Founded Mary Kay Cosmetics

On September 13, 1963, Mary Kay Ash opened the doors of her first store in Dallas, Texas, launching what would become one of the most successful direct-sales companies in American history. After a long career in direct sales during which she watched men she had trained be promoted above her, Ash retired at age 45 and set out to write a book to help women in business.

That manuscript evolved into a business plan. With an initial investment of $5,000 (her life savings) and the help of her son Richard Rogers, she launched the company with nine independent beauty consultants and a small line of skincare products developed from a formula she had purchased from the family of a tanner.

Mary Kay Cosmetics was revolutionary in its structure: it offered women — many of whom had limited access to traditional corporate advancement — the opportunity to build their own businesses, set their own hours, and earn based on merit rather than gender. The company's famous incentive program, including the iconic pink Cadillac awarded to top sellers, became a symbol of achievement and independence for women across the country.

This founding act is considered a sentinel moment in the history of women's entrepreneurship, as it directly challenged the corporate glass ceiling by creating an entirely separate, women-centered economic ecosystem. Today, Mary Kay Inc. operates in more than 35 countries with billions of dollars in annual sales, and Ash's founding vision remains the company's guiding philosophy.