‘We’re a young, agile business’– Sculpted by Aimee’s founder Aimee Connolly confident despite tariff threat

The Sculpted By Aimee brand, which is stocked in 700 outlets worldwide including in Europe, Australia and the Middle East, was launched by Ms Connolly in 2016 after she saved €10,000 by working as a freelance make-up artist.

“Things like the tariff conversation and in general, there’s an uncertainty around the world, we’re obviously paying attention to what’s going on,” she said.

“We’re not too concerned yet in terms of how it’s going to impact us. We’re a young, agile business so we’ll plough ahead regardless of what sets forward.

“But I also think until it’s fully confirmed, there’s just no point in panicking about things when we don’t know the impacts yet, so we’re feeling OK about it.”

While her work keeps her “really busy”, she said: “I love it, so I don’t sit back and think, ‘Oh God, this is too much’, or whatever.

Without being vague, I don’t give myself a chance to psych myself out of things

“I just thrive off it, I love all of it and feel very lucky that I get to do it. When you’re in it, because you’re kind of on the hamster wheel, you don’t really acknowledge it like an outsider might, so of course I’m so grateful for the growth and where we are, but I’m also like, we still need to do this, and this and this.

“So I’m kind of just focused on the next thing, rather than probably acknowledging all that is now.”

Ms Connolly is often asked about whether she felt pressure being a woman in business.

“Without being vague, I don’t give myself a chance to psych myself out of things,” she said.

“I don’t think about it in too much detail where it becomes super scary. I think if I did, I would be like, ‘Oh my God, the pressure’, so I just do things that feel natural and authentic to me, that I want to be behind.”

Her advice to her 23-year-old self, who launched the business almost 10 years ago, would be to “back yourself and do it and go with your gut”.

“I also think, particularly as a younger person growing up through business myself, the notion of wanting to be liked by everyone. It is impossible to keep everyone happy,” she said.

“You just have to do right and treat people fairly, and after that, it’s kind of out of your control so rather than trying to be a people pleaser or splitting yourself in a million [pieces] to focus on the fact that it’s just not always possible and it will drain you. I think for the younger generation, that’s something that we need to hear.”

The entrepreneur, who is an ambassador for the VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon for the fourth time, will be taking part in a special park run at St Anne’s Park in Dublin this Saturday with broadcaster Katja Mia, health and fitness coach Nathalie Lennon and content creator Clóda Scanlon.

She said running had become a key part of her routine, with the annual mini-marathon in June an important part of her year. “I actually wouldn’t, I think, be able to do the level of work that I do without exercise. It’s a non-negotiable for me now.”

Over 28,000 women are expected to take part in the Mini Marathon on June 1.