With a desire to enrich women’s lives and a keen sense of business, Mary Kay Ash developed her dream company and set the example for others to follow. See the milestones that made Mary Kay a household name and made Mary Kay a global skin care and color products brand.

  • 1960
  • 1970
  • 1980
  • 1990
  • 2000
  • 2010

1960s

1963

On Sept. 13, Mary Kay Ash launches her business and opens her business: Beauty by Mary Kay.

1964

Mary Kay Ash begins an annual tradition of recognizing women’s accomplishments in entrepreneurship while providing inspiration and business education for the coming year. She calls it Seminar.

1969

Mary Kay Ash establishes the career car program, making the iconic pink Cadillac a symbol of success for her Independent Beauty Consultants.

Beauty by Mary Kay opens on Friday, Sept. 13, 1963 in a 500-square foot storefront in Dallas, Texas.

1970s

1976

The Direct Selling Association presents Mary Kay Ash with the Hall of Fame Award.

1978

The Horatio Alger Distinguished American Citizen Award is presented to Mary Kay Ash to celebrate her achievements and to honor how she overcame adversity early in her career.

1979

Mary Kay Ash is profiled by 60 Minutes. 

Mary Kay MK Milestones 1970s

1980s

1984

Mary Kay on People Management, Mary Kay Ash’s influential first book, is published and goes on to become a Wall Street Journal best-seller.

1985

The World Almanac and Book of Facts names Mary Kay Ash as one of “America’s 25 Most Influential Women.”

1988

Mary Kay Ash is featured in the “Great American Entrepreneur” series at the Smithsonian Institute.

Mary Kay celebrates 20 years, and the company’s wholesale sales exceed $300 million (USD).

1990s

1993

As Mary Kay Ash celebrates her Company’s 30th anniversary, the award-winning Mary Kay Museum opens in Dallas, Texas, to preserve and honor her journey in business so it may inspire future entrepreneurs.

1996

Mary Kay Ash establishes the Mary Kay Ash Charitable FoundationSM, now known as The Mary Kay FoundationSM, to provide funding for cancer research and to prevent domestic violence.

1999

Mary Kay Ash is recognized as Texas Woman of the Century.

1993: Mary Kay is listed in Forbes magazine as one of the top 100 countries to work for in the US.

2000s

2000

Lifetime® Television hails Mary Kay Ash as the most outstanding woman in business in the 20th century.

2003

Baylor University names Mary Kay Ash the “Greatest Female Entrepreneur in American History” in an academic study.

2004

Mary Kay Ash is honored as one of the 25 most influential business persons of the past 25 years by PBS and the Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania.

A&E Television Networks airs the biopic documentary “Mary Kay” on the Biography Channel.

2010s

2011

Mary Kay employees, independent sales force members, friends and family come together to carry on Mary Kay Ash’s work by participating in the Company’s first-ever Global Month of Service.

2013

Mary Kay Ash’s Company, which she started with only $5,000, celebrates its 50th anniversary and continues to operate under the same values and principles that she started it with.

2018

Mary Kay Ash’s legacy of empowering women through entrepreneurship lives on in nearly 40 countries around the world.


Mary Kay received the first ever Do Good stamp to recognize companies that contribute to making the world a better place from Ladies Home Journal.