Here, the beauty entrepreneur describes navigating that reality.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
My mom basically worked in a sweatshop, sewing clothes in one of those factories.
When she became a mother, it was hard for her to continue.
My dad was a truck driver whose job eventually moved us to Arizona when I was in grade school.
I was embarrassed to use it in front of my peers.
When I was 13, my dad passed away and my mom was on her own.
She started her own flower shop and we got by on government assistance and food stamps.
Neither of my parents graduated high school and my mom always viewed higher education as the way out.
When it was time for college applications, I always thought I would go to the University of Arizona.
It was close to home and affordable; I was my class valedictorian and they had awarded me scholarships.
On a whim, I applied to NYU, Pepperdine, and The University of Chicago.
I got into all three but high tuition made going to any of them unrealistic.
How could I go to this beautiful school by the beach when my family still lived where we started?
It felt borderline selfish even though my mom gave me her blessing.
The true wealth gap didnt cross my mind until college in California where I studied marketing and communications.
All of a sudden I was surrounded by kids in fancy cars and designer clothes.
I saw a level of wealth I never knew existed.
I mostly hid my past for fear of being judged because it didnt fit the wholesome Pepperdine mold.
I remember one summer I was dating this extremely wealthy boy.
That comment lit a fire in me.
My first real job was at the cosmetics company Colourpop in 2014.
( It was part of Seed Beauty, the incubator that helped launch KKW Beauty and Kylie Cosmetics.)
I started out at $17 an hour, but I advanced quickly.
I became a marketing manager earning $80,000 a year.
I invested my own savings for a minority stake.
It was a huge risk.
After debuting in Ulta in August in 2021, we exceeded $20 million in sales.
I made theForbes30 Under 30 list that year.
I paid off $200,000 in school loans.
I gifted myself the latest Audi.
I grew up watching my mom struggle, so for me, wealth is having peace of mind.
I definitely have that.
But no one talks about that.
Ive always had an unhealthy relationship with money.
It was too scary to understand how it worked.
I grew up with a scarcity mindset, and in a hide-your-money-under-a-mattress jot down of family.
I had to learn the ins and outs, from overspending, to quickly learning my limits.
Im still learning how to invest.
I am honestly uncomfortable giving my mother the full snapshot of my finances.
I hold back what I have and where I am.
I want to give my mom the world.
Eventually my goal is to buy her a home.
My success is my familys success.
I bought my mother a Lexus and bought my brother a Jeep.
My mom is a fashionista so I love to buy her Chanel handbags.
There are other payments and cell phone bills I gladly cover.
Each year we go on a family vacation, something we never did when we were young.
The pressure is on but I signed up for this.
I want to do this for her, for them.
Its that inner burden but also my inner pride.
Read other stories from the issue.
It’s the most impressive accessorizing I’ve seen in years.
Semi-sheer dressing was her co-star once again.
27 finds I’m shopping before they sell out.
