Entrepreneur. Born Chaja Rubinstein in Krakow, Poland, she was the founder of the Helena Rubinstein Cosmetic Company, which made her the first self-made female millionaire. She emigrated from Poland to Australia, in 1902 and soon began to make her jars of beauty cream that sold to enthusiastic buyers. She eventually moved to Paris, where she opened a salon in 1912, there she started doing makeup for models and the shop’s operation become an international enterprise. Relocating to New York City, she opened a cosmetics salon in 1915, that became the forerunner of a chain throughout the country. She took on the manufacturing and wholesale distribution of her products, establishing salons, spas and outlets in almost every manger city. By 1959, the Rubinstein Cosmetic Company, represented the U.S. cosmetics industry as the leader in the International trade market. She died at age 92 in New York City and the Helena Rubinstein Company was sold to Colgate Palmolive in 1973. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)