Latinas are one of the fastest-growing demographics of women entrepreneurs in the United States, launching businesses at a rate six times higher than the national average and contributing $800 billion annually to the US economy. Despite outspending their peers by 30% on beauty products, there remains a significant opportunity gap in Latina leadership across the beauty industry. Latinas in Beauty aims to close that gap through the launch of the Beauty Bravura Accelerator: A Program for the Business of Beauty, created in collaboration with Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.
Latinas in Beauty is a nonprofit organization focused on cultivating equity and increasing representation for Latina professionals and Latina-owned brands. The three-day immersive accelerator, hosted at Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus, is designed to help emerging Latina talent sharpen their skills and prepare for long-term leadership roles.
“It’s time we see more Latinas in positions of real power—at the top of the executive ladder in the beauty industry, where decisions are made and legacies are shaped,” said Nadine Tapia, founding board member and Program Director of Beauty Bravura Accelerator, in a press release. “We need Latina-founded brands not just represented on retail shelves but championed, invested in, and given the visibility and resources they deserve. Representation isn’t enough—elevation and equity are the goal.”
From September 4-6, beauty founders and professionals will take part in curated networking moments with established brand leaders and retailers. The curriculum includes intensive business courses on marketing, sales, finance, product development, brand building, and supply chain strategy.
“Latina beauty founders aren’t just launching products—they’re reshaping the cultural narrative of beauty with boldness and purpose,” said Emily Perez, founder and Executive Director of Latinas in Beauty, to BeautyMatter. “... What we’re witnessing is a cultural shift: Latina founders are no longer asking for a seat at the table—they’re building their own, inviting the world in, and raising the standard for what beauty looks like and who it serves.”
The accelerator culminates in a final pitch competition, giving participants the chance to secure funding from Latina beauty executives and industry experts. Among the leaders joining the accelerator are Malena Higuera (CEO of NOYZ Fragrances), Alicia Romero (Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Communications at Estée Lauder Companies Inc.), Lizbeth Zuniga (founder and CEO of Acquire Beauty), and Kimber Maderazzo (board member).
To increase access, Latinas in Beauty has partnered with Nordstrom to offer ten full scholarships, covering tuition, travel, and accommodations for selected participants. “This partnership reflects our dedication to supporting emerging talent by providing the resources and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Debbi Hartley-Triesch, Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Beauty, Accessories, and Home at Nordstrom, Inc., in a press release. “We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the participants and the positive impact they will make in the beauty community.”
The Beauty Bravura Accelerator is part of a broader slate of programming Latinas in Beauty is offering this summer to support professional development across the beauty industry. On July 14, the organization partnered with Maesa to host “Magic Incubator Insights,” a virtual session focused on brand-building strategies for early-stage founders. On August 4, it will host the next installment of “Mentor Mondays,” a recurring mentorship series led by Malena Higuera.
“Success, to me, looks like brands rooted in culture and innovation landing major partnerships, hitting shelves, and creating jobs in their communities,” said Tapia to BeautyMatter. “But it also looks like founders who return to mentor others, building a legacy of representation, ownership, and generational impact in beauty.”
Latinas in Beauty’s efforts reflect a larger movement to embed Latina leadership more deeply within the beauty industry through creating year-round opportunities for education and mentorship.