Beauty In Pink: Katrina Belin– owner of Michigan’s first Beauty Mall–discovered fashion & beauty while in foster care
Beauty business owner, Katrina Belin, says the foster care system introduced her to beauty and fashion and now she owns Michigan’s first beauty mall.
Photo via Instagram
Katrina Belin is a mother, a Detroit native, President of The Pink Print Women’s Network, the owner and CEO of Pink Diamond Beauty Mall–Michigan’s first beauty mall, and November’s Detroit Fashion Community Spotlight.
Belin’s mother was murdered when she was only 3 years old, leaving her to the inept care of family members and by age 13 was officially property of the state of Michigan. After moving from group home to group home Belin finally ended up in foster care at age 15. By age 17 Belin was pregnant and by 18 years old Belin was out on her own. Despite those odds Belin not only graduated from college but also found her own path to wellness and success through healing and self care. In an interview with Hour Detroit Magazine the pink fashionista said that her attention to personal care started on her journey through the foster care system.“Being a foster child…just being in the system … they don’t tend to care too much about your hygiene, your hair–things of that nature.”
Belin goes on to say that she credits Ruthie Davis, her former foster mother, with introducing her to the fashion industry at 15 years old, “I didn’t know there was a fashion industry that existed…until I got into the foster care system with her.” Belin says her foster mother, who passed away in 2007, offered encouragement and the initial financial support for her to pursue a career in fashion.
In 2010, after graduating from Oakland Community College with a nursing degree, Belin worked within the healthcare system but maintained her passion for fashion and beauty by taking modeling jobs while learning to design clothes. Belin’s skills evolved and she eventually created a line of denim that made way for the opening of Pink Diamond Couture in 2011, which she successfully operated until its closure in 2015.
Owner and Founder of Pink Diamond Beauty Mall—Michigan’s first beauty mall— Katrina Belin
SPOT THE PINK DIAMOND
In 2017 the diamond shaped motif of a dilapidated building caught Belin’s eye. Belin told Hour Detroit that the night before, she had heard the words “beauty mall” from God. Initially she says she didn’t understand that download, but knew this building was home for what would become the Pink Diamond Beauty Mall once she saw the 9,000-square-foot, fire-damaged building.
The process of opening the beauty mall began with a land contract that allowed her to purchase the building over time. In 2018 the mall opened and operated at 25% capacity, only offering services for nails, hair, makeup, and eye-lashes. While she was working as a medical instructor Belin invested her paychecks into paying off the building and breaking ground on new renovations, essentially funding the beauty supply store buildout within the mall herself.
MOTOR CITY MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
The remaining renovations were funded in 2023 by a grant from Motor City Match — a program that provides funding to start new businesses and expand others in metro Detroit. Belin was awarded $55,000. The Pink Diamond Beauty Mall is the 167th Motor City Match business to open, and hopes to redefine beauty standards with services that make women feel beautiful inside and out.
The Pink Diamond Beauty Mall officially opened in March 2024, with an elaborate ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion near McNichols on Detroit’s westside. The signage just outside of the three-story pink building reads, ”Salon, Health Spa, & Beauty Supply”, but the name “Pink Diamond” is a nod to the rare, precious gem, and reflects the comprehensive service offering of the establishment.
Recently, the Pink Diamond Beauty Supply Store officially opened inside of the Pink Diamond Beauty Mall, showcasing an array of Black-owned and women-owned product lines including the newly released @pinkdiamondcrowncollection.
The Pink Diamond Beauty Mall was created to be a center of rejuvenation for women–”a place where beauty, comfort, knowledge, and personalized attention combine with the goal to provide a memorable ‘Pink Diamond’ experience”. The all-in-one beauty and health experience has 12 different beauty and health service categories to choose from including nail, hair, and skin care, spa and makeup services, a serene sauna and meditation room for guests to relax and rejuvenate, and “Reiki energy” healing. There is also a beauty supply store, a boutique space for retail therapy featuring Detroit designer brands, and a small café providing a one-stop shop for beauty and wellness dedicated to providing hands-on beauty services to Detroit and its surrounding cities.
Pink Diamond Beauty Supply inside Pink Diamond Beauty Mall
THE PINK PRINT
Belin extends her community impact as President of The Pink Print Women’s Network. The Pink Print Women’s Network, a mentorship sector of Belin’s professional brand, provides women ages 18+ from all walks of life with “best-in-class resources to start and maintain a successful life” from spiritual and mental support, to guidance and resources through educational content and events. The Pink Print offers access and mentorship that will help women reach new heights.