Watch the CEO talk about her company who employs people with disabilities
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A beauty company that sells lipsticks employs people with disabilities who are unable to find a job.
The New Mexico company named Blush & Whimsy hires people with disability as there are not enough job opportunities for disabled people.
The company was founded by Michaela Brown in 2016, who used to volunteer at a charity for disabled American veterans.
The CEO told Barcroft: “I’ve witnessed the challenges people with disabilities often face finding employment. I think it’s a missed opportunity for so many companies and I wanted to ensure I did not miss out.”
“From the warehouse all the way up to the guest, I wanted everyone to feel empowered, feel essential and feel important.”
Michaela has around 80 people in the warehouse with Down Syndrome, ALS, disabled veterans and elderly who were unable to find a job.
“I do not believe that people with disabilities have enough opportunity”, she said.
Michaela doesn’t even use models as she believes the images of models send the message that you’re not enough.
“In the world of fashion and beauty, the word ‘inclusivity’ just means skin tone. But within my company I wanted it to mean skin tone, race, religion, gender, ability. They are my entire company,” she said.
“In all of our marketing and all of our packaging, you’ll notice that we don’t use models at all. Because even in those images with models, there’s still that subliminal message that says you’re not enough, you need to wear this to look like this model.”
“So for us it was empower you to be who you are and to celebrate that uniqueness.”
Michaela says her business has become successful only because of the people that she has hired to work for her company.
“This year we did the Grammy’s, we did the gifting suite honouring the academy awards and everybody wins gift bags for the Oscar’s and then we are in the official gifting suite for Cannes Film Festival – which is amazing!”
“People are hearing our story, hearing our message and they’re getting it.”
“I made all this happen to tell a story, a message that is so much more than me and my lipsticks. It’s about the change that we’re giving to the world. We’re empowering people to be exactly who they are and not trying to change or force conformity. It’s about celebrating the individual to be the best that they can be and the possibility that can be”, she said.