Born in Kinshasa in 1986, biochemist Clarisse Falanga is blazing the trail as a bio-chemist. Her research work for her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, (which she aced with distinction in 2009), was based on the suitability of different imported hair products on the hair of African women. This birthed her product called Miravella Hair Cream. She works in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology to the General Commissariat at the Atomic Energy of Kinshasa (CGEA/CREN-K) in the field of plant breeding and mutations-induced.
In 2018, after 8 years of extensive research, the talented Clarisse received a patent and recognition by the UN honouring her for the invention of Miravella Hair Cream. That same year, she was also promoted as chief of works at the Department of Biology of the University of Kinshasa. She currently is working on her master’s degree and is conducting research in several laboratories.
Multi-tasking is her forte as she is an expert event organiser and has created Celebra Pecunia, a performance platform. Financial challenges beset the research and development space in the DRC which has seen Clarisse having to self-fund her research work. She continues to do a lot of work to uplift other women and instill a sense of confidence in them. She is also a youth motivator of note instilling a sense among young people that they can achieve anything they set their mind to no matter their background or station in life. Through her work and success, she continuously provides a vehicle for young people to break the barriers and rid themselves of cultural stereotypes designed to pull them down. This is particularly the case with girls, whom she encourages to take up careers in the STEM field.
“She invites women in general and the girl in particular, often marginalized, stifled, and living in the periphery to never give up in terms of socio-cultural stereotypes. She encourages youth to fight, find a space and to impose an identity in society despite obstacles and pain that litter the life course of young women who could be future leaders,” it is written about her in a publication by SMIN Power Group
