Chanelle Chalazan
“For me personally, being a woman means using my voice, pursuing my goals fearlessly, and hopefully inspiring other girls to realize they’re capable of building something meaningful too.”
When Chanelle was just 14 years old, she noticed a gap in the jewelry market and decided to fill it. She began creating and selling high-quality, affordable jewelry that made stylish accessories accessible to girls like her – without breaking the bank. Before long, Chanelle was travelling across Canada promoting her company, being featured on national news, and receiving positive feedback from girls and women of all ages – all while still attending high school.
Inspired by her dad’s entrepreneurship and her mum’s sense of style, Chanelle’s determination and belief in herself led her to found Chic & Charmed Boutique, an online Canadian jewelry brand based in Saskatchewan. While the company’s mission has always been rooted in affordability, it is also driven by a desire to remind girls that they are never too young to pursue their dreams — and to help girls and women feel fun, feminine, and empowered. Although Chanelle never imagined just how much the company would grow, she never stopped believing in herself – and her success became a reflection of that. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
C: Hi! My name is Chanelle, and I’m the founder of Chic & Charmed Boutique, a Canadian jewelry brand based in Saskatchewan. I started the brand as a teenager with the goal of creating high-quality jewelry that was actually affordable for everyday women and girls.
From the beginning, my mission has been to keep pricing accessible so even girls working part-time jobs could still afford a beautiful pair of earrings and feel confident wearing them. Today, our jewelry is still priced at about a quarter of the price of many competitors in Canada because we operate differently. We don’t have storefronts or large employee overhead costs, which allows us to keep prices low while still offering quality products.
Throughout my entrepreneurship journey, the brand has grown far beyond what I originally imagined. Our first out-of-town show was Regina’s Incredible Bridal Show, where we received amazing feedback, and our first out-of-province show was the National Women’s Show in Calgary. Since then, we’ve traveled across Canada for major events and trade shows in places including Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa, Regina, Calgary, Toronto, and Saskatoon.
This summer we are doing a Canada-wide tour with the Rock 'n Gem Show to Kelowna, Victoria, and Edmonton, and in 2027, we're doing another Canada-wide tour with the National Women’s Show, bringing the brand to Montreal for our first Quebec show!
As the brand has grown, I’ve also had opportunities to be featured by media outlets including CTV News, Global News, CityNews, SaskToday, and more, along with podcasts and interviews such as Lisa Peters Live and Fox Talks Business.
It’s been incredible seeing Chic & Charmed continue to grow through larger shows, media opportunities, billboards, and connecting with customers across Canada, especially while still balancing high school at the same time.
P: You founded Chic & Charmed Boutique when you were just 14 – what sparked the idea?
C: I’ve always been surrounded by both business and fashion growing up, so I think Chic & Charmed Boutique naturally became a mix of those two worlds. My dad is an entrepreneur, so ever since I was a little girl, I watched him build and grow his company. Seeing the hard work, independence, and creativity that goes into running a business inspired me from a very young age and made entrepreneurship feel normal to me.
At the same time, my mom always loved jewelry, accessories, and fashion, and I grew up around that as well. I loved styling outfits, looking at different jewelry trends, and seeing how accessories could completely change someone’s confidence and look. I think those two influences naturally connected and eventually inspired my jewelry business.
What really pushed me to start Chic & Charmed was noticing a gap in the market. I saw that most jewelry was either very expensive or affordable but poor quality, and I wanted to create something in between, high-quality jewelry at prices everyday girls and women could still afford. I started researching suppliers, learning about branding and marketing, and slowly building the business piece by piece. Once I began doing markets and trade shows and saw how much people loved the products, I realized the brand had the potential to become something much bigger than I originally imagined.
P: What was your original mission and vision for Chic & Charmed?
C: My original mission for Chic & Charmed Boutique was to create jewelry that made women and girls feel confident, stylish, and included, without needing to spend hundreds of dollars to do it. From the very beginning, affordability was one of the most important parts of the brand for me. I wanted people to be able to buy trendy, high-quality jewelry without feeling priced out. I also wanted the brand to feel fun, feminine, and empowering. I loved the idea of creating pieces people could wear every day that still felt special and eye-catching.
At the beginning, I never fully imagined the company could grow to the level it has today. I always believed in myself and knew that if I kept pushing, working hard, and staying consistent, the business could become successful, but I don’t think I truly understood what “big” would eventually look like. Back then, “big” was just an idea in my head. I never imagined traveling across Canada for shows, being featured on TV and podcasts, or building a nationally recognized brand while still in high school.
Even though I couldn’t fully picture where the business would go, I always had the mindset that if I kept showing up and growing little by little, eventually it would turn into something much bigger than I started with.
