safety tool — A team of teenagers from Limassol has transformed an ordinary lip gloss into a discreet tool designed to help women detect potentially harmful substances in their drinks. Their innovative product, HerShield, has earned them third place in Europe at the JA Europe of the Year 2026 competition held in Riga, Latvia.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
HerShield was conceived by nine students from St Mary’s School, who sought a practical solution to drink safety. The team, which consists of Ioanna Christina Petrou as chief executive, Andrea Marselina Pelentride overseeing operations, and other members managing various aspects of the project, embarked on this journey that began in October 2025.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
During a brainstorming session, the students aimed to design a safety product that would be both discreet and practical. They realised that many women carry lip gloss regularly, making it an ideal vessel for their concept. HerShield appears as a standard cosmetic item, but within its casing lies a concealed compartment housing five drink-testing strips.
The testing strips are equipped with two pads each. Users can place drops from their drink on the pads, and within around 10 seconds, a colour change can indicate the presence of substances commonly associated with drink spiking, such as GHB, ketamine, cocaine, and scopolamine. However, the creators emphasise that HerShield is an additional safety measure and does not guarantee drink safety. Anyone who feels unwell or suspects their drink has been tampered with should seek help immediately.
The team used 3D printing technology to develop the prototype, ensuring that the product closely resembled a genuine cosmetic item while keeping the testing strips protected and accessible. Their efforts paid off when they introduced HerShield to the public at the Junior Achievement trade fair at the Mall of Cyprus in March 2026, receiving valuable feedback from potential customers.
The project gained significant momentum after being named JA Cyprus of the Year on April 29, allowing them to represent Cyprus at the European competition. This recognition came after competing against 89 student companies with around 550 participants. As they prepared for the GEN-E event, the students honed not only the product but also their business skills, learning about marketing, production, and quality control.
The event in Riga, held from July 7 to 10, featured national champions from across Europe pitching their ideas to business leaders and international judges. While Slovakia’s Lipigo took first place and Greece’s Enalion secured second, the Limassol team’s achievement placed them among Europe’s leading student-led businesses.
The interest in HerShield has surged following their appearances on television and in media, leading to the quick sell-out of their initial production batch. The team is now focused on producing additional units and refining the product’s design based on customer feedback.
As they continue their journey, the students remain dedicated to their mission of enhancing safety for women, encapsulated in their slogan, “Shielding her since the first sip.” The recognition at the European level marks a significant milestone for the young entrepreneurs, who have successfully transitioned their classroom project into a recognised safety tool with real-world applications.
