Our story

A history of championing women

Our founder David H. McConnell was a progressive pioneer, an impressive visionary, a courageous game-changer, and above all, a champion of women.

But he didn’t set out to create a beauty company. He was a travelling book salesperson who offered beauty products as a gift. He soon realised customers were more interested in the free perfume samples than the books. 

From a small New York City office, McConnell mixed our first fragrances himself, and recruited a team of women to be sales Representatives. 

It was a radical business model in 1886, but McConnell believed in the power of community, and was passionate about giving women economic freedom. 

David H. McConnell offered women the opportunity to become entrepreneurs: 
131

years before the Women’s March on Washington, and widespread demonstrations surrounding women’s rights.

93

years before Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister in the UK. 

77

years before Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space.  

62

years before the UN Declaration of Human Rights asserted the equal rights of men and women.

46

years before Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic.  

42

years before the first women in the UK had the right to vote.  

17

years before Marie Curie became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize.

“If we stop and look over the past and then into the future, we can see that the possibilities are growing greater and greater every day; that we have scarcely begun to reach the proper results from the field we have before us.”

 

Our founder, David H McConnell

Continuing the legacy of our founder

In the 135 years since we were founded, there has been considerable progress in addressing the inequalities that women face. Nonetheless, inequality, discrimination and limiting stereotypes remain widespread. Gender inequality – in health, in education, in political representation, and in economic participation – persists. 

We believe in a better world for women, which is a better world for all.

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Our Representatives

We were founded to provide an opportunity to earn and learn – bringing economic freedom for our Beauty Advisers so they can shape their own future. We carry this spirit with us today.

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We’re proud of our past, and excited about our future.