Huda Kattan turned a $6,000 loan from her sister Alya into one of the most valuable creator-led beauty companies in the world. The Iraqi-American founder built Huda Beauty from a 2010 WordPress blog into a global cosmetics brand that once carried a $1.2 billion valuation, survived a bruising round of controversies and a class-action lawsuit, and in June 2025 bought back outside investment to return the company to full founder ownership. As of October 2026, the 43-year-old is back in the CEO seat, launching fragrances, collaborating with Cardi B, and steering the brand through its next chapter.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Huda Kattan |
| Born | October 2, 1983, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (age 43) |
| Background | American of Iraqi descent |
| Education | University of Michigan-Dearborn, finance (2008); Joe Blasco makeup school, Los Angeles |
| Spouse | Christopher Goncalo (married 2009; now Co-CEO of Huda Beauty) |
| Children | One daughter, Nour Giselle (born 2011) |
| Company | Huda Beauty (founder and CEO) |
| Sister brands | Kayali (spun off 2025, run by sister Mona Kattan), Wishful Skincare |
| Net worth | $610 million (Forbes, 2019 self-made women list) |
Early Life and Education
Huda Kattan was born on October 2, 1983, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Iraqi immigrant parents. Her father, Ibrahim Kattan, was an engineering professor; her mother, Susu Al Qazzaz, taught biology. She is one of four siblings: older sister Alya Kattan, younger sister Mona Kattan (who would become her Kayali co-founder), and brother Khalid Kattan.
The family moved often during her childhood: from Oklahoma City to Cookeville, Tennessee, when she was two, and later to Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Kattan has spoken about being bullied for her appearance and ethnicity as a child and finding confidence through makeup. In 2006, the family relocated to Dubai after her father accepted a teaching position there.
She studied finance at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and graduated in 2008. Back in Dubai, she worked in recruiting for Robert Half, lost that job during the Great Recession, and spent a brief period in public relations.
None of it stuck. What stuck was makeup.
From Finance to Makeup Artistry
Kattan enrolled at the Joe Blasco makeup school in Los Angeles to train professionally, then returned to Dubai to work as a freelance makeup artist. Her client list included Eva Longoria and Nicole Richie, and she also worked as a makeup artist for Revlon. The freelance years gave her two things that would matter enormously: technical skill and a front-row view of what the Middle Eastern beauty market wanted but could not find on shelves.
Rise to Fame: The Blog and the Lashes
In April 2010, Kattan started the Huda Beauty blog on WordPress and a companion YouTube channel. The timing was right. Beauty YouTube was still young, and her detailed tutorials, brutally honest reviews, and Dubai-based perspective stood out.
Three years later, she made the leap that changed everything. In 2013, Kattan founded the Huda Beauty cosmetics line with her sisters, funded by a $6,000 loan from her sister Alya. The first product was false eyelashes, launched through Sephora Dubai. They sold out within a week. An early publicity boost came when Kim Kardashian was photographed wearing the lashes.
Building the Empire: Company Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Launches Huda Beauty blog and YouTube channel |
| 2013 | Founds Huda Beauty with sisters, funded by a $6,000 loan from her sister Alya; lashes launch via Sephora Dubai |
| 2015 | Expands into US Sephora stores |
| 2017 | TSG Consumer Partners buys a minority stake (about 16%) at a $1.2 billion valuation |
| 2018 | Launches Kayali fragrance with sister Mona Kattan; “Huda Boss” reality series premieres on Facebook Watch |
| 2020 | Launches Wishful Skincare; steps down as CEO (Nathalie Kristo appointed) |
| 2024 | Returns as CEO; oversees brand redesign and Harrods counter partnership |
| Feb 2025 | Kayali spun off: sold to Mona Kattan and General Atlantic |
| June 2025 | Buys back TSG’s stake; Huda Beauty fully founder-owned again; husband Christopher Goncalo promoted from COO to Co-CEO |
| May 2026 | Announces Easy Bake Intense Eau de Parfum; launch event at Outernet London |
| Sept 2026 | Cardi B “Ultra Snatched” collection launches |
Personal Life
Kattan married Christopher Goncalo in a private Dubai ceremony in June 2009. Their daughter, Nour Giselle, was born in 2011. He has been with the company since the early days and was promoted from COO to Co-CEO in June 2025.
Controversies
- 2015, acne scar post: A post was perceived as mocking another YouTuber’s video about acne scars. Kattan apologized.
- 2018, vaginal-lightening blog post: A Huda Beauty blog post about vaginal lightening was condemned for promoting colorist beauty standards. She apologized publicly and removed the post.
- 2022, Mina Hasan incident: Huda Beauty’s team asked small creator Mina Hasan for permission to share her color-correcting reel “with credit,” then posted a video of Kattan harshly criticizing the technique. Kattan apologized after the backlash.
- February 2026, #BoycottHuda: She reposted a video of Iranian demonstrators burning photos of Reza Pahlavi, drew fierce criticism, and apologized on Instagram Stories, saying she had been ill-informed.
Net Worth
Forbes placed Kattan at number 36 on its 2019 America’s Self-Made Women list with a net worth of $610 million. No current Forbes figure for 2024 to 2026 has been published, so any article claiming a present-day number is working from unsourced aggregator estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Huda Kattan?
Huda Kattan was born on October 2, 1983, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is 43 years old as of October 2026.
What is Huda Kattan’s net worth?
Forbes estimated her net worth at $610 million on its 2019 America’s Self-Made Women list. No current Forbes figure for 2024 to 2026 has been published.
Does Huda Kattan still own Huda Beauty?
Yes. In June 2025 she bought back the minority stake held by TSG Consumer Partners since 2017, returning the company to full founder ownership.
