Global beauty leader Revlon announces singer, author, actress, model and fashion designer Jessica Jung as its newest Global Brand Ambassador. The multi-hyphenate, known for her rise to K-pop stardom, will represent the brand in Asia and appear in global campaigns this year for the iconic Super Lustrous and ColorStay franchises along with other new launches such as new Total Color permanent hair color
“Revlon has always represented the epitome of glamour for me. As a young girl growing up in San Francisco, I couldn’t help but be dazzled by the bold imagery of iconic women wearing Revlon makeup!” said Jessica Jung, “To now be part of these legendary Revlon ambassadors is a thrill and an honor.”
Jessica Jung (Photo courtesy of Revlon)
Jessica Jung (Photo courtesy of Revlon)
“We were drawn to Jessica because she is a force of nature, channeling her positive energy and entrepreneurial mindset into achieving her goals and breaking boundaries all along the way. She loves to experiment with beauty and has an unapologetic spirit that helps her transcend convention, perfectly capturing our Live Boldly ethos. We’re thrilled to have her as part of the Revlon family,” added Silvia Galfo, Revlon Global Brand President.
Born in San Francisco to Korean parents, Jung, or popularly known as Jessica, to her millions of global fans, moved to Korea at age 11 to pursue her dream as a performer. She was discovered at South Korean shopping mall with her sister, rose to K-Pop stardom as a member of a popular girl group and went on to become an accomplished actress, singer, author and fashion designer with her own line, Blanc & Eclare. She speaks English, Korean and Chinese and has become an international superstar by forging her own path and pursuing her passions through a wide range of creative endeavors.
Jung is the newest addition to the cohort of bold women representing Revlon, including actress Gal Gadot, actress and recording artist Sofia Carson, model and activist Ashley Graham, model Adwoa Aboah, and model Eniola Abioro.
She will begin appearing on behalf of Revlon across all media platforms in Spring 2020.
Jessica Jung (Photo courtesy of Revlon)
About Revlon: An iconic American beauty brand, Revlon was founded in 1932 with revolutionary opaque nail enamel. Today the brand is regarded as global beauty leader, innovator and color expert, offering consumers in more than 150 countries a range of high quality color cosmetics, under leading franchises including ColorStay, Super Lustrous, Revlon Ultra HD and PhotoReady Candid. The brand has a rich heritage in hair color and care, including ColorSilk, the number one consumer hair color brand in the US. Revlon also offers a wide range of tools for beauty and nail. Revlon serves professional hair stylists and colorists with the Revlon Professional line, offering hair color, hair care and styling products under the Revlonissimo, UniqOne, and Equave franchises. Revlon Professional also provides cutting edge education to help salon professionals around the world transform their clients to look their very best. With a long-standing commitment to women’s progress, health and well-being, the brand has history of raising funds and awareness for women’s issues through signature programs like the Revlon Run Walk and The Revlon Million Dollar Challenge.
Forbes has published its 2019 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, and what’s notable about this year’s list of 80 women is that several of the new entries on the newly expanded list are entrepreneurs from the fashion and beauty industries: Rihanna, Patricia Miller, Toni Ko and Karissa Bodnar. The women eligible to be on the list are U.S. citizens or U.S. residents who founded a company that is headquartered in the United States. All net-worth figures are estimated by Forbes, as of June 3, 2019.
Here’s a summary of the moguls from the fashion and beauty industries who made it onto the list:
The Billionaire Moguls
Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap Inc., is ranked at No. 8 (same as in 2018), and has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion, down from $2.8 billion in 2018. Gap Inc. is the parent company of such fashion retailers as Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Intermix, Weddington Way and Athleta. Although Gap Inc. has been hit hard in recent months with closures of many of its stores, don’t expect Fisher to lose her billionaire status anytime soon.
Tied at No. 14, with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion each, are Forever 21 co-founder Jin Sook Chang and Proactiv co-founders Kathy Fields and Katie Rodan. Chang, Fields and Rodan have the same rankings and net worths as they did in 2018. Forever 21 has successfully extended its youth-oriented fashion brand with the launch of lower-priced retailer F21 Red and the beauty retailer Riley Rose. Proactiv’s winning subscription-based business model, boosted by celebrity endorsements of the company’s skin-care products, has made Proactiv the leading mail-order service for non-prescription acne treatment.
Anastasia Soare, who built a cosmetics empire with her Anastasia Beverly Hills brand, holds on to her No. 21 ranking on the list, but her net worth increased from $1 billion in 2018 to $1.2 billion in 2019. Spanx founder Sara Blakely is No. 23 (down from No. 21 in 2018) on the list, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion (same as in 2018), thanks to her patented invention that changed the way undergarments can shape a body. Kylie Cosmetics founder Kylie Jenner has now entered billionaire status: She’s tied at No. 23, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. Jenner was No. 27 on the list in 2018, with an estimated net worth of $900 million. With the help of mother/manager Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner parlayed her reality TV fame and social-media savvy into the Kylie Cosmetics company, which was founded in 2016. At 21 years old, Kylie Jenner is the youngest person on the entire list.
