1986 – Dallas, Texas
Mary Kay Ash launched Mary Kay Cosmetics Inc. in 1963. Today, Mary Kay Cosmetics is the largest direct seller of skin care products in the U.S. Mary Kay manufactures and markets more than 200 skin care and beauty products through its network of more than 400,000 independent beauty consultants in twenty-five countries. Retail sales have surpassed $1 billion each year since 1991. Now retired, Mary Kay credits much of her success to her company’s unique way of doing business. From the outset, she has stuck to three principles: God first, family second, career third. Forced to make a choice, Mary Kay believes very few women would give up their faith and family for a career. She designed Mary Kay Cosmetics to give her beauty consultants the flexibility of planning how much and when they work. Mary Kay has received many awards including the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, which recognizes people “who have begun at the bottom and worked their way to the top.” Other awards include The Free Enterprise Award, Dale Carnegie Leadership Award, Direct Selling Association Hall of Fame Award and the Outstanding Business Leader from Northwood University in 1990. Named Chairman Emeritus of Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1988, Mary Kay Ash continues to provide motivation, support and inspiration for thousands of women around the world. (Deceased 2001)
