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Business > Boardroom Watch
Michelle, ma belle
By Susan Claire Agbayani
Feb 27, 2026 12:30 am

How a girl who grew up in Kamias, Quezon City, built an empire by age 23

AT 23, when most contemporaries were launching their careers, Michelle Asence-Fontelera had already founded her retail company, Zen Zest, which specializes in body care, personal fragrances and home fragrances like essential oils and room sprays.

In just a few years, she grew the brand to approximately 200 stores in major malls across the country, including SM and Robinsons.

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