The Veteran Millionaire Moguls
Most of the women on the list have companies that are more than 10 years old. Some have literally made their fortunes by their names, since their names are the same as their companies. They include fashion designer Tory Burch (No. 29 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $850 million, up from $800 million in 2018, where she was also ranked at No. 29); jewelry designer Kendra Scott (No. 40, net worth of $550 million; up from $500 million in 2018, where she was also ranked at No. 40); fashion designer Vera Wang (No. 45, net worth of $460 million); and fashion designer Donna Karan (No. 49, net worth of $430 million).
Alex & Ani founder Carolyn Rafaelian (who has a majority stake in the accessories company) took a steep tumble down the list. In 2018, she was ranked at No. 21, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. In 2019, Rafaelian is No. 52 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $520 million. Wang’s fortune also took a hit: In 2018, she was at No. 34 on the list, with a net worth of $630 million. Also sliding down the list was Karan: In 2018, she was No. 43 on the list, with a net worth of $470 million.
Paisley designs have off well for Vera Bradley co-founder Patricia Miller (No. 69, net worth of $300 million), who retired from the accessories company in 2012, but still rakes in a fortune as a significant stakeholder. NYX Cosmetics founder Toni Ko (No. 75, net worth of $270 million) sold the company to L’Oréal for $500 million in 2014. In 2016, she launched sunglasses company Thomas James LA. She is also a venture capitalist; her Butter Ventures company invests primarily in female-owned businesses.
The Upstart Millionaire Moguls
Fashion and beauty moguls on the list who have companies that are less than 10 years old owe most of their marketing success to TV and social media.
Rihanna (No. 37, net worth of $600 million) is best known as a Grammy-winning superstar singer, but she’s made much of her fortune through the beauty and fashion industries. Her inclusive cosmetics company Fenty Beauty (launched in 2017) was an immediate hit. She’s also partnered with Puma for a Fenty brand of shoes. In 2019, Rihanna made fashion history by joining forces with fashion giant LVMH (parent company of Louis Vuitton, among numerous other brands) to create her own fashion brand called Fenty. With this partnership deal, Rihanna became the first woman to create an original brand at LVMH and the first woman of color at the top of an LVMH house.
Huda Kuttan (No. 36, net worth of $610 million), who started off as a makeup artist, became a beauty blogger in 2010, and then used that Internet notoriety to launch the Huda Beauty cosmetics company, which she co-founded with her sisters in 2013. Kuttan’s fortunes have increased every year since then. On 2018, she was No. 37 on the Forbes list, with a net worth of $550 million. She is also the star of a Facebook Watch reality show titled “Huda Boss,” which debuted in June 2018, and has been renewed for a second season.
Jamie Kern Lima (No. 47, net worth of $440 million) used to be a TV reporter, but transitioned into the beauty industry by founding It Cosmetics in 2010, when she first began selling the company’s products on QVC. In 2016, she sold the company to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion, while still retaining leadership of It Cosmetics, making her the first female CEO of a L’Oréal-owned company. Kern Lima’s net worth remains the same from 2018, although she was ranked higher on the list (at No. 44) in 2018.
Kylie Jenner’s half-sister and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” co-star Kim Kardashian West (No. 57, net worth of $370 million) has made most of her fortune from reality TV and licensing her name to video games, but Kardashian West’s fashion/beauty ventures (including KKW Beauty, the cosmetics line that Kardashian West launched in 2017) have contributed significantly to her wealth. Although Kardshian West is ranked lower on the list in 2019 (she was No. 54 in 2018), her net worth has increased from $350 million in 2018.
In 2013, makeup artist Karissa Bodnar (No. 74, net worth of $275 million) left her corporate job at L’Oréal and made the leap into entrepreneurship by launching Thrive Causemetics, “a direct-to-consumer makeup brand that sells products that are vegan, cruelty-free and without parabens, latex and sulfates,” according to Forbes. Instagram has been a key factor in Thrive Causemetics’ success.
Elizabeth Arden March On campaign advertisement with Reese Witherspoon (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Arden)
Elizabeth Arden March On Limited Edition Lipstick in Pink Punch signed by Reese Witherspoon. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Arden)
The following is a press release from Elizabeth Arden:
Elizabeth Arden announces March On Pink, the next phase of the brand’s signature philanthropic campaign, through a $1 million pledge supporting UN Women in their work to advance women’s issues worldwide. To bolster awareness and efforts, a limited-edition lipstick signed by Reese Witherspoon in “Pink Punch” shade will be sold globally with 100% of the proceeds donated to UN Women.
Following last year’s limited-edition March On lipstick in Elizabeth Arden’s classic red, this year’s March On campaign ushers in a new, powerful pink shade. Inspired by the next generation of young women leaders and enacting great change, Pink Punch unapologetically embraces women’s boldness and femininity.
