Emily Weiss From The Hills Went On To Start A Major Beauty Company

"The Hills," a spin-off of the hit MTV reality show "Laguna Beach," documented the ups and downs of Lauren Conrad's career as well as personal life in Los Angeles. As the series followed Conrad's time working at Teen Vogue, cameos were made by some of the fashion industry's biggest names. Aspiring fashion moguls also appeared on the show, including then-intern Emily Weiss. Fans may recall that she was called the "Super Intern" in an episode, as she was recognized for her no-nonsense personality, meticulous attention to detail, and strong work ethic.

According to Business Insider, Weiss studied studio art at New York University. During her time at NYU, she secured a part-time internship at Teen Vogue, which is when she had her fifteen minutes of reality TV star fame on "The Hills." Following her 2007 college graduation, Weiss pursued a career in fashion. She had a brief stint working at W Magazine before becoming a fashion assistant at Vogue. For many people, this coveted position would be the pinnacle of one's career. But for Weiss, it was only the beginning, as she went on to launch a major beauty company.

Emily Weiss is the CEO of Glossier, a beauty brand that sells various makeup and skincare items. The seeds of Glossier were planted with her blog Into The Gloss, where she would interview high-profile public figures like Kim Kardashian and Karlie Kloss about their beauty routines, per Business Insider. Kardashian's Into The Gloss feature revealed some of the star's favorite products. She shared, "I always contour my nose, and I love to contour my cheeks—the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit is great for that."

The blog quickly soared in popularity, growing a massive following on Instagram. The account is still going strong with 1 million followers. Into The Gloss was a space for beauty enthusiasts to review products and make recommendations to other readers. The blog became so successful that Weiss left her job as a Vogue fashion assistant to focus on developing it. At the time, Weiss decided to capitalize on her success from Into The Gloss, using product feedback to create a brand that filled gaps in the beauty industry. In 2013, the company obtained $2 million in venture capital funding. A year later, Glossier was officially launched.

Although Glossier is now a billion-dollar empire, building the brand did not come without challenges. In a now-deleted 2019 Instagram post (via CNBC), Weiss wrote, "Baby me in 2014 wasn't sure if we could afford the next hire, didn't know if anyone would like her idea for a beauty company ... and hardly knew a venture capitalist from a bank teller. Emily in 2019 has been through h*** and high water to build an incredible company with incredible people."

Glossier's success comes as no surprise, as the company has stood out with its signature baby pink aesthetic and cosmetics products that feature a less-is-more approach to beauty. The brand's purpose can be summarized in the slogan, which promises to "never cover you up, turn you into someone else, or overcomplicate your routine." Glossier has capitalized on the no-makeup-makeup trend, which has been a hit amongst millennials and Gen Z'rs. As seen on the Glossier website, the products are relatively inexpensive too. For example, their boy brow product, which is top-rated, costs $17. The brand also appeals to some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities. In 2022, Olivia Rodrigo starred in a Glossier campaign, which brought even further exposure to the already well-established beauty line. While the company was once limited to online sales, it now has stores in locations such as New York City, London, and Los Angeles.