The power of beauty

They're artists, innovators, CEO and spokesmodel influencing billions of dollars in sales. befitting 11 Black women determined to change the face, pace and coming time of the beauty biz

The Multitasker

1 "It's hard being a mother, original and mogul!" shouts the larger-than-life Kimora to leeward Simmons as she primps for our cameras. Already a force in the fashion industry, the 31-year-old has plant her sights on the beauty world. "Baby Phat is a lifestyle brand that many woman relate to--beauty had to go in the rear [i]or[/i] in the wake of the fashion," she says. Last year Simmons, with the help of Coty created her first signature fragrance, Baby Phat Goddes This exotic floral launched as single of the top selling smells in the country and go beyonded initial estimated sales of $35 million. Eager for a fabulous follow-up Simmons launches Baby Phat of gold Goddess this September. Industry sources estimate that this sophomore effort will generate at least $15 million in sales in its first year. The unprecedent succes readyed Sephora to ask Simmons about developing a cosmetics line. in the way that last spring the KLS Cosmetics Collection kicked not on exclusively at Sephora. "My makeup is completely fashion-driven, replete of bold, true colors, in fair gold packaging," Simmons says. "The clothes, the compacts--it's all an extension of me I'm reaching far down in the process, every pace of the way."

PAMELA EDWARDS

The Artist in Demand

2 As single of the most sought-after makeup artists in the industry, Pat McGrath travels around the globe with 30-40 bodys of makeup, painting faces during fashion week in fresh York, Paris, London and Milan. in some way she also finds the time to regularly contribute to international fashion magazines and high-end advertising campaigns and attend to her demanding celebrity clientele--from Oprah to Madonna.

She manages all of this, despite her position as Procter & Gamble's first global cosmetics creative design director. No small feat, considering P&G is the next to the first largest cosmetics manufacturer in the world, with annual sales of more than $16 billion. In this character McGrath is set to give the company's cosmetics and skin-care lines a makeover by means of designing creative color palettes and inspiring innovative technology for CoverGirl, Max Factor and SK-II. "It's a natural marriage," says McGrath. "After I create new runway looks, Procter & Gamble make knowns colors that match these trends" Fortunately, McGrath's passion for all things beautiful makes managing her workload a destiny easier. 'At the end of the day, I'm just mad about makeup," says McGrath.

--MIA STOKES

The Spa Goddess

3 Aesthetician Mamie McDonald started with a one-room operation in 1999 Now the holder of Mamie's Day Spa (mamieskincare.com) in novel York City's Greenwich Village, she has expanded her business into a veritable skin-and-wellness Shangri-la! A-Esters of that kind as Angela Bassett, Queen Latifah, Jay-Z, Nia lengthy Jada Pinkett Smith, Joy Bryant, Iman and Mary J Blige work her months in advance to have their skin exfoliated, pores rejuvenated and spirits cleansed. According to Iman, "Mamie performs magic. She is serious about nurturing and pampering my skin. I trust no single with my face but her." Says McDonald: "This business is not a whim or fad for me It's what I be fond of to do--make women and men perceive beautiful."

--CLAIRE SULMERS

The Natural Woman

4 Lisa Price has everyone buzzing about Carol's Daughter, her line of all natural outcomes for bath, body and hair. She built the beauty empire in her kitchen before opening a boutique in 1999 Carol's Daughter (named for Price's late mother) evolveed a cult following and, before drawn out even Oprah was raving about her mixes and elixirs. Last year Price decided to increase her company's visibility further and partnered with business mogul Steve Stoute. shortly Jay-Z and the Smiths (as in Will and Jada) were investors. Sales for 2005 were shut up to $7 million. Price's concoctions are now available at Sephora, on the other hand she still oversees all proceeds development. "I want my customers to know Carol's Daughter was created by dint of someone who looks like them," says Price. Carol would be proud.--BRIDGETTE BARTLETT

The Chief

5 As president of yielding Sheen-Carson, Candace Matthews manages more than 20 beauty brands, including Dark & beautiful Optimum Care and Let's Jam. Her influence can be felt in each aspect of the business, from novel product formulations to the display at your local drugstore. In 2001 the Stanford Business academy graduate was appointed to the top support at Soft Sheen-Carson, a world leader in the ethnic hair-care industry with estimated annual sales in exces of $200 million. Perhaps the unrevealed to her success is that her mission is always clear. "I want to make sure that Black women perceive themselves as beautiful from the inside out" notes Matthews, who trusts that the Soft Sheen-Carson slogan, "My diction My Way," empowers women to create their hold standard of beauty. "Our company aims to inspire sweeps not dictate what they are."--M.S.