Aging Out or Leveling Up? The Truth About Ageism in the Beauty Industry
By Kim Wileman, Co-Founder & CEO of No-Makeup Makeup
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Being a female entrepreneur in your mid-50’s is complex. When I turned 50, a professional friend who was the same age asked me how long I felt we had to stay relevant. She then clarified the question by asking how long we had to stay relevant in the beauty industry. Ah, new fear unlocked, I had never thought of that and at the time in my career trajectory. I responded that I felt we looked much younger than our age and we were at the height of our careers.
I didn’t think much of it then, but now in my mid-50’s, I sure do today.
Ageism is alive and unfortunately super prevalent in the Beauty Industry.
I must ask: Since when did aging make people irrelevant?
If I am being honest, when I was younger, I would look at older icons in the beauty industry walking around the shows. Now I think “GO YOU!” I love people who are passionate and want to continue to impact an industry they so love.
As a Gen-Xer, our experience is valuable and very much geared towards solving issues. Think “Been there, done that. Here’s what has worked for me in the past.” Many of my peers are exceptional executives, thought leaders, innovators, disrupters, operators – the list goes on. Many companies - large and small- need this type of leadership to help with growth and expansion.
Consider it passing the torch. The best leaders let others shine no matter what generation they are.
The extended teams I work with are made up of people of all ages. They are guided by our experience, and their ideas and knowledge are respected and valued. This makes for an amazing collaboration and often brings magic to projects and brands.
Those who know me know how passionate I am about the beauty industry. I’ve recently founded and launched several new brands like No Makeup Makeup while I continue to consult and advise through Galla Beauty. I am still innovating incredible products that are award winning, and many are geared towards a younger consumer. I’m planning curricula and in many ways I’m just getting started. Being in the beauty industry is a life purpose that I am committed to. Getting older doesn’t make me or anyone else irrelevant or even replaceable.
Aging is a gift. I’m finding that the older I am, I’m more comfortable in who I am and how I present to the world. The ultimate realization for me? I’m confident that I’m truly an expert in beauty; and the beauty (pun intended) of getting older is that I am free to share my knowledge and feelings without second-guessing.
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