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Trisha Ayyagari Is Redefining Beauty Standards Through Representation, Innovation, and Purpose-Driven Leadership

Image by courtesy of Maybelline

25 Jul '25
By The Shift
25 Jul '25
By The Shift

The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.

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Trisha Ayyagari is the Global Brand President of Maybelline New York, leading the brand’s global strategy and innovation. Since joining L’Oréal in 2005, she has championed inclusive beauty and mental health advocacy through initiatives like Brave Together. Ayyagari holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and resides in New York City.

The Shift:

Who are three women that inspire you?

Trisha:

Shonda Rhimes: She set a precedent in entertainment by casting women of color into leading, heroic roles.  I also just find her a brilliant storyteller who knows how to entertain and get important messages across seamlessly.

Eva Longoria:  Authentically embraces every decade of her life with her personal humor and style.  Proudly Latina, feminist, philanthropist, entrepreneur and storyteller.  She is constantly adding to her resume.  Is there anything she can’t do?

Emma Grede:  Serial entrepreneur, and marketing genius with a persevering personality.  She bets on herself and makes risky decisions to achieve her goals. What she has done for the Kardashian brands is astounding and now she has platforms to elevate other aspiring and budding entrepreneurs. 

 

The Shift:

Who is a woman who has inspired or mentored you, and what lessons from her influence have stayed with you?

Trisha:

My first boss was named Suzana Wray and she remained my mentor for a few years after, until she passed of breast cancer. Suzana was a person who made sure even the smallest person in the room felt heard.  She encouraged risks and allowed for mistakes. She consistently put a spotlight on her teams versus herself. And even in the face of what I’m sure were her darkest moments personally, she remained resilient and fair. The impact she made on me and my own leadership style was significant.

 

The Shift:

What is one defining moment in your career or life that empowered you to create change, and how has it shaped the path you’re on today?

Trisha:

My relationship with beauty started at a very young age – I am Indian, born to immigrant parents.  I loved makeup, but I never saw any reflection or representation of myself from any beauty brands. I struggled for years to accept my skin tone and features. Taking a lead in this industry was my way of ensuring that I could build more self-confidence for future generations. I believe deeply in the power of beauty for self-expression and the joy it can bring to your life – so at Maybelline, we are constantly evolving our talent, expertise, and technology to meet the needs of the changing consumer landscape. There is a strong purpose at the core, but it also has a significant business impact and keeps us on top.

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Trisha Ayyagari is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.