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Out of 1.7 million Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultants worldwide, a Riverton woman now ranks among the top 1 percent. Gladis Camargo reached that pinnacle by targeting a segment of the Utah population that had previously been ignored.
Mary Kay is all about skin care, makeup and even pink Cadillacs. But to Gladis Camargo, Mary Kay has come to symbolize her American Dream.
Camargo and her husband emigrated from Colombia to the United States 20 years ago. She said she could only find work that involved hard labor. "We did tough labor that I wasn't really used to, and so then I decided that I would start my own business."
Camargo enjoyed a career as a fashion designer in Colombia and decided to start a wedding planning business in California. However, the hours were long and stressful. Then she discovered the world of Mary Kay in 1994 and recognized an even greater opportunity. She sold her business and started selling and recruiting for Mary Kay full time.
When her family moved from California to Utah in 1998, she started her Mary Kay career over. Camargo said she had no problem finding customers. Back then no one was targeting the Hispanic population. "There were a lot of Spanish-speaking people, Hispanic people here to work with but they just hadn't, in a way, taken advantage of that opportunity," explained Camargo.
Today Camargo's sales force includes 3,000 women, and this year they will generate $2 million in revenue. Her cut averages $20,000 a month.
She attributes her success to a simple formula she learned from Mary Kay herself. She says, "I've always put God first in my life and then my family and then my career. I like to show people and let them know that faith is a big part of a career."
Camargo believes it is important for Hispanic women to seek out opportunities and recognize their potential. Her success is inspiring many, including her daughter.
Karen Bohorquez is also a Mary Kay consultant. She said she can't help but boast about her mother's achievements. "She has shown me that anything is possible and you can accomplish whatever you dream, as long as you have a constant work ethic," Bohorquez says.
Gladis Camargo will be recognized for her career accomplishment at Mary Kay Inc.'s annual seminar held in July in Dallas. She will also receive a special edition pink Cadillac Escalade.
