The BeautyMatter 2026 Award for Changemaker of the Year honors that harder kind of work. More than simply doing good, these people embody change, driven by empathy for others and a desire to make the world a better place.
Having the intention of doing something good is a common desire among leaders and entrepreneurs, but change only happens when intentions are translated into action. And a true changemaker identifies a problem or opportunity to tackle, decides to do something about it, and only stops once they make a difference. Their impact raises the bar and creates new expectations. This is change measured by what it leaves behind, not by how loudly it arrived.
Meet the finalists who have profoundly changed the business of beauty by bringing about positive change linked to equity, health, climate, or sustainability.
Akash Mehta is a British entrepreneur, marketer, and wildlife conservationist best known as the CEO and co-founder of Fable & Mane, the Ayurvedic-inspired hair wellness brand bringing Indian beauty rituals to a global audience. He built Fable & Mane around the belief that modern beauty brands should create impact far beyond the products they sell. While he has helped introduce Ayurvedic-inspired hair wellness to a global prestige beauty audience, his most defining leadership contribution has been embedding philanthropy, conservation, and cultural stewardship into the business' DNA through The Fable Fund, a philanthropic initiative supporting human–wildlife coexistence through community-led conservation efforts.
Dr. Victoria Rose Veytsman is an internationally recognized cosmetic dentist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. She is the founder and CEO of Rose Code, a B Corp-certified brand that treats oral care as a pillar of beauty and systemic longevity. Through her "Code for Change" initiative, she established the ROSE CODE Lab in Songea, Tanzania, providing 832 adolescent girls with direct access to digital education. Since its inception, Rose Code has achieved a net-zero plastic footprint by funding plastic-waste recovery through rePurpose Global. The company contributes 1% of total annual revenue to environmental nonprofits, ensuring a consistent stream of funding for climate restoration regardless of the fiscal year's volatility.
Isaac Shapiro is a social entrepreneur dedicated to building a more accessible world through business. He is the CEO and co-founder of Cleanlogic, a purpose-driven brand of bath and skincare accessories, and the founder of the Inspiration Foundation, a nonprofit focused on increasing employment for individuals with disabilities. At Cleanlogic, he has played a central role in shaping a culture where equitable access and opportunity are embedded in everyday decision-making across hiring, operations, and product design.
Mary Alice Stephenson is a visionary social impact leader, philanthropist, and the founder and CEO of GLAM4GOOD, which she launched in 2016 with a bold vision to transform excess into empowerment. Under her leadership, GLAM4GOOD has impacted more than 170,000 women and families across 35 states, distributing over $80 million in essential wardrobe and personal care items. Her work demonstrates a rare combination of scale, efficiency, and deeply personal impact, setting a benchmark for socially responsible innovation in the fashion and beauty industry.
Shannon McLinden, founder and CEO of FarmHouse Fresh, built the brand on a philanthropic mission to rescue complexions and animals. The brand focuses on sustainable, farm-to-spa skincare through carbon-neutral shipping, zero-waste hydroponic farming, recyclable glass packaging, animal welfare initiatives, and compost made from manure from its farm animal sanctuary. The company’s 10-acre skincare headquarters also serves as a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary, verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Every skincare purchase donates 15% of profit to the sanctuary animals, and customers track product batch codes on their jars to see who they’re helping.
