I am the child of immigrants who built their lives — and my sister’s and my own — from a humble liquor store. And come Monday, July 18 We’re headed to @ultabeauty ! While I celebrate this honor of going into 750+ Ulta stores across the country I can’t help but think about my family. For it is them and their dreams who allowed me to dream as well. It is my parents and their audacity to leap so that I could soar. It is they who inspired me to bravely navigate these waters. This moment has so much weight. And as I unpack it I delve into my past, where I come from and how I got here. I used to be so ashamed and embarrassed of said store, hiding in the back rooms when someone I knew would visit. It made me feel as if this American Dream wasn’t good enough. I know how much is upset my parents though they never showed it. But it’s through them and their grit, sweat, tears, that I was able to achieve my own American Dream! This moment means everything to an immigrant family. For us, it means being able to transcend. In an essay I wrote today: “It was only through them that I could even think of going into a major retailer like Ulta, and it’s because of them that I don’t fear the unknown. After all, it is my parents – two immigrants who barely spoke English, a couple of dollars in their pockets – who dared to dream big. And it’s because of them that I have the opportunity to dream as well. I hope that when my parents peruse the shelves of Ulta and spot good light on the shelves, they know that this is their legacy as well. This is their life’s journey for other Americans to enjoy. And my greatest hope is that they feel seen. They are celebrated. They are the American dream – and this is also their moment.” This is our moment. Thank you for your support.