“It’s an incredible time to be a woman. The work we’re doing with Elizabeth Arden and UN Women is igniting real change and increasing possibilities for women globally,” says Reese Witherspoon, Elizabeth Arden’s Storyteller-in-Chief and female advocate. “I’m in this for all women – for my daughter, my mother, and all the amazing women in my life.”
Reese Witherspoon behind the scenes at the March On photo shoot. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Arden)
As an early supporter of women’s rights, the brand’s legacy of empowering women traces back to the suffrage movement, when Elizabeth Arden herself provided red lipsticks to the suffragettes marching down Fifth Avenue. Over one-hundred years later, the company remains a fervent supporter of women’s rights worldwide and continues to encourage the advancement of women through March On and its partnership with UN Women.
“From its inception, Elizabeth Arden has been defined by strong leadership, determination and spirit,” says Ava Huang, General Manager, Elizabeth Arden. “Today, as much as ever, we are inspired by and committed to encouraging our future fearless leaders to March On. This campaign serves as a symbol of women’s strength and the powerful possibilities when we support one another. We are grateful for our partnership with UN Women and their dedication and impactful work toward gender equality.”
“One of the strongest drivers of change toward gender equality is widespread awareness and participation,” explained Tia T. Gordon, Chief of Communications & Advocacy, UN Women. “The funds raised through March On will continue to fuel UN Women’s ‘Making Every Woman & Girl Count’ gender data initiative. We are proud to continue working with Elizabeth Arden to ensure that all women and girls are counted and visible, so that there is no excuse for inaction.”
The March On Beautiful Color Lipstick in Pink Punch will be available Beginning March 2019 for $26.50 on ElizabethArden.com and in department stores globally.
About Elizabeth Arden Elizabeth Arden has been empowering women and providing them with a diverse portfolio of products including proven, science-based skincare, signature fragrances and customized, multi-tasking color cosmetics since 1910. The brand is now sold in more than 120 countries and is proud to uphold Ms. Arden’s legacy. A legendary innovator, she was ahead of her time with a holistic approach to beauty and technology-driven skincare, values that still remain at the heart of the brand today. As an entrepreneur and founder of her own company, before even having the right to vote, she was an ardent supporter of women and famously provided red lipstick to suffragettes as they marched past her Red Door Salon & Spa on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Today, with spokesperson and female advocate Reese Witherspoon, the iconic brand proudly continues Ms. Arden’s mission to both empower women, through its signature cause platform March On, and provide them with luxurious and high performing products that leverage over 100 years of hands-on spa expertise. #TogetherWeMarchOn.
About UN Women UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls nationwide.
The following is a press release from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics:
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is proud to partner with three multi-dimensional women to magnify its original ethos of celebrating individual beauty and female empowerment with the launch of the “Confident Beauty” campaign. American actresses Yara Shahidi and Elizabeth Olsen, along with Chinese actress NiNi are the brand’s newest global celebrity spokeswomen brand sharing their “beauty truths” – the guiding honesties behind the lives they lead, to inspire women everywhere.
“Remaining true to our brand’s core essence, each of these powerhouse women are emblematic of the modern Bobbi Brown consumer – confident, individually beautiful and defining success on their terms,” says Sandra Main, President Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. The campaign will hero the brand’s longstanding and beloved foundation products of Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation and Intensive Skin Serum Foundation. The Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation lineup will also be expanded with 12 new shades globally.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has always been committed to providing the perfect match for all skin tones. Our deepest foundation shade family is still Espresso, which was first introduced in 1992 with the launch of Foundation Stick. The brand’s unique shade philosophy originated from the intuition and precise eye of an artist, who recognized that the truest skin match meant looking beyond skin’s surface to the natural undertones that create each women’s unique skin color. The result has always been a broad shade range of undertone correct, skin true shades that deliver fresh, healthy, glowing skin.
Black and Iranian actor and activist, Yara Shahidi explains what drew her to Bobbi Brown, “I think the brand represents what my generation represents: The importance of inclusion. The fact that it’s been so important for the brand in both makeup and philanthropic endeavors since the beginning, speaks to the fact that it’s not a commercial trend but something they’re committed to.”
“It’s incredible to be part of a brand that has been so consistent and true to its identity in an industry that’s so inconsistent. Since the 90s we have seen many trends come and go and come back again, and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has always been a timeless brand,” says actor, producer and women’s advocate, Elizabeth Olsen.
Award winning Chinese actor, NiNi first fell in love with the brand while preparing for a red carpet appearance by her longtime makeup. “For me, I admired the brand’s quality products that made my skin glow, effortless New York spirit and the limitless feeling of confidence.”
In celebration of the Confident Beauty campaign, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics will officially launch The Pretty Powerful Fund on International Women’s Day March 8th. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics will donate $400,000 to four worthy charities selected by our ambassadors that reinforce the Fund’s mission of supporting the creation of new possibilities for women and girls.
The first iteration of the partnership will appear in March 2019 worldwide. Preview the campaign at Bobbi Brown.