P: Has that vision evolved over the years, or has it stayed the same?
C: The foundation of the brand has stayed the same, but the way I see the business and the impact it can have has definitely evolved over time. In the beginning, I was mainly focused on creating jewelry people loved wearing. Now, I’ve realized the brand is also helping change people’s mindset around fashion jewelry and pricing. A lot of customers have told me they were surprised by the quality compared to the price, and I think people are starting to understand that expensive doesn’t always mean better. Just because a pair of earrings costs over $100 doesn’t automatically make them higher quality than ours. I’ve loved being able to build a brand that proves you can still have trendy, durable jewelry without luxury pricing attached to it.
As the business has grown, I’ve also grown with it. I think I’m more confident now, more experienced, and more aware of how many opportunities can come from taking risks and putting yourself out there. The vision feels bigger now than it did when I started, but the heart of the brand is still the same.
P: What challenges did you face in the early days, especially starting so young, and how did you navigate balancing entrepreneurship with “normal” teenage life?
C: One of the biggest challenges was definitely being accepted and treated equally because of my age. A lot of people automatically made assumptions before even getting to know me or the business.
Sometimes it felt like people didn’t fully believe I was capable of running the company myself simply because I was so young. I remember even with opportunities like billboards, there were moments where people would direct questions toward my dad instead of me, almost assuming I couldn’t handle things on my own. Even though my dad has always been supportive, it was frustrating at times because this was my company, my vision, and something I had worked incredibly hard to build. I also think many people were shocked seeing someone my age traveling across Canada for trade shows, media interviews, and larger business opportunities. A lot of people expect teenagers to think small, so when they see someone balancing school while building a national brand, it challenges what they thought was possible.
Over time, I learned that you can’t let other people’s assumptions stop you. Sometimes you just have to prove people wrong through your actions, stay confident in yourself, and keep pushing forward even when others doubt you. Honestly, I think those experiences made me stronger and motivated me even more to succeed.
P: Was there a moment when you realized, “I’ve made it”?
C: I honestly don’t think there’s been one exact moment where I felt like, “Okay, I’ve fully made it,” because every time the business reaches a new level, my goals grow even bigger. But I do think there have been moments that made me step back and realize how far Chic & Charmed has come. One of those moments was seeing the brand on billboards around Saskatchewan for the first time. Another was traveling out of province for major trade shows and realizing people in completely different cities already recognized the brand or had heard about it online or through media. Being featured on TV, podcasts, and news outlets was also surreal because it made me realize this was becoming bigger than just a small local business.
I think the biggest realization, though, is when I meet customers at shows who tell me they’ve been following my journey for a long time or that I inspired them to start something themselves. That’s when it really hits me that the brand is making an impact beyond just selling jewelry. At the same time, I still feel like I’m only at the beginning. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I also feel like there’s still so much more I want to accomplish.
P: What’s been your proudest milestone so far?
C: I think one of my proudest milestones has been turning Chic & Charmed Boutique from a small idea into a nationally growing brand while still being in high school. Looking back at where I started compared to where the company is now is honestly crazy to me sometimes. Some of the milestones I’m most proud of are things like putting up billboards across Saskatchewan, expanding further across Canada, attending major trade shows in different provinces, and continuing to grow the brand year after year. Being recognized through media, awards, and larger business opportunities has also been incredibly rewarding. But honestly, one of the biggest things I’m proud of is making my dad proud. Since I grew up watching him build his own business, that means a lot to me. I make myself proud every day by continuing to push myself and work toward bigger goals, and I hope I make the rest of my family proud every day as well. At the end of the day, I think the biggest accomplishment is knowing that something which started as just an idea has grown into something real that continues to impact people across Canada.
P: How has growing this brand shaped you as a woman?
C: Growing Chic & Charmed Boutique has shaped me in almost every part of my life. I think it’s made me much more confident, independent, and resilient as a young woman. Running a business at a young age forces you to grow up quickly in some ways because you learn how to communicate professionally, handle pressure, make decisions, and keep going even when things get difficult. It has also taught me not to let other people’s opinions define me.
When you’re a young female entrepreneur, there will always be people who doubt you, underestimate you, or assume you can’t handle certain things. Over time, I’ve learned to trust myself more and stop needing validation from everyone else.
I also think the business helped me find my voice. Whether it’s speaking at events, doing interviews, networking, or talking to customers at shows, I’ve become much more comfortable putting myself out there and believing in what I bring to the table. Most importantly, it’s shown me that being a young woman in business can be a strength, not a weakness. I’ve realized that ambition, creativity, and confidence can take you much further than people expect.
P: What does success look like for you now? Has that definition changed since you started?
