Alumni

Kia Ragland Wins FGI Beauty Award

FIDM Graduate and Smashbox Cosmetics's Global Product Development Manager Kia Ragland (pictured above, fifth from left) won a Rising Star Award from Fashion Group International last week. The 20th Annual awards ceremony, held at Cipriani in New York City, celebrates emerging forces in fashion, beauty, home, and retail. Whoopi Goldberg provided the keynote address.

"Words can’t express how I felt when I was named the winner," Kia says. "I was in such a shock that it took me a second to register that they announced my name as the winner. My speech even started with 'This is the moment when I wish I practiced my speech more because I didn’t think I was going to win.'" Kia said it was a wonderful feeling to have her hard work and passion recognized.

Linda Wells presented the Beauty Corporate award to Kia, who will become a FGI member. Estée Lauder Companies will feature Kia on their company website. Congratulations!