Courtesy of Library of Congress

Helena Rubinstein 1870-1965

Helena Rubinstein was one of the greatest female entrepreneurs of the 20th century. Born Chaja Rubinstein in Poland, she immigrated to Australia in 1902, where she opened a cosmetic shop that sold face cream. By 1908, she had earned $100 thousand and founded one of the world's first cosmetic companies. At the beginning of World War I, Rubinstein moved to the United States, where she expanded distribution to include department stores. In 1953, she established the Helena Rubinstein Foundation to support organizations focused on health, rehabilitation, and research, which has expanded to support education, community services, and the arts. Rubinstein also founded the esteemed Helena Rubinstein Pavilion of Contemporary Art in Tel Aviv, Israel.