The founder of Beauty Pie has spoken about leaving university without finishing her degree and going on to build five businesses in the beauty industry.
Marcia Kilgore may not be a household name, but Beauty Pie is known around the world for its online-only subscription model, which challenged long-established ways of selling cosmetics.
Before launching the brand in 2016, she had already founded several other beauty businesses, building a reputation as a serial entrepreneur in a competitive sector.
“The beauty industry rewards people who understand the customer. A degree helps, but it has never been the only way in.”
She has described her route into business in general terms as practical rather than planned, shaped by hands-on work and a willingness to learn from setbacks.
Beauty Pie's model offers members access to products at prices closer to manufacturing cost in return for a regular fee, an approach that has drawn both loyal customers and imitators.
Industry observers say the brand helped accelerate a wider shift towards direct-to-consumer selling, in which companies bypass department stores and traditional retailers.
The beauty market has become increasingly crowded, with social media and influencer marketing allowing new brands to reach customers quickly.
Founders without formal qualifications are not unusual in the sector, where product knowledge and customer insight often matter as much as academic credentials.
Her earlier ventures spanned several corners of the beauty and wellbeing market, giving her experience of both premium and mass-market customers. Admirers in the industry often point to her knack for spotting gaps in the market and for explaining pricing in simple terms that resonate with shoppers.
Her story is likely to resonate with aspiring entrepreneurs weighing up whether university is the only path to success.
