What began as a childhood fascination with her mother’s Ankara garments has become a flourishing fashion and beauty enterprise for Nigerian-born entrepreneur Susan Nneoma Ngwu—better known as Saint Suzzy.
Raised in Zaria, Kaduna State, Suzzy first sat behind a sewing machine at the age of 10. What followed was not a casual hobby, but the foundation of a passion that would one day define her career. Today, she presides over a fast-growing fashion and beauty brand in the United Kingdom—an empire built not in boardrooms, but in the corners of small homes, the chaos of motherhood, and the clarity of purpose.
Her journey into entrepreneurship was anything but accidental. When she moved to the UK at the age of 22 to study Adult Nursing at Coventry University,
Suzzy already had years of tailoring experience. She went on to graduate with First Class Honours and later completed a Master’s degree with Merit. Yet, even in the midst of a demanding academic schedule, her creative fire never faded.
It was a simple request that sparked a business transformation. A fellow church member needed someone to sew traditional Nigerian Aso Ebi outfits for a bridal party. Suzzy accepted the challenge—and delivered ten finely tailored pieces. From that moment, word-of-mouth became her currency, and she gradually transitioned from nursing to full-time entrepreneurship.
Working from a modest home studio while caring for her first child, she began offering a range of services—tailoring, wig-making, makeup artistry, and eventually photography. Her clientele grew steadily, drawn by her attention to detail and quality of delivery.
By 2019, with two children and a new home, Suzzy expanded her operations. Then the pandemic struck. Rather than retreat, she pivoted—teaching herself photography and converting her garage into a mini studio. The various arms of her brand—SaintSuzzy Signature (fashion), SaintSuzzy Wigs, SaintSuzzy Shots (photography), and SaintSuzzy Beauty—were consolidated into one integrated business.
What sets Saint Suzzy apart, however, is not merely talent but structure. Her medical background seeps into her management style. “Business for me is like medicine,” she explains. “There has to be a process: diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. That’s how I work.”
Now a mother of three, she juggles the demands of parenting with her expanding enterprise, supported by her husband. And she’s becoming increasingly vocal about the unique challenges faced by women—particularly mothers—who are balancing entrepreneurship with family life.
Looking ahead, Suzzy envisions opening one-stop-shop studios across the UK—spaces where clients can be styled, photographed, and pampered under one roof. She also dreams of nurturing a new generation of creatives, offering mentorship and training for those eager to follow in her footsteps.
But for many, her story already offers more than inspiration. It serves as a blueprint for how faith, family, and entrepreneurship can coexist—and even thrive.
Saint Suzzy’s journey is a testament to the power of starting small, staying focused, and building with intention. It is a story of resilience, precision, and purpose—a story that proves women do not have to choose between passion and motherhood. With the right systems in place, it is possible to wear many hats—and wear them well.