Irina Shayk (Photo courtesy of Marc Jacobs Beauty)
The following is a press release from Kendo Brands:
Marc Jacobs Beauty announces Irina Shayk as the newest face of the brand for 2019. A dedicated campaign and animation will debut at Sephora Russia on January 14 and Irina will be making a personal appearance at Sephora in Moscow on January 26. this is the first official image of the campaign featuring Irina, shot by David Sims with creative direction by Katie Grand, makeup by Diane Kendal, hair by Guido Palau and nails by Jin Soon Choi.
“When we entered Russia earlier in the year, we knew we wanted to have someone who inherently matched the beauty and strength of the region. Irina was a natural choice, and we’re thrilled to add her to the group of impressive women who have represented Marc Jacobs Beauty.” —Tara Loftis, VP of Marketing, Kendo Brands
Makeup artist Diane Kendal and model Irina Shayk (Photo courtesy of Marc Jacobs Beauty)
Irina joins iconic women such as Jessica Lange, Edie Campbell, Winona Ryder, Aya Jones, Kaia Gerber, Adwoa Aboah, and Lila Moss, who have been, and also currently are, serving as faces of the brand.
“I’ve loved and admired Marc for his wonderful fashions and overarching vision of beauty. It’s such an honor to represent Marc Jacobs Beauty in my home country.” — Irina Shayk
In the lead campaign image, Irina wears:
Irina Shayk (Photo courtesy of Marc Jacobs Beauty)
Eye-conic Multi-finish Eyeshadow Palette in 730 Frivoluxe A longwearing eyeshadow palette of “chilled greige and violet” shades in fashion finishes – velvet, satin, silk, and lame – to layer and dress your eyes.
Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon in 55 Mist Me & 63 (Grape)vine Matte lilac and dark purple shades of this malleable formula that glides on smoothly to line, define, smoke, smudge or layer.
Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara Ultra-black pigment is delivered to even the hardest-to-reach part of the lash line thanks to the lash-maximizing, curvy brush for epic lashes.
O!mega Bronze Perfect Tan in 104 Tan-tastic This super-sized bronzer instantly and universally imparts a radiant-matte finish thanks to its silky texture of micro-fine, jet-milled powder.
About Marc Jacobs Beauty:
Marc Jacobs Beauty is a collaboration between the designer and Kendo, the LVMH incubator of new beauty brands. as with his fashion, Marc’s rule-breaking creativity is at the heart of his makeup vision. for Marc, it’s about the spirit of youth, confidence and experimentation. He inspires you to push the boundaries and create your own style. so indulge in the impeccably exquisite textures, take liberties with provocative shades, and play with daring designs.
Marc defines beauty as imperfectly perfect. “I see beauty in many things and I am attracted to all sorts of imperfection, to style, to confidence or experimentation. it’s unexpected and surprises you.” Inspiration stems from the spirit of “the girl” and her makeup ritual. “I think the idea of transforming into this person you want to be, is a lot of fun…It’s the idea of a young woman enjoying creating her look, getting ready for her night out, or her night after her night out.”
About Kendo:
San Francisco-based Kendo (part of the LVMH Group, the world’s leading luxury products group) focuses on the development of global beauty brands. through original concepts, collaborations and acquisitions, Kendo brings to market fresh, relevant and innovative brands. the Kendo team combines product development, marketing and operations expertise to redefine the beauty landscape with brands like Marc Jacobs Beauty, Kat Von D Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. today, brands within the Kendo portfolio are distributed in 35 countries.
The year 2018 will be remembered as a dramatic turn in the industry of social-media beauty influencers who became famous for their postings, usually about makeup, on YouTube and Instagram. As a result of offensive posts on the Internet, beauty influencers Laura Lee and Manny MUA have lost thousands of YouTube subscribers and have taken a temporary break from social media.
Within a period of two weeks, Laura Lee had her Laura Lee Los Angeles business terminated by Ulta, Morphe, Diff Eyewear, ColourPop Cosmetics and BoxyCharm after racist comments that she tweeted in 2012 were exposed. In the racist tweet, she said, “Tip for all black people if you pull ur pants up you can run from the police faster.. #yourwelcome.” She also made several fat-shaming tweets in 2013 that were exposed in mid-August 2018.
Before the scandal, Lee had 5 million subscribers on YouTube. After the scandal, she lost approximately 533,000 subscribers from August 15 to August 28, 2018, according to Social Blade. When the racist tweet was first exposed, Lee did not address the matter for a few days and continued doing her usual videos about makeup. After the scandal became too big to ignore, she temporarily deactivated her Twitter account, and deleted thousands of tweets, and then posted an apology on Twitter. When companies started dropping her, Lee then posted an emotional apology video on August 19. However, the apology video seems to have done more damage to Lee’s reputation than done any good because people have blasted her for being insincere in the video. For example, she insisted that the offensive comments were retweets from other people, not tweets she actually wrote. Screenshots taken of the comments show that they were actually tweets from Lee’s account.
