In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Kim Chi (the drag superstar and beauty entrepreneur behind KimChi Chic Beauty) for a candid conversation on creativity, cultural identity, and building one of the most inclusive beauty brands today.From the rise of drag as a global culture to the realities of growing a business through COVID, TikTok, and an unpredictable beauty landscape, Kim Chi shares how she stays resilient, innovative, and unapologetically herself. She opens up about navigating Korean and Western beauty standards, the pressure of representation, and the role drag continues to play as both art and protest.With humour and unfiltered honesty, Kim Chi offers a rare look at the mindset, mission, and cultural impact behind her work — and what the future of beauty, visibility, and creative entrepreneurship might look like.Key Highlights & TakeawaysRepresentation that matters: How growing up between cultures shaped her voice, vision, and leadership.Drag as cultural power: Why drag remains a vital artistic and political force.Inside KimChi Chic Beauty: Building an inclusive, community-led brand through creativity and resilience.The new beauty economy: TikTok reviews, indie brands, shifting consumer habits, and the rise of AI.Entrepreneurship in uncertainty: Lessons from launching a brand before COVID and navigating global volatility.Joy as strategy: How food, beauty, and community continue to inspire her craft.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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