Courtnei Lee is a trans activist, influencer and entrepreneur born and raised in Vancouver, BC. As a young transwoman, she found empowerment in the world of cosmetics and beauty. In 2019 she recognized there was still a massive lack of accessible trans representation and content in the world of beauty. Courtnei launched her first brand, CL Essentials and it quickly gained traction due to her authentic and open storytelling.

In 2022, CL Essentials rebranded as OYT Cosmetics; what started as a passion for cosmetics turned into a movement advocating for diversity, inclusion, education and empowerment. Courtnei’s work earned recognition from prominent media outlets such as Women In Business Magazine and Success Magazine for her groundbreaking efforts within the industry. Using her platform, Courtnei continues to advocate for trans rights and visibility globally.

Five years ago, Courtnei Lee was at a crossroads. She had spent the first 25 years of her life trapped in her body and silenced by the world around her. She knew that she needed to take brave action if she was ever going to be true to herself and feel at peace with who she was. Taking the plunge, Courtnei decided it was time to transition - embracing the woman she truly is.

As part of this journey, Courtnei wanted to explore makeup and beauty products as a way of self-expression; however, having no idea where to start left her feeling intimidated and scared. That's when Courtnei made the decision to go to Sephora for some advice—and what happened next marked an important milestone in self-discovery and acceptance of herself as a trans person. The moment she stepped through those doors, an employee approached her with such warmth and kindness that it immediately put Courtnei at ease. This amazing human being went out of their way to make sure Courtnei felt welcomed and understood—giving her an impromptu beauty 101 lesson! 

By the end of their session together  – both Courtnei’s look AND spirit had been enhanced tenfold - finally allowing Courtnei access to something beautiful that has always been denied otherwise too often throughout history: freedom. It was an affirming experience that ignited a curiosity and passion within Courtnei for cosmetics which has since become one of her greatest loves in life, never imagining it would become part of her life’s work.

As a transgender woman, Courtnei often found herself outside of conversations due to a lack of representation and resources available; this inspired her to create something of value for people like herself. In 2020, Courtnei launched CL Essentials out of the corner of a 400 sqft apartment off Davie Street - fuelled by passion and determination. People could relate to Courtnei’s passion—they admired how open she was when discussing topics related to gender identity, self-love and acceptance while still keeping things entertaining and uplifting.

By 2022 CL Essentials rebranded as OYT Cosmetics — playing off initials derived from ‘Oh Your Trans? ‘– to bridge the gap and create year-round representation for the LBTQ2+IA community and the beauty industry at large. OYT Cosmetics has become much more than just a beauty brand; it’s now a movement advocating for diversity, inclusion, education and empowerment. 

Courtnei’s work earned recognition from prominent media outlets such as Women In Business Magazine and Success Magazine for her groundbreaking efforts within the industry. Using her platform, Courtnei advocates for trans rights and visibility globally with continued hard work and dedication toward creating a brighter and kinder for those underrepresented within our culture today.