Huda Heidi Kattan might not be a household name, however, Huda Beauty is a makeup brand that everyone knows and covets. The billion-dollar make-up empire that revolutionised the cosmetics industry was started by none other than Huda Kattan. From starting out as a make-up artist to selling fake eyelashes, the businesswoman now controls over a billion-dollar make-up empire with never-ending products. But how did she reach to this success, and what does she do now? Here’s everything to know about Huda Kattan.
Huda Kattan lost her finance job and started a beauty blog
Huda Kattan was born to parents of Iraqi descent on October 2, 1983, in Oklahoma City, U.S. She attended the University of Michigan and majored in finance. Huda was also employed in a job in the same field. However, she lost her job during the 2008 recession and moved to Dubai to be with her family. But this setback came as an opportunity for Huda. She studied makeup in Los Angeles and worked as a makeup artist. Then she returned to Dubai and started her beauty blog, Huda Beauty Blog.
After she gained a surprising number of followers who loved her tutorials and reviews, Huda saw a promising business in this field. She took a loan of USD 6000 from her sisters and launched a business of selling fake eyelashes. The product was a hit and was praised by even Kim Kardashian. As a result, Dubai Sephora picked it up and sold 7000 units a week, even though they had expected to sell this number of products in a year. In an interview with Vogue, Huda revealed why she had chosen first to sell fake eyelashes and shared:
“My experience as a makeup artist allowed me to spot gaps in the beauty market, and my love for lashes made it a natural choice to kickstart the brand with a line of false eyelashes. They continue to be incredibly popular. ”
Huda Kattan’s beauty empire and net worth
Though Huda Beauty started out in Dubai, the make-up line has expanded globally and has become a business empire. In 2023, Forbes had listed Huda Kattan as the richest American self-made businesswoman. The same report had estimated her net worth at USD 400 million. However, the most up-to-date figures reported by HotNewHipPop suggest that Huda’s net worth is USD 560 million. As per the valuation of her company, the last disclosed figures revealed by Forbes in 2017 stated that Huda Beauty is valued at USD 1.2 billion.
Huda Kattan’s sisters are savvy businesswomen as well
Huda Kattan has two sisters, Alya and Mona. Huda Beauty became a huge success mainly due to their social media marketing. Alya Kattan is the force behind these unique marketing strategies. She manages the company’s social media and digital marketing departments. Mona Kattan, on the other hand, is also an entrepreneur. She launched the Kayali perfume line under Huda Beauty, but after the latter sold their stakes in the company, she is the sole owner. Mona also appeared in a season of Dubai Bling and was the richest contestant on the show.
Huda Kattan’s husband, Christopher Goncalo, is the COO of the company
Huda Kattan married her college sweetheart, Christopher Goncalo, in 2009. The two welcomed a baby girl in 2011 and were later blessed with another daughter. Christopher, of Portuguese descent, serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Co-CEO of Huda Beauty. While Huda Kattan is the face of the cosmetic line and engages with her consumers through social media content and creativity, her husband looks after the logistical aspect. Christopher oversees operations, ensuring the company runs smoothly, allowing Huda to expand the makeup line further.
Huda Kattan’s daughter, Nour Giselle, is a rising beauty influencer
Following in her mother and aunts’ footsteps, Nour Giselle Goncalo has also been showing a promising talent when it comes to content creation and makeup tutorials. She posted her first TikTok video in 2024, and already skyrocketed to popularity. However, with fame also came scrutiny for the makeup empire’s heiress. Netizens started accusing her of getting a nose job. However, Nour posted a video showing her side profile and denied having a nose job, claiming that she was only 14 years old.
Huda Kattan credited her family for her journey to success
Huda Kattan’s journey of establishing a successful make-up line isn’t her’s alone. Huda’s family supported her throughout and is still involved in the management. In an interview with Vogue, Huda mentioned that her family, her support system, had helped her make a name for herself. She shared:
“My family is my support system and is the reason I am who I am today. We always celebrate each other’s successes. It’s natural to have some disagreements from time to time, but the love we have for each other is more important!”
What are your thoughts on Huda Kattan’s journey of establishing her makeup empire? Let us know.
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