In addition, Lee received a lot of criticism for her demeanor in the apology video, with many commenters on the Internet calling her remorse “fake” and her tearful wailing “bad acting.” Her apology video currently has a 92 percent “dislike” disapproval rating from people on YouTube.
Lee’s close friend Manny MUA has also felt the sting of a massive public backlash. His association with Lee and his refusal so far to publicly comment on her offensive remarks have caused him to lose more than 313,000 subscribers (from August 15 to August 28, 2018, according to Social Blade) and announce that he is taking a break from social media. His YouTube subscriber base is barely hanging on to a range of 5 million.
Lee’s scandal came on the heels of Manny MUA making an apology video after old footage surfaced of him seeming to mock a female fan by rolling his eyes and laughing at her when she walked past him at a meet-and-greet. The fan, who happens to have a form of autism, had posted a video detailing how hurt she was by the alleged insult. In his apology video, Manny MUA explained that he was not mocking the girl but was embarrassed because she had bypassed him to hug fellow makeup guru Jeffree Star. Manny MUA’s apology video also has a majority of “dislikes” on YouTube.
Manny MUA also lost a lot of goodwill in July 2018, when his company Lunar Beauty botched sales of its first palette, Life’s a Drag, by mistakenly giving refunds to some PayPal customers after the customers received what they purchased. In an embarrassing PR move, Lunar Beauty then sent an email to those customers to inform them of the error, and asked them to send the money back. It’s unknown how many of the customers actually complied with that request, but the mistake was no doubt a costly one for Lunar Beauty.
Lee isn’t the first social-media beauty guru to have been hit by a scandal over offensive remarks made years ago. In 2017, Jeffree Star (a former friend of Lee and Manny MUA) was slammed when videos from 2009 showed him making racist comments, including using the “n” word and a video where he suggested throwing battery acid on a black woman’s face so her skin would be light enough to match shades of foundation.
Star, who owns his own eponymous makeup company, made an apology video where he said, in part: “In these videos, I say some really disgusting, vile, nasty and embarrassing things … I look at them and I see them resurface and it makes me sick to my stomach because I do not know who that person was . . . the person that said those horrible vile things, that person was depression, that person was just angry at the world, that person felt like they were not accepted, that person was seeking attention.”
Star, whose makeup is sold worldwide and at U.S. retailers such as Morphe and Beautylish, did not suffer any significant damage to his career, as his business partners continued to work with him. The difference between what happened to Star and what happened to Lee comes down to timing and the perception of sincerity.
In Star’s case, he addressed the scandal right away, and the feedback that he got from most people who commented on his apology video was that his apology seemed sincere, and people believed that he had evolved into a better person since those racist videos were made. Star has also gotten ahead of any other potential scandals by teaming up with with fellow YouTube star Shane Dawson to do a series of confessional videos where Star reveals secrets from his past, including his history of self-mutilation.
However, the #MeToo movement has ushered in sweeping changes in how people are punished for offensive comments and behavior, so if Star’s racism scandal had happened in 2018, he might not have recovered as quickly, even with the best apology.
Star has famously feuded with other beauty gurus such as Kat Von D and Too Faced co-founder Jerrod Blandino. But Star’s videos that show him self-exposing his vulnerabilities have endeared him to fans, and what appears to be his sincere ownership of his flaws has apparently made him more “forgivable” than the beauty gurus who are more reluctant to own up to their mistakes.
Kat Von D, who became famous as a tattoo artist on reality shows “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink,” started her Kat Von D Beauty company in 2008. In June 2018, she faced major backlash when she posted on Instagram that she and her husband would not be vaccinating their son because they believe that vaccinations are dangerous. Von D lost thousands of subscribers on Instagram, the social-media platform where she has the most followers (about 6.6 million), but she held firm and did not make an apology. According to Social Blade, in recent weeks she hasn’t been losing Instagram followers, but she hasn’t made any significant gains either.
Social media’s influence in the beauty and fashion industries cannot be under-estimated, as numerous beauty influencers have become multi-millionaires based on how they market themselves on social media, not from having any experience or training in the industry. The biggest example is reality TV star Kylie Jenner of Kylie Cosmetics, who has a net worth of $900 million, according to Forbes.
Beauty influencers with millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram usually command “sponsorship” fees to give positive reviews or recommendations of products. Those fees can be upwards of $60,000 to $80,000 for a YouTube video or $20,000 to $30,000 for an Instagram post. A typical beauty influencer posts hundreds of videos and photos a year, so it’s easy to see why people want a piece of the action to get rich.
With all that money to be made and with competition so fierce to gain new followers/subscribers, the gossip that has swirled around social-media beauty influencers has exploded and spawned a growing number of YouTube channels specifically created to cover the drama around these beauty influencers. The need to expose these influencers’ pasts in a tabloid-like manner is a sign of how much things have changed in how people react to YouTube stars.
