Who: UNT alumna Wende Zomnir (’89), founding partner of Urban Decay Cosmetics

What: UNT President’s Lecture Series event

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 17 (Thursday)

Where: University Union Emerald Ballroom, Room 314, at the University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle Drive, Denton

Media: Journalists interested in attending the event and discussing the importance of the President’s Lecture Series with UNT President Neal Smatresk should contact Heather Noel at heather.noel@unt.edu or 940-369-8218. 

BACKGROUND: 

UNT alumna Wende Zomnir (’89) isn't afraid to go bold, both with one of the top-selling makeup brands that she co-founded and her empowering messaging. Zomnir set out to redefine her message of inclusivity and its place in the beauty industry by creating quality cosmetics for girls and boys in bright colors. She created Urban Decay Cosmetics to provide opportunities for self-expression and to promote individuality.

Zomnir’s lecture, “How Urban Decay Disrupted and Transformed an Industry,” and accompanying Q&A session are free and open to the public as part of the UNT President’s Lecture Series. Seating is limited and can be secured by claiming a ticket online.

ABOUT WENDE ZOMNIR

In the mid-90s, when the prestige beauty market was a boring sea of pink, red and beige, two renegades envisioned a Technicolor shake-up. Wende Zomnir (’89) and Sandy Lerner unleashed Urban Decay Cosmetics on the old-school cosmetics industry, filling the void with makeup in an expansive range of colors with shade names that fueled a beauty revolution. 

As one of the original founders of Urban Decay Cosmetics, Zomnir continues to lead the brand and its mission to deliver beauty with an edge, simultaneously providing coveted products and an unexpected point of view. 

Although being creative, doing what she loves and making a difference is important, Zomnir believes her greatest accomplishment is being an employer who creates meaningful work and well-paying jobs. She maintains a unique and creative atmosphere in the office with a strict “dogs-allowed” policy and “self-expression-a-must” dress codes.