54 Thrones Beauty Butter Update | Shark Tank Season 13

Christina Funke Tegbe grew up seeing the benefits of pure shea butter, which her family sent to her from Africa. She later became concerned about the heavy use of chemicals in most skincare products. This led her to create 54 Thrones, a line of African-made skincare crafted by local artisans with natural ingredients. Will her pitch be smooth enough to land a deal? Find out in our 54 Thrones update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to 54 Thrones after Shark Tank.

Christina entered Shark Tank Season 13, seeking $250,000 for 10% equity in her skincare line. After her pitch, she struck a deal with Kevin O’Leary and guest shark  Nirav Tolia for $250,000 for 17.5% equity.

In terms of a 54 Thrones update, the company expanded its retail presence in 2022 through the Sephora Accelerate program. Furthermore, as of 2025, 54 Thrones had diversified its product line, achieved $1.3 million in revenue, and earned an ELLE First Class Beauty Award in the body category.

Shark:	Result:
Kevin O’Leary and Nirav Tolia	Accepted offer for $250,000 for 17.5% equity
Mark Cuban	No Offer
Lori Greiner	No Offer
Robert Herjavec	No Offer

Shark Tank 54 Thrones Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Christina Funke Tegbe
• Business: African shea butter skincare line
• Ask: $250,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $250,000 for 17.5% equity
• Sharks: Kevin O’Leary and Nirav Tolia

54 Thrones founder Christina had two master’s degrees and a passion for African skincare.

After quitting her job, she traveled across Africa, meeting women who made shea butter, argan oil, and other natural beauty ingredients.

The trip inspired her to create a skincare line built on the mission of “Trade not Aid.” Instead of treating these communities as charity cases, she wanted to work directly with them and celebrate their craft.

Named after the 54 countries in Africa, 54 Thrones quickly became a rising brand. It was featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things and gained momentum from the growing push to support Black-owned companies.

In 2020, the company earned $500,000 in sales. However, only $8,000 was spent on marketing, and it was already on track to hit a million dollars in 2021.

Meanwhile, most revenue came from direct-to-consumer sales. At the time of filming, 54 Thrones was preparing to launch online with Sephora and expand to Nordstrom, which promised to bring in even more retail growth.

The margins were strong. One of the body butter tin collections sold for $80 retail but cost just $12 to make, leaving plenty of room for profit.

The sharks were impressed by the numbers. However, they were even more impressed with Christina herself, who showed the knowledge and passion to push the company forward.

Robert Herjavec bowed out first, admitting he wasn’t passionate about skincare.

Mark Cuban soon followed, saying he didn’t understand lotions or body butters. He called Christina a rockstar, but the business wasn’t for him.

Kevin O’Leary praised her model but didn’t think he was the right advocate.

Meanwhile, Lori Greiner loved the product, yet she had already invested in something similar and worried about a conflict of interest. She stepped aside, too.

That left guest shark Nirav Tolia. His wife worked with Neutrogena, giving him a personal connection to the industry. He said she would want him to invest, and he offered to put in half if another shark joined him.

Kevin stepped back in. Together, they offered $250,000 for 20% equity, split between them. Christina countered by 15%. Nirav didn’t mind adjusting, but Kevin wanted at least 10%.

In the end, they met in the middle. The final deal was $250,000 for 17.5% equity. Christina accepted, landing two sharks for the price of one.

Was this the right move for her company? Keep reading our 54 Thrones update to find out.

Shark Tank 54 Thrones Update

While doing our research for a recent 54 Thrones update, we didn’t find any source that confirms that the deal between Christina and the sharks closed successfully.

Moving forward, on the night the episode aired, Christina said orders poured in nonstop through Shopify, describing it as “dinging, dinging.”

Products quickly sold out, and the exposure brought new attention from both customers and potential investors.

In the following year, 2022, 54 Thrones rejoined the Sephora Accelerate program, a major beauty incubator supporting founders of color.

The brand’s retail presence grew, with products becoming available at Sephora, Credo Beauty, and Nordstrom stores.

As of August 2023, 54 Thrones products were in 108 Sephora and Credo locations, generating $1.3 million in annual revenue.

In February 2024, Christina appeared on Good Morning America, applying moisturizer to Robin Roberts’ hand on air.

That same month, she delivered a speech at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Annual Gala. Around this time, a TikTok video showcasing the Barrier Repair Cloud Cream went viral, earning over 4 million views and driving more online sales.

Christina announced new hires in 2024, posting openings for a brand marketing intern and later a fulfillment associate.

She even revealed plans for a unique reward—sending loyal brand ambassadors and customers on an all-expenses-paid mystery trip to create content together for the company.

Product-wise, 54 Thrones has expanded well beyond the beauty butters first shown on Shark Tank.

Today, they sell Barrier Repair Cloud Cream, Non-Stripping Butter Cream Body Wash, African Beauty Butters, face oils, and curated body care sets.

In 2025, 54 Thrones was recognized with the ELLE First Class Beauty Award in the body category, further cementing their reputation in the industry.

As for Christina, she has also received over $300,000 in grants and continues to book speaking engagements and consulting sessions.

You can make your purchase directly from their website. You can also keep up with their latest launches on Facebook.

With a quality product and beneficial mission, we’re excited to see what the next 54 Thrones update will hold.

Before you go, find out more about the other products featured on Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 4:

• The Magic 5 Custom Goggles Update
• Tabby Dating App Update
• SoaPen Update

For more on Shark Tank Season 13, be sure to check out our Season 13 products page.