Growing up, Mario had worked since the tender age of 12. But at 17, fresh out of high school, he felt the magnetic pull of Manhattan beckoning. Armed with determination, he strode into the very first Sephora store to open its doors in the United States. As he crossed the threshold, the revolving door seemed to spin with promise and possibility.

The dimly lit interior was a sensory feast—the intoxicating scent of perfume mingling with the staff’s sleek black suits and shelves lined with enticing skincare and cosmetics. Mario was transfixed. “Mom,” he declared, “this is where I want to work.” But his mother, perhaps sensing the unconventional path that lay ahead, gently steered him back outside. “No, no,” she protested, “this is not where you want to work.”

But Mario’s resolve was unshakable. He knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that this was his calling. Undeterred by Sephora’s initial rejection, he took matters into his own hands. In the days before personal computers and smartphones were ubiquitous, he made his way to the library, determined to track down a contact at Sephora’s Paris headquarters.

Miraculously, he managed to procure the number of the head of thcompany headix of pluck and naivete, he placed the call. “So-and-so my name is,s blah blah blah,” he introduced himself, his words tumbling out in an eager rush. “I want to work at your company.”

Two weeks later, ensconced in her New York office, the Sephora executive granted Mario an audience. And just like that, at the tender age of 17, he landed the job. His role was simple: to stand by the front door, greeting customers with a sunny “Welcome to Sephora!”

But on his very first day, a woman approached him with a request that would change the course of his life. “Can you please help me choose this lipstick?” she asked. In that instant, standing in the exact spot he still visits today, he experienced an epiphany. Without hesitation, he plucked a lipstick from the display and helped her select the perfect shade. As she smiled back at him, her face lighting up joyfully, Mario felt a spark ignite.

From that day forward, he immersed himself wholly in the world of beauty and makeup. It was more than just a job; it was a love affair. He had found his true passion, his reason for being. The magic of transformation, the power, and making someone feel beautiful and confident with a simple swipe of color was acting.

Mario’s talent blossomed as he honed his craft, experimenting with textures and shade techniques. He had a natural gift for enhancing features, for maki andople feel seen and celebrated in their own skin. Word of his skill spread, and soon he was one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the business.

But through it all, Mario never forgot his roots. He remained humble and grateful, always remembering that first day at Sephora, the moment destiny clicked into place. He had found his calling, his way of making the world a little brighter, one face at a time. And he knew, with unshakable certainty, that he was exactly where he was meant to be.