Glamglow’s co-founder Shannon Dellimore last month received the Beauty Pioneer Award at the annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, which was held Nov. 16 at the United Nations.
 
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) was started as a way to empower women and girls to become active participants in the economy by igniting a network of female leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to drive economic expansion and advance communities around the world.
 
Dellimore’s journey is very much a rags-to-riches story.
 
With no background in skin care and just $80 to spend, she and her partner (then-husband Glenn) founded their brand when they sought out a solution for an actor friend who couldn’t find a product to get his skin on-camera-ready in minutes. Dellimore crafted an ingredient-packed mask that soon earned the reputation as Hollywood’s “magic mud.” As it was increasingly being requested by some of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers for use on studio sets and sound stages, Dellimore received a call one evening from a Neiman Marcus vice president who wanted to sell the mask alongside the world’s most prestigious skin care brands. She broke out the arts and crafts supplies that night to create packaging and give the mask a name—Glamglow.
 
In 2011, Glamglow launched in retail stores, and distribution expanded to more than 86 countries with more 6,500 luxury retail stores. In 2015, the company was acquired by Estée Lauder for an undisclosed sum (estimates at the time said the deal was valued between $100-$200 million). Today, Dellimore serves as Glamglow’s creative director. 
 
Happi interviewed Dellimore soon after she received her award.
 
HAPPI: What does this honor mean for you personally and professionally? 
Dellimore: When Wendy Diamond the founder of WED called me to tell me I was receiving this honor, I was speechless.  One of the things I’m most proud of is the fact that I did not come from the beauty industry, I learned everything I needed to learn along the way, I never took no for an answer, I was determined and in 2011 Glamglow turned the beauty industry on its head and reinvigorated the mask category. I hope that my story inspires women and girls around the world to pursue their dreams and to know that you can do anything as long as you have determination and perseverance. Nothing is impossible.
 
HAPPI: You had no real experience in cosmetics before you started your journey—what is one thing you wish you could have told yourself back then?
Dellimore:That you can do it! I had no idea I had what it took to be an entrepreneur. I had a successful career as a paralegal which I really enjoyed, and I was absolutely terrified to quit my job to focus on Glamglow. It took every ounce of courage to take the leap but once I did, I never looked back and I realized that running a company came naturally to me.
 
HAPPI: When was the most challenging time for your business? How did you get through it?
Dellimore: Starting the business was the most challenging time. We gave up our dependable salaries, worked out of our home and literally did everything; I was the shipper, the bookkeeper the sales and marketing director etc.… I did everything, and I didn’t sleep for about four years. It was exhilarating, but exhausting. I just pushed through knowing that everything would be work out in the end.
 
HAPPI: Who do you admire in the business world, and why?
Dellimore: Women! I’m so inspired by the huge number of female entrepreneurs who are making a difference. From women like Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, to Candace Nelson the founder of Sprinkles, to Jen Atkin founder of Ouai and Alli Webb founder of Drybar who are inspiring women around the world to pursue their dreams.
 
HAPPI: What advice do you have for women in beauty today, or women in business in general? 
Dellimore: There are so many great ideas out there, but success only comes through action. If you have the vision for something and the desire to create it, go for it and don’t take no for an answer.