Twirl Girl: 13-Year-Old Entrepreneur Starts Cotton Candy Business

While most 13-year-olds are busy with homework and hobbies, Santa Rosa Beach teen Audrie Rivers, decided to do something a little different: start her own cotton candy business! Twirl Girl is a boutique cotton candy cart that spins up a variety of sweet treats. Whether you’re picking up a tub at a market, ordering a cotton candy “cake” for a party, or surprising kids with push pops, her business brings a bit of whimsy to every event. Plus her adorable cart where she spins fresh cones of cotton candy, adds an Instagrammable element!

“I’ve always been drawn to new experiences, and seeing my friends start jobs and businesses made me realize that I could do it too,” Audrie said. “Being homeschooled has given me the chance to learn about business in a hands-on way, from marketing and finance to customer service and food safety.”

It all began with a cotton candy machine, a curiosity about the magic of spun sugar, and a desire to create something fun and inclusive. “Cotton candy is such a magical treat! It’s crazy how one tablespoon of sugar can turn into a giant, fluffy cloud—sometimes bigger than a kid’s head,” said Audrie. “I also have food allergies, so I wanted to create something that I could enjoy, and I love offering custom organic, dye-free flavors alongside my more colorful options so more people can have fun with it too.”

From branding and product creation to discovering the joys (and challenges) of entrepreneurship, Audrie has learned a lot since launching her business. “I’ve learned patience (especially when the machine doesn’t cooperate!), problem-solving, and how to manage my time,” she said. “As a competitive athlete, I love that I can set my own schedule or have friends help run things when I’m at volleyball tournaments. Most of all, I’ve learned that owning a business takes a lot of work, but it’s also an amazing way to be creative, independent, and bring joy to others.”

And while cotton candy is made entirely from sugar, Audrie loves busting myths about her signature product. “A single serving actually has less sugar than a can of Coke or a bag of Skittles,” she said. “The big difference is that cotton candy is mostly air, so it looks huge but doesn’t pack as much sugar as other candies that are denser.”

As a mom of two, I was pleasantly surprised to learn these facts about cotton candy! I always thought it had insane amounts of sugar, but now I see that it can be a better option than an ice cream cone or cupcake since it has no fat and a smaller amount of sugar. Plus, my kids enjoy getting a HUGE fun-to-eat treat. I also appreciate that she offers dye-free flavors since we are learning more and more about the negative side effects of these artificial colors.

Twirl Girl is quickly becoming a local favorite for party treats, events, and custom creations. She has hosted pop-up events at Anthropolgie in Grand Boulevard, La Luna‘s annual Easter event, and more. Be sure to book her for your next event or market! And if you’d like to purchase products, you can message her on Facebook or Instagram as well. Best of all, you’re supporting a young entrepreneur who’s showing what it means to dream big and work hard!

Here are some more snapshots from our photo shoot with Twirl Girl.