Despite a new guard of women-led start-ups challenging the beauty industry, the corporate world of Big Business Beauty remains a fairly male-dominated environment. But there are glimmers of hope proving women can get ahead at the giants built on our spending power, and no one exemplifies that more Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle.
For more than 16 years, Nelson-Bogle has climbed the corporate ladder at L'Oréal, working on various brands under the company's umbrella. She began as a group manager for L'Oréal Paris Skin Care's Canadian market in 2004, making stops along the way in the marketing departments for La Roche-Posay, Maybelline New York, and L'Oréal Paris Cosmetics. Now, as the deputy general manager for L'Oréal's entire U.S. portfolio, she helps lead all the major messaging behind the brands. She knows what women want when it comes to beauty, and she’s pushing back against the industry’s status quo.
“Women are defined by so much more than just their age or background, and we want this to come across in everything we do,” Nelson-Bogle tells Glamour. The core of every L'Oréal Paris campaign is the brand’s slogan “Because you’re worth it,” which the exec says has gone beyond a tagline to become a promise to empower women. It's a mission that's incredibly personal to Nelson-Bogle; to her, it means showcasing women from all walks of life, particularly when it comes to aging and skin tone. "I know when you recognize and realize your worth, it’s a powerful thing," she says. "I hope to help instill this sense of worth in others."
One of the ways she leads the charge in this is through L'Oréal Paris's Women of Worth philanthropy, which each year awards its Women of Worth a $10,000 grant and one honoree an additional $25,000 toward her charitable cause. Over the past 13 years, more than 130 women have been honored. Nelson-Bogle says it's one of the most rewarding parts of her job. "One honoree who stands out is Jaha Dukureh, who was recognized as a Woman of Worth in 2015," she says. "Jaha was recognized for her cause, Safe Hands for Girls, which does life-saving work to protect young girls from female genital mutilation in Gambia, Africa. I’m incredibly humbled and proud of my role in a company that uses our global platform to elevate their inspiring stories and missions."
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Of course, philanthropy is only part of her role—another big part is collaborating to cast the spokeswomen who represent the brand and what it stands for. In an industry where youth is not only the ideal but the standard, it’s still considered a risk to show a woman over 40 as aspirational. But it's a risk Nelson-Bogle is happy to take.
Currently, L'Oréal Paris has nine women over age 40 as brand ambassadors, including Courteney Cox, Helen Mirren, and Vanessa Williams. At 51, Celine Dion was the most recent to join the L'Oréal family. Not only is that a rarity, but Dion hasn’t been boxed into a typical anti-aging ad. Instead, for her first role as an ambassador, she starred in a playful hair color commercial that showcased her personality and incredible fashion sense.
In addition to celebrating women of all ages, Nelson-Bogle is passionate about making sure women of color are represented. One of her proudest moments at the company was expanding the brand’s iconic True Match Foundation line to 45 shades, one of the largest ranges at the drugstore.
“I’m proud to be part of a company that addresses this evolving dynamic and works hard to find a shade for everyone," she says. "And we’ve brought this to life through the most recent True Match campaign, celebrating shade diversity and showcasing the story behind our unique formulation.”
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Nelson-Bogle is also aware that she herself is a rarity in the upper echelons of beauty executives, and she doesn’t take the fact that she’s a woman of color in a position of power lightly. “As a female executive who is also a woman of color, I don’t look around and see a lot of women like me, so I know we still have work to do in paving the way for others,” she tells Glamour. In addition to spearheading diverse campaigns, she’s made a commitment to open doors for other women, including advocating and mentoring them, as well as leading by example. “I’ve learned that lifting each other up is the best part of the job," she says, noting she's proud to have played a role in paving a path for those who came after her to push boundaries, innovate, and excel.
At this point in her career, it would be easy for Nelson-Bogle to feel she’s done enough, but that's just not in her DNA. “As our iconic tagline enters the next decade, I believe we have a responsibility to the next generation and to do more to help build a world worthy of women, and their worth," she says.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.
This year has made one thing clear: Women are showing up, stepping up, and taking what they deserve. From politics to pop culture, women aren't just leveling the playing field—they're owning it. As we ramp up to our annual Women of the Year Summit, we will be highlighting women across industries who do the work every day. Whether it's the CEO of a multinational retail corporation, a James Beard Award–winning chef, or the World Cup champions, here are the women you need to know right now. We've already celebrated the women in sports. Up now: 12 women who are making their mark in the world of beauty, where entrepreneurs, artists, influencers, and legislators are fighting to make the beauty industry—and our culture at large—a more inclusive, truly beautiful place.
See all of the Glamour Women of the Year All Year: Beauty.
