In honor of International Women's Day, ABLE Cosmetics spoke with 5 influential women to learn more about what makes them feel empowered. From beauty business gurus to policy changers and activists, they shared their own mantras to live by or wise words from people who inspire them. Each of these quotes pack a punch and serve as a reminder to be true to yourself, take risks, and follow where your passion leads.
"Beauty is confidence. Be comfortable in your own skin, be healthy, be vibrant, and strong. Feel great. The secret to confidence is to be who you are."
Bobbi Brown is the world-renowned makeup-artist-turned-entrepreneur founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, a global prestige beauty brand that empowers women to embrace and enhance their individual beauty.
"The day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." – Anaïs Nin
Regan Hoffman currently serves as Officer-in-Charge, U.S. Liaison for the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), playing a key role in working toward ending the AIDS epidemic. She is the former editor-in-chief of POZ Magazine, and has been a lifelong and leading activist in the cause. As a woman living with HIV/AIDS, she has dedicated her career to progress toward and eradicating stigma for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
"My personal mantra, when presented with a new opportunity, is 'if it doesn’t scare the hell out of you it’s probably not worth doing.'" Pamela Baxter is the Founder of Bona Fide Beauty Lab and previously the President/CEO of CHRISTIAN DIOR Couture (LVMH Group). With a prior 23 years at the Estée Lauder Companies as President of the Specialty Group, she has been involved in just about every part of the beauty industry.
"Our ideas are the most powerful tool we have in creating the lives we want for ourselves. Trusting our ideas is a deep expression of self love that is, for me, extraordinarily empowering. This quote from SGI President Daisaku Ikeda resonates deeply: 'An idea whose time has come is powerful indeed.'"
Whitney Blackmon is a model and entrepreneur. Her deepest values —dignity in humanity, family, and friends, and sharing—led her to create The Blue List. TBL is a nonprofit organization that celebrates humanity and simplifies the process of giving back by creating an efficient, on-demand ecosystem that provides menstrual hygiene products to people in need in NYC.
"I've been tested by fire, and the fire lost." – Ann Richards, 45th Governor of Texas
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz was raised the proud granddaughter of immigrants who came to Connecticut from Poland and Greece with nothing but hopes for a better future. Growing up and working on the farm, she and her siblings learned the values of hard work, education, and persistence. The legacy of determination, hard work, and perseverance is what guided Bysiewicz when she was elected to serve in the state legislature. As a state representative, she wrote legislation to ban dangerous “drive-through” mastectomies and ensure that women being treated for breast cancer had proper care. She also fought political patronage and wrote the law to ban lobbyists from giving gifts to legislators.
