After seven years of incisive clinical research, Dr Edith Forkwa Gibson, 36, put smiles on the faces of persons with melanin rich skin. The Cameroonian-American invented “Xcape”, a skin care line, which is a solution to problems of hyper pigmentations, uneven skin tones, stretch marks, and surface dehydration. Instead of dragging Cameroon’s name in mud, she is contributing in taking it forward. The international skin care consultant and Doctor of Industrial Psychologist introduced medical esthetics in Cameroon, and runs a programme to train professional skin care professionals. Born in Bamenda on 9 November 1983, the winner of “Best Female Entrepreneur Award” equally has greater ambitions for her darling fatherland, Cameroon.
At the time some Cameroonian diasporans are soiling the country’s image, Dr Edith Forkwa Gibson, Cameroonian-Ameri - can residing in the United States of America (USA), is doing the reverse. The Medical Esthetician, Oncologist and Doctor of Industrial Psychology has created what had not existed in this world. After seven years (2010 to 2017) of incisive clinical research in her Beauty Health Foundation laboratory in Yaounde, Dr Edith Gibson designed an excellent formula from 50 different organic ingredients, and she invented “Xcape”.
“Xcape” is an allorganic skin care product line that has been proven to address problems of black skin or melanin rich skin such as hyper pigmentations, uneven skin tones, stretch marks, dullness/lacking a glow, surface dehydration etc. “I tested it on 8000 people in Yaounde, Douala, Bamenda and Buea. Before embarking on mass production in my laboratory in the USA, I got authorisation and certification from American authorities. It is one of the biggest inventions in Africa by an African, valued at about 500 million FCFA (1 million US dollars). I want to take the world forward,” the native of Batibo/Mankon in the North West Region told this reporter while presenting her invention in Yaounde in October 2019.
PATRIOTIC TO THE MARROW
Instead of the USA, Dr Edith Gibson, 36, chose her fatherland, Cameroon, to launch the magic wand for melanin-rich skin. Why? “My country did not only give me the platform to conduct the research, but she also supported me financially and technically. I received a 10-million FCFA subvention from the National Employment Fund. It would have been an impossibility to do trials on 8000 subjects if I had to carry out the research in the USA. That aside, the choice of Cameroon is also because of my spiritual attachment to this country.
I plan to relocate here when my children get to the University,” the patriot intimated. Responding to J.F Kennedy’s maxim of what she has done for Cameroon, Dr Edith Gibson said “in addition to the feat of finding a solution plaguing black skin care, I introduced medical esthetics in Cameroon, and established a programme to train professional skin care professionals. Like in the USA, I employ staff here.” She has greater ambitions for her country. “I have spoken to US investors who are interested in setting up an “Xcape” factory in Cameroon. It will create at least 5000 jobs when it goes operational,” the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MyXCAPE LLC in Atlanta disclosed. Her ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit have fetched her distinctions. Dr Edith bagged the Community of African Excellence Award for the “Best Female Entrepreneur”, and “Best Initiative” in 2016.
HER ROOTS
Ask not why she speaks well of her fatherland. Edith was born and raised in Cameroon. The second of Forkwa Emmanuel alias “Progressive” and Forkwa Pauline’s (her parents) six children attended primary and secondary school at PNEU Bamenda, Government Bilingual Practising High School (LBA) Yaounde and Star Light College in Bamenda, bagging the First School Leaving Certificate (1995), GCE Ordinary Level (2000) and GCE Advanced Level (in Lower Sixth in 2001) Certificates. Then, she travelled to the USA for tertiary studies.
Edith is a holder of a certificate from the National Laser Institute and a PhD in Industrial Psychology from the University of Phoenix. Do you want to follow Dr Edith Gibson’s footsteps or do even better than her? If yes, she has this piece of advice for you. “Follow your passion. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged at what people would say. If you believe in your dream, it will come to fruition. There were times the people who supported me the most got tired and backed out. But I kept going.
” LET’S TALK LOVE “
Your skin is your first impression. The first thing people see when they look at you,” according to Edith Delight (her nickname). Her beauty is a real charm. Not even Gibson (her husband), an African-American, could resist. They got married and have been blessed with a son (14 years old) and a daughter (11 years old). Unfortunately, the sweet love story turned sour. “We are divorced, but we remain best friends and we raise the kids together,” the daughter of a wood designer (father) and Reverend Pastor (mother) noted.
Before flying to London and then to Atlanta to plant the seed of “Xcape” in European and American markets, Dr Edith Gibson had a pleasurable stay in Cameroon. Away from the microphones and cameras, she had fun with friends, kith and kins in Yaounde and Douala, with whom she took pictures and shared staple meals like Kati Kati (corn fufu with vegetable and chicken). She equally listened to soul-searching music in her spare time. In the midst of the euphoria, not even liars or dishonest persons succeeded to annoy the international skin care consultant.
