we will not be left behind in the name of profit. My brand enforces this message with every formula, every gloss, every lotion: we will continue to push back. People of color have always pushed back, and we will continue to rise.
We rise through the chemicals they put in our food.
We rise through the lack of education placed in our communities.
We rise for every poor person, every person of color, every disabled person, and every person who cannot speak for themselves.
This brand is bigger than me.
I handcraft every product using intentional, organic ingredients that heal, hydrate, and protect—without the harmful chemicals found in mainstream beauty. Products like Jasmine Clear, Lemon Frost, and Grapealicious Lips are not just top-sellers—they are symbols of resistance and luxury with purpose.
But this is only the beginning.
With the success of A.M Luxury Love, I plan to give back—in real ways that create lasting change. I will open my own Montessori daycare to provide safe, REAL Education, loving spaces for children. I will open shelters and nonprofit organizations to serve women, families, and people with disabilities. I will reinvest in the very communities that raised me, that shaped me, and that continue to inspire me.
We’re not just building beauty here—we are building justice. We are creating opportunity. We are protecting our people, one product at a time. And I will never stop fighting for those who were never given a voice—because I am that voice.
And as long as I have breath, we will continue to rise.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The Three Most Important Qualities in My Journey
Looking back, the three most important qualities that have shaped my journey are: faith, patience, and the refusal to give up.
1. Faith
Faith is everything to me. Faith is what carried me when nothing else could. I’ve learned that when you’re on a divine assignment, when your purpose is bigger than you, you’re going to be tested in every way imaginable. There were moments when I had no money, no food, no shelter—and somehow, God still made a way. I’m a small city girl from Minneapolis who moved to a major city with only $900 and a dream. And somehow, even when my bank account said $2, God would send someone to bless me, to remind me that I was never walking alone.
Faith means trusting the process when everything around you is falling apart. It means believing in your vision when no one else sees it yet. It’s the foundation of everything I’ve built.
2. Patience
Patience isn’t just waiting—it’s how you wait. There were so many moments I wanted things to move faster, to fall into place on my timeline. But I learned the hard way that the beauty is in the journey. Patience taught me to appreciate the lessons, even in the pain. I lost family members. I’ve experienced heartbreak. I’ve been betrayed, left behind, and overlooked. But every delay was protection. Every loss was a seed. And over time, those seeds grew into something greater than I could imagine.
3. Never Giving Up (Obedience to the Calling)
You cannot walk this path without being a warrior. The journey is not for the weak-hearted. There will be suffering, and you’ll have to keep going anyway. You’ll have to cry, pray, fast, meditate—and still show up. I’ve walked through grief, through lack, through silence—and I still chose to obey the calling on my life. That’s what “not giving up” really means: honoring the assignment even when it hurts.
Advice for Others on This Journey
To anyone at the beginning of their purpose-filled path: don’t chase clout, chase calling. Don’t let likes or money distract you from the impact you were born to make. Develop a strong spiritual foundation. Get quiet. Build your faith. Trust the silence. Learn patience, because real growth is not rushed. And never give up—because someone out there needs what you carry. Your story, your voice, your light will be someone else’s survival guide.
And remember this: so many people today are trying to impress, when the real power is in inspiring. Operate from love. Let your purpose serve others. That’s the highest frequency we can move in—love and inspiration. That’s where true transformation happens.
the highest forms of frequencies are often described as love, joy, and peace. These frequencies resonate at the most elevated vibrations, which are said to align us with our true purpose and connect us to a higher state of consciousness.
Love is often considered the highest frequency because it transcends all other emotions and brings healing, growth, and transformation. When you act from a place of love—whether in your personal life, your work, or your brand—it creates positive energy that attracts more love and abundance.
Joy follows closely behind, as it radiates positive energy and amplifies the power of love. Joy is not just happiness; it’s a deep inner peace that comes from aligning with your purpose and living authentically.
Peace is the frequency that allows us to release fear, doubt, and negativity. It provides clarity, strength, and stability, enabling us to move forward with confidence in our decisions.
When you live and operate from these higher frequencies, you become magnetic, attracting abundance, growth, and opportunities—not just for yourself, but for the world around you.
Inspiration is one of the highest forms of energy . It’s a frequency that uplifts, empowers, and sparks change. When you operate from a place of inspiration, you become a beacon for others—lighting the way and showing them what’s possible. Inspiration has the power to move people toward their purpose, to break through barriers, and to create a ripple effect of positive action.
Just like love, joy, and peace, inspiration elevates not only the individual but the collective. It drives growth, transformation, and creativity. When we’re inspired, we’re more connected to our higher selves and to others. Inspiration leads to innovation and encourages us to rise above challenges, knowing that our actions can have a lasting impact.
At A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics, I aim to live and create from a place of inspiration, because I know that when you inspire, you change lives. And when you change lives, you change the world.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
If I Only Had One Decade Left to Live If I’m being completely honest—and I mean selfishly honest—I’d spend my last decade on a tropical island, laying in the sun, drinking margaritas and coconut water in a bikini ALL DAY LOL. No emails. No deadlines. No responsibilities. Just peace, sunshine, and soft waves washing up to my feet. I’d finally relax, let go of the weight I carry for everyone else, and live freely, unapologetically, and quietly.
But that’s not who I am.
As tempting as that version of life sounds, it’s not my truth. I was not put on this Earth just to sip from coconuts. I was put here to build, to fight, to give, and to serve. So, realistically—and truthfully—if I only had one decade left, I would spend every single day doing what God assigned me to do.
I would rise as God’s first soldier. Before anyone else would line up, I would already be in position.
I’d give louder. I’d love harder. I’d fight stronger. I’d pour into every soul that needed healing, guidance, or just someone to believe in them. I’d speak for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. I’d open more doors for the next generation, for people of color, for the overlooked and underserved. I’d build that daycare. I’d open that shelter. I’d create safe places for the ones who have never known what safety feels like.
You can call me Wonder Woman.
But not the one from comic books—the one forged from pain, prayer, and divine purpose.
Because if I only had one decade left, I wouldn’t just live it—I’d leave something behind with it. A legacy rooted in service. A brand that continues to give. And a reminder that even when the time is short, purpose makes it powerful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amluxurylovecosmetics.com/
- Instagram: AM LUXURY LOVE COSMETIES
- Facebook: AM LUXURY LOVE COSMETIES /Antoinette Morse
- Linkedin: AM LUXURY LOVE COSMETIES
- Other: BBB AM LUXURY LOVE COSMETIES -MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota TikTok -IAMANTOINETTEMORSE04
Image Credits
ANTOINETTE MORRIS