C: I think my definition of success has definitely changed over time. When I was younger, I think success mostly meant being rich or making a lot of money. I associated success with financial freedom and reaching a point where you “made it” financially. Now, my mindset around success is a lot different. Of course I still want to continue growing the business and creating a successful future for myself, but I’ve realized success is also about how your life feels and the impact you have on other people. For me, success now can be something as simple as traveling across Canada with my dad for shows, building something together, and knowing he’s proud of me. Moments like that honestly mean more to me than just numbers or money. It also means being happy with what I’m doing every day and feeling fulfilled by the journey I’m on.
I think success is about creating something meaningful, making people feel confident through my jewelry, inspiring others through my story, and knowing that my work is positively impacting people in some way. That, to me, feels like real success now.
P: What do you wish more people understood about running a business at a young age?
C: I wish more people understood how much work, pressure, and responsibility actually comes with running a business at a young age. From the outside, people often only see the exciting parts, the shows, media, travel, social media, or success, but they don’t always see the long hours, stress, sacrifices, and consistency happening behind the scenes. I also think people sometimes underestimate young entrepreneurs because of age. Just because someone is young doesn’t mean they aren’t capable, professional, or serious about what they’re building. A lot of young business owners are balancing school, personal life, and huge responsibilities all at once. At the same time, I think being young in business can also be a huge advantage. Younger entrepreneurs bring creativity, new ideas, strong social media knowledge, and a different perspective. I’ve learned that age doesn’t determine how successful someone can become, mindset, work ethic, and consistency matter much more.
P: What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?
C: I would tell my younger self to turn every “no” or “maybe” into motivation to keep pushing toward a “yes.” A lot of opportunities in business don’t happen instantly, sometimes you have to keep asking, keep showing up, and keep believing in yourself even when people are unsure at first. If I hadn’t said yes to certain opportunities or kept putting myself out there, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’d also remind myself that nothing is impossible if you’re willing to work for it. So many people wait around hoping opportunities will come to them, but I’ve learned that you have to take action. You have to reach out to people, take risks, put yourself out there, and create opportunities for yourself instead of waiting for the “perfect moment.” I think taking action is one of the biggest reasons the brand has grown the way it has. Even when something feels scary or uncertain, you never know where one email, one conversation, or one opportunity could lead.
P: What advice would you give to women and girls aspiring to start their own businesses?
C: My biggest advice would be to start before you feel fully ready. A lot of people wait until everything is perfect, but honestly, you learn the most by just starting and figuring things out along the way. Confidence comes from experience, not from waiting. I would also tell women and girls not to let their age, fear, or other people’s opinions stop them from pursuing something they’re passionate about. There will always be people who doubt you or underestimate you, but that doesn’t mean your goals aren’t possible.
Another huge thing I’ve learned is the importance of putting yourself out there. Reach out to people, network, apply for opportunities, promote yourself, and don’t be afraid to hear “no.” One opportunity can completely change the direction of your business and your life. Most importantly, believe in your vision even before other people fully understand it. Every successful business started as just an idea at one point.
P: What’s next for Chic & Charmed Boutique?
C: Right now, the biggest focus for Chic & Charmed Boutique is continuing to expand across Canada. We’ve already traveled to many cities for trade shows, and now I want to keep growing into provinces and cities we haven’t fully explored yet, especially places like Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. I would love to eventually attend larger women’s shows and events in cities like Halifax and Fredericton as the brand continues growing nationally. Right now, our billboards are only in Saskatchewan, mainly in Saskatoon, but we are now starting to expand further into Regina and Calgary.
Long term, I would love to continue growing our advertising and brand recognition into cities like Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Toronto as well.
Beyond just growing sales, I really want Chic & Charmed Boutique to become more recognizable across Canada as a brand people genuinely know and remember.
I hope to continue doing more interviews, podcasts, TV appearances, articles, and speaking opportunities while continuing to grow the company year after year. Personally, one of my long-term goals is to attend business school for my undergraduate degree and eventually pursue medicine afterward, similar to my brother. I want to continue proving that it’s possible to balance both academics and entrepreneurship at the same time.
P: Finally – what does being a woman mean to you?
C: To me, being a woman means being strong, driven, compassionate, and confident in who you are. I think women are capable of so much more than society sometimes gives them credit for, and I love seeing women support, inspire, and empower one another.
Being a young woman in business has taught me that strength doesn’t always have to look loud, sometimes it’s shown through resilience, consistency, and continuing to believe in yourself even when people doubt you.
I also think being a woman means embracing both ambition and individuality. You can be feminine, creative, emotional, powerful, business-minded, and successful all at the same time.
For me personally, being a woman means using my voice, pursuing my goals fearlessly, and hopefully inspiring other girls to realize they’re capable of building something meaningful too.
