To Coco Danczuk, beauty begins with honouring what you already have. I met the 30-year-old Rwandan beauty therapist in Kigali during her visit from London, United Kingdom, where she now lives, and she had much to say about running a skincare business that crosses borders. Born Claudine Uwamahoro, Coco has lived in the U.K. since marrying former Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk. She spends her time between London and Kigali, bringing lessons from abroad to her wellness brand, Coco Skin Care. ALSO READ: Are you taking care of your skin? Excerpts: For those who don’t know you, how do you introduce yourself? My name is Coco. I am the founder and managing director of Coco Skin Care, a wellness brand. We focus on facials, massage and sauna. How did you turn beauty therapy into a career? Beauty has always been my passion. Even at 12, I was playing with makeup. I worked as a makeup artist after university and later opened my own spa. Facials and massages are more appreciated now, but some clients still doubt their value. I always tell them, they do help. Smoother skin, smaller pores, better hydration—it all adds up. And lying back for an hour while someone tends to your face? Pure relaxation. You split your time between London and Kigali. How has that shaped your outlook? London is a big city with so many opportunities. I still work in beauty retail there, which helps me follow new trends and technology. I’ve also taken courses to meet British standards. Every two months, I come back to Kigali with new products and ideas. How is it working with people here while you’re based abroad? Rwandans are loyal and eager to learn. That makes it easier. Of course there are challenges, but I push my team to stay on time and on top of things. Overall, they’re very good. What makes Coco Skin Care different? Our main focus is facials and skin education. We don’t just treat clients, we show them how to care for their skin and why it makes a difference. We’re also the only place in Kigali stocking professional-grade Dermalogica products, so people can keep up their routine at home. Basically, it’s skin care designed for every type and every concern — because healthy skin really does start here. Who is your target audience? Everyone. We serve expats and locals, mostly middle-aged clients, but I also lowered prices so young women could start their skincare journey. Our mix is wide, and everyone is welcome. You balance an international lifestyle with business. Is that hard? It’s fine. London is busy, but I adapt. Traveling a lot can be tiring, but I make it work. A few years ago, you went viral after your marriage. How did you handle that moment? Honestly, I don’t know why it went viral. I just got married like anyone else. People talked on social media, but I didn’t mind. I focus on the people close to me who know and support me. Being married to a former MP, you’ve met many figures in U.K. politics. What was that like? Now and then I find myself at political gatherings, meeting prime ministers or MPs. I don’t make much of it, it just becomes part of life. What advice would you give young women who want to build a beauty brand? Work hard and never stop learning. Trends change every day. And remember, beauty is about confidence. You must believe you’re beautiful before anyone else can see it. What is your own skincare routine? In the morning: cleanse, tone, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen. At night: cleanse, tone, hydrating serum, retinol, moisturizer, eye and lip masks. That’s my base. Finally, what first drew you into beauty therapy? It started with makeup, then I realized how much I loved seeing people feel better after a treatment. That’s when I knew this was my place. Coco steered away from land surveying, the path she once picked at the Institute of Applied Sciences (INES Ruhengeri) and even practiced as an engineer. The work was rewarding, she says, but it wasn’t where she felt most herself. What followed was a shift toward building something that spoke more to her purpose. Born in Burundi and raised in Kanombe after her family returned in 1995, she says her story comes down to one thing: confidence. “Work hard, keep learning, and help others feel better along the way,” she says. Her skincare line, Coco Skincare, operates out of the B Hotel in Nyarutarama and can be found online at cocoskincare.net.