In August 2018, a group photo of social-media beauty influencers Lee, Manny MUA, Gabriel Zamora and Nikita Dragun showing their middle fingers with the caption “Bitch is bitter because without him we’re doing better” caused an uproar on social media because people speculated that it was an insult aimed at Star. All of this “drama” over one photo actually caught the attention of several media outlets such as Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Vox and Clevver News. Zamora also came under fire after it was exposed that he used the “n” -word racial insult in a past tweet. In an apology video on YouTube, Zamora said he was sorry for his past racial slurs. Zamora also admitted to adding the derogatory caption to the group photo without the other photo subjects’ knowledge, and that the caption was meant as an insult to Star, who accepted Zamora’s apology in a separate video. In the video, Zamora publicly ended his friendship with Manny MUA, whom he called “toxic.”
The apology worked for Zamora. After he posted his video on August 21, he gained 341,000 YouTube subscribers in one week, with more than 204,000 gained on the day after the video was posted, according to Social Blade. In the week before posting the apology, he lost more than 6,700 subscribers. As of this writing, Zamora has 778,700 subscribers on YouTube.
Reality TV has spawned its share of “15 minutes of fame” stars, but YouTube stars are a different breed. The biggest difference between today’s YouTube stars and today’s reality TV stars is that YouTube stars don’t have to rely on being cast in TV shows to keep their fame going. Unless they do something that gets them kicked off of YouTube and kills their careers, YouTube stars will have their YouTube channels, which they control, as their way to get the fame and money that most people don’t have. But as Lee, Manny MUA, and others have learned, with that fame comes the scrutiny of people who can’t wait to expose more scandals.
Forbes has published its 2018 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, and what’s notable about this year’s list of 60 women is that four of the seven new entries on the list are entrepreneurs from the fashion and beauty industries: Anastasia Soare, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian West and Huda Kuttan. The women eligible to be on the list are U.S. citizens who founded a company that is headquartered in the United States. All net-worth figures are estimated by Forbes, as of July 10, 2018.
Here’s a summary of the moguls from the fashion and beauty industries who made it onto the list:
The Billionaire Moguls
Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap Inc., is ranked at No. 8, and has an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion. Gap Inc. is the parent company of such fashion retailers as Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Intermix, Weddington Way and Athleta. Although Gap Inc. has been hit hard in recent months with closures of many of its stores, don’t expect Fisher to lose her billionaire status anytime soon.
Tied at No. 13, with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion each, are Forever 21 co-founder Jin Sook Chang and Proactiv co-founders Kathy Fields and Katie Rodan. Forever 21 has successfully extended its youth-oriented fashion brand with the launch of lower-priced retailer F21 Red and the beauty retailer Riley Rose. Proactiv’s winning subscription-based business model, boosted by celebrity endorsements of the company’s skin-care products, has made Proactiv the leading mail-order service for non-prescription acne treatment.
Spanx founder Sara Blakely is No. 21 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion, thanks to her patented invention that changed the way undergarments can shape a body. Also tied at No. 21, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion each, are Alex & Ani founder Carolyn Rafaelian (who has a majority stake in the accessories company) and Anastasia Soare, who built a cosmetics empire with her Anastasia Beverly Hills brand.
The Veteran Millionaire Moguls
Most of the women on the list have companies that are more than 10 years old. Some have literally made their fortunes by their names, since their names are the same as their companies. They include fashion designer Tory Burch (No. 29 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $800 million); fashion designer Vera Wang (No. 34, net worth of $630 million); jewelry designer Kendra Scott (No. 40, net worth of $500 million); and fashion designer Donna Karan (No. 43, net worth of $470 million).
The Upstart Millionaire Moguls
Fashion and beauty moguls on the list who have companies that are less than 10 years old owe most of their marketing success to TV and social media. With the help of mother/manager Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner (No. 27 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $900 million) parlayed her reality TV fame and social-media savvy into the Kylie Cosmetics company, which was founded in 2016. Kylie’s half-sister and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” co-star Kim Kardashian West (No. 54, net worth of $350 million) has made most of her fortune from reality TV and licensing her name to video games, but Kardashian West’s fashion/beauty ventures have contributed significantly to her wealth. KKW Beauty, the cosmetics line that Kardashian West launched in 2017, had $100 million in sales in its first year, according to Forbes.
Huda Kuttan (No. 37, net worth of $550 million), who started off as a makeup artist, became a beauty blogger in 2010, and then used that Internet notoriety to launch the Huda Beauty cosmetics company, which she co-founded with her sisters in 2013. Jamie Kern Lima (No. 44, net worth of $440 million) used to be a TV reporter, but transitioned into the beauty industry by founding It Cosmetics in 2010, when she first began selling the company’s products on QVC. In 2016, she sold the company to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion, while still retaining leadership of It Cosmetics, making her the first female CEO of a L’Oréal-owned company
The following is a press release from Kat Von D Beauty:
This year, Kat Von D Beauty celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a limited edition collection of eight products for eyes, lips and face that are vegan, cruelty-free and dripping in gold. The curated mix of products range from throwback favorites like the all-star icon Tattoo Liner to new classics like Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Gold Skool. The collection launched online on Cinco de May (May 5), and sold out almost immediately. Now, you can shop the Kat Von D 10th Anniversary Collection in Sephora stores and Sephora inside JCPenney, while supplies last.
