Why This Woman is the Youngest g Self-f Made Billionaire

Women love it, celebs swear by it and it all started with a crisis! Meet Sara Blakely—the founder of Spanx.

When we asked Cosmo women about their ultimate wardrobe staple, we were a tad surprised with the results. Right on top was the body shaping, fat sucking pantyhose— Spanx. It is no wonder then that its founder, Sara Blakely, is the youngest and the latest entrant in the Forbes’ World billionaire list. She started her journey ground up, and her rags-toriches story exemplifies true spirit.

How the journey began

Sara was juggling being a sales trainer by day and performing stand-up comedy at night, when one day the idea of a footless pantyhose struck her, more out of necessity than fashion. But she didn’t have a clue about being an entrepreneur. Without any advertising or manpower, she put her entire savings into the project and became a one-woman machine— modelling, pitching, promoting and selling her idea to the world.

Popularity calling!

Sara hit jackpot when Oprah Winfrey discovered Spanx and featured her on Oprah’s favourite things show in 2000. Fast forward to 2012 and Spanx is sold in 11,500 stores worldwide. It’s not without a reason that Kim Kardashian calls it her ‘best friend’.