to Launching a Multi Million Dollar Beauty Brand
An undocumented Afro-Caribbean immigrant who defied the odds to become the CEO and founder of one of the fastest-growing beauty brands, Glamlite Cosmetics.
With just a dream and a $1,900 credit card loan, she launched her business from her bedroom office. Despite being a high school dropout and a stay-at- home mom with no investors, bank loans, or business experience, Gisselle was determined to overcome all obstacles. In just a few years, her brand transitioned from packing orders on her kitchen counter to shattering the glass ceiling as one of the few minority- owned brands to secure partnership deals with world-renowned corporations.
Glamlite Cosmetics has created iconic makeup collections in collaboration with brands such as Kellogg's, Hershey's, Universal Studios, Barbie, Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, and many more. Gisselle's story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of chasing dreams against all odds.
"My dream is for my story to inspire at least one person to believe in themselves and to chase their dreams"
- Gisselle
GLAMLITE
As a survivor of sexual and physical abuse, Gisselle discovered her love for makeup at the age of 11. Makeup became her sanctuary, offering an escape from her harsh reality. Coping with trauma, she found happiness in both overeating and applying makeup.
However, her weight subjected her to relentless bullying and fat-shaming throughout her life. Feeling like she could never fit into an industry that celebrated perfection, Gisselle launched Glamlite Cosmetics in November 2017 with a line of products that she now describes as "extremely boring" and an unsuccessful attempt to fit in.
Within a year, Glamlite Cosmetics was facing bankruptcy as sales declined. Gisselle said "if I'm going to go out of business, I minus well just be myself and create one last product that truly represents me". At that time she was at her heaviest weight, battling depression, and struggling to manage being a full time mom while running a business from home.
She conceived the idea of creating a "pizza inspired eyeshadow palette" based on her favorite food. However, she only had enough funds to cover the full cost of this project.
eating pizza and wearing pizza-themed makeup, this campaign broke all beauty industry norms. "I felt free for the first time in my life," she recalls. Little did she know that her life was about to change forever.
The following day, after unveiling her product, Gisselle awoke to the news that her palette had gone viral worldwide. It was being featured in publications like Cosmopolitan and Allure, as well as on ABC News, with tens of thousands of social media reposts. The Pizza Palette sold out within 48 hours, desperate to fulfill the tens of thousands of orders, she had to immediately hire employees for the first time.
She launched multiple food inspired makeup products which sold out immediately due to her innovative packaging and unique themes. With each order, a note was attached "Don't be afraid to be yourself".
"Glamlite Cosmetics: Creating an unforgettable experience every time a customer unboxes our product"
- Gisselle
Gisselle, the young girl who grew up in NYC on a $16,000 yearly household income, barely enough for groceries, faced constant ridicule for her struggle with English suddenly caught the attention of some of the world's biggest food brands, who were moved by her journey and wanted to collaborate with her brand. She found herself honored with opportunities to collaborate with her favorite brands. Following her partnership with Kellogg's, she began receiving calls from TV studios offering collaborations to create makeup inspired by her beloved TV characters.