Kat Von D Beauty’s 10th Anniversary collection is one-of-a-kind: it was inspired by Kat’s 10th Anniversary muses – men and women who redefine beauty and strength. Each muse’s name can be found on the 10th Anniversary eyeshadow palette, and you can watch their full stories unfold on Youtube.com/KatVonDBeauty.
Kat Von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
“I wanted to tell the story of @katvondbeauty through 10 of my modern-day muses. These 10 muses have blessed me with so much inspiration, not just with their surface beauty, but for what they contribute to the world through their art.” – Kat Von D
Originally launched as a collection of four red lipsticks at Sephora (which sold out immediately), today Kat Von D Beauty has grown to over 350 SKUs sold in 35 countries, winning numerous industry awards along the way for product performance and innovation. Through it all, Kat’s core mission of delivering accessible, high performance, vegan and cruelty-free makeup remains the same. Dedicated to fans across the globe, the collection pays homage to the brand’s humble beginnings, while sharing a glimpse of what’s to come over the next decade.
Kat von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
10th Anniversary Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black ($20) – A fan and industry favorite – and one of the most awarded liquid liners – in exclusive gold packaging.
10th Anniversary Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick in Sante Sangre($19) – One of Kat’s favorite shades dressed up in collectible gold studs.
10th Anniversary Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Gold Skool ($22) – A new, exclusive shade of Kat’s long-wear, weightless formula with a liquid-crystal finish.
10th Anniversary Metal Crush Highlighter in Gold Skool ($30) – A single shot of gold-drenched shimmer that you can use anywhere.
10th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette ($52) – 16 bold, colorful shades in matte, metallic and shimmer finishes, with names inspired by the 10 campaign muses and limited-edition packaging featuring new artwork drawn by Kat herself in celebration of the 10th anniversary.
10th Anniversary Makeup Brush Collection ($125) – The essential tools to help unleash your creativity with limited-edition gold-tone handles.
10th Anniversary Train Case ($150) – A roomy case with tons of space for your makeup stash, decorated with Kat’s original artwork.
10th Anniversary Signed Vault ($348) – Extremely limited quantities of this ultra-special vault are available only on Katvondbeauty.com.
The anniversary campaign features 10 muses of all backgrounds, ages and skin tones, who represent the many faces of Kat Von D Beauty. These are the artists, poets and lovers. The insiders and the outsiders. But if you really want to know who Kat Von D Beauty is, all you gotta do is look in the mirror.
Leafar Seyer – LA-based musician, founder of the brand Prayers and the Cholo goth music genre. Leafar and Kat Von D married on February 21, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Sylvia – Kat von D’s mother. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Malice – LA-based dancer, performer, outspoken feminist, and founder of clothing and accessories brand Malicious Creatures. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Egypt – Poet and spoken word artist known for her honest, expressive pieces about raw human experiences. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Melanie – Berlin-based supermodel blazing her own path by accepting her authentic self. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Adele – London-based milliner, artisan designer, published illustrator, and the creator of some of Kat’s favorite berets and sunglasses. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Alexandra – A true original who is all about the use of bold, unapologetic color in her clothing designs and artistic wigs. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Lala – Copenhagen-based rebel fashion icon, graphic liner queen, and muse for designer Rick Owens. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Ashley – Friend and founder of the first and longest running Kat Von D fan club. As a native Canadian, she celebrates her unique cultural heritage. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
Gina – Model and “professional shapeshifter” owns her body modification with confidence, and takes a hardcore approach to her art. (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
#Vegan! Kat’s passion for animals means that all products are 100% Cruelty Free Forever. The Kat Von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection is 100% vegan. Share your looks and find more inspiration at KatVonDBeauty.com, @KatVonDBeauty, #KatVonDBeauty #10YearAnniversary
ABOUT KAT VON D BEAUTY:LONG WEAR. HIGH PIGMENT. FULL COVERAGE.
Kat Von D Beauty was created and launched in 2008. Inspired by the inks of her world-famous tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, Kat created an unstoppable, beloved makeup brand that specializes in long wear, high pigment, and full coverage beauty products that empower you to unleash your inner artist.
In her nonstop pursuit of creating the most perfect beauty products you’ve never imagined, Kat Von D tests and wears everything she makes, drawing endless inspiration from her experience as an artist, tattooer, musician, animal-rights activist, social media leader, and creator. Praised and cherished for her artistry, authenticity, innovation, and quality obsession, Kat Von D is one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the industry.
As a passionate animal-rights activist, Kat Von D is committed to ensuring 100% Cruelty Free beauty and 100% Vegan makeup within her line. In recognition of her work, Kat was the recipient of the Animal Rights National Conference’s Celebrity Animal Advocate Award and named Vegan Celebrity of the Year in 2017. Kat Von D Beauty has twice been awarded Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Company by peta2 in their Annual Libby Awards.
Kat Von D Beauty is distributed in 35 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, South East Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Ireland — exclusively at SEPHORA, Naimies, Debenhams and www.katvondbeauty.com.
ABOUT KENDO
Based in San Francisco, CA, KENDO creates or acquires beauty brands and focuses on developing them into global powerhouses. The portfolio consists of Kat Von D Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty, OLEHENRIKSEN, BITE Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. The name KENDO is a play on the phrase “can do.” What characterizes KENDO is its dedication to product quality, innovation and authentic storytelling. Brands within the KENDO portfolio are distributed in 35 countries worldwide.
Her Universe Star Wars collection (Photo courtesy of Her Universe)
The following is a press release from Her Universe:
Now fangirls can create their favorite light side or dark side inspired beauty look to complement their Her Universe fashions with the first-ever classic Star Wars beauty collection from Her Universe in collaboration with Hot Topic.
The assortment includes new Star Wars-inspired eye shadow and highlighter palette named Hyperspace, Lightsaber-themed make-up brushes (coming soon to Hot Topic) and Lightsaber-themed Lip Gloss (coming soon), bath bombs, a dark side fragrance, and, for those scruffy looking nerf herders, a Chewbacca grooming kit for men. “When I first launched Her Universe in 2010, I shared with the fans that it was a dream of mine to make Star Wars beauty products,” said Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein. “Almost 8 years later, I am finally making good on that promise! To see my idea of a Lightsaber Lip Gloss set come to life is literally my fangirl dream come true!” The Star Wars beauty collection from Her Universe in collaboration with Hot Topic is available now in Hot Topic stores and online at hottopic.com and heruniverse.com.
Kat Von DKat Von D Beauty Brow Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat von D Beauty)
The following is a press release from Kat von D Beauty:
Introducing Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, Brow Struck Dimension Powder, Signature Brow Precision Pencil, and two new brow brushes unlike any others. With three first-to-market waterproof, long-wear, and high pigment formulas in pencil, pomade and powder, these vegan and cruelty-free brow products give you the power to personalize your brows any way you want, in any shade you want!
Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, Brow Struck Dimension Powder, Signature Brow Precision Pencil, Pomade Brow Brush #70 and Powder Brow Brush #75 are available April 20, 2018 on Katvondbeauty.com, Sephora.com, and in Sephora and Sephora inside JCPenney stores.
Brows are uniquely personal. To create her own distinctive bold brow, Kat used Tattoo Liner for years because she couldn’t find a product that delivered the high-intensity color and waterproof long-wear she wanted. Now, she has pushed the boundaries of innovation to create the ultimate brow collection for herself…and everyone! In a sneak peek post on Instagram, Kat Von D lauded, “Are you guys ready for THE BEST bullet-proof long wear eyebrow product of all time?!”
Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade ($19)
Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade (Natural Shades)
This weightless waterproof pomade delivers high-impact, budge-proof and smudge-proof brows that don’t come off until you want them to. This sweat-proof formula is the best brow product for the most intense activities – Kat even tested its stay-put power at a super-sweat-inducing fitness class! Super Brow comes in 7 neutral brow tones, 7 rainbow colors, plus “White Out” and “Bleach” for a total of 16 unprecedented shades that can combine to create over 100 colors for any and every hair color.
Apply 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade with the new Kat Von D Beauty Pomade Brow Brush #70 ($18).The brush’s firm, angled bristles are made from the highest quality synthetic fibers to deliver extreme control and effortless strokes. The tapered brush handle doubles as a mixing spatula to make creating color combinations a breeze.
Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder ($20)
Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder
Create the perfect natural-looking brow with Brow Struck: a unique 3D semi-metallic powder that mimics the natural sheen of real hair for real-deal dimension and volume. This hybrid 2-in-1 primer and powder formula is the first brow powder to deliver waterproof, smudge-resistant brows for up to 12 hours. Use one of the seven brow-toned shades to instantly fill-in and even-out your shape for perfectly full and balanced brows that look great on camera and in real life.
Kat Von D Beauty Brow Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat von D Beauty)
Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade (Photo courtesy of Kat von D Beauty)
Apply this long-wear, high pigment powder with the Kat Von D Beauty Powder Brow Brush #75 ($18). The brush features a unique combed design that actually deposits and blends the powder as it grooms brow hair!
Kat Von D Beauty Signature Brow Precision Pencil ($20)
Kat Von D Beauty Signature Brow Precision Pencil
This ultra-skinny pencil features the first-ever 1 x 1.5mm oval tip, for a microblade look that you control. Signature Brow is all about precision and is perfect for drawing fine lines and hair-like strokes with an artist’s control at any angle. The long-wear, break-resistant formula is extra-hard yet softens on contact with the natural oils of your brow hair for buildable payoff, so you can layer color with confidence to achieve any custom brow look. The built-in spoolie on each of the 7 brow-tone shades lets you groom and blend with ease.
