WHO IS SARA BLAKELY'S

Sara Blakely is an American businesswoman and philanthropist, best known as the founder of Spanx, a popular line of shapewear for women. 

Blakely was born on February 27, 1971, in Clearwater, Florida, USA. She grew up in a middle-class family and attended Clearwater High School and her father, John Blakely, was a trial attorney, while her mother, Ellen Ford, was an artist. Blakely attended Florida State University, where she studied communications, but she did not graduate, and instead worked a series of odd jobs before eventually landing a job as a door-to-door fax machine salesperson.

In 1998, while getting dressed for a party, Blakely realized she didn't have the right undergarment to provide a smooth, flattering look under her white pants. She cut off the feet of her control top pantyhose and created her own version of shapewear. After patenting her invention and raising initial capital from family and friends, Blakely launched Spanx in 2000 with a line of footless pantyhose. The company grew rapidly, and by 2012, Spanx had expanded to include over 200 products, including leggings, bodysuits, and activewear.

Career Before Spanx:

After college, Blakely worked a variety of jobs, including being a Disney World attraction greeter, a stand-up comedian, and a salesperson for office supplies. In the late 1990s, she worked as a door-to-door salesperson for a company that sold fax machines. It was during this time that she came up with the idea for Spanx.

The Invention of Spanx:

One evening in 1998, Blakely was getting ready for a party when she realized she didn't have the right undergarment to provide a smooth, flattering look under her white pants. She decided to cut off the feet of her control top pantyhose to create a smooth look under her pants. The idea for Spanx was born.

Blakely spent the next two years developing her idea and creating a prototype. She filed for a patent on her invention in 2000 and used $5,000 in savings to launch Spanx. She initially sold her footless pantyhose to department stores in Atlanta and eventually expanded to other stores across the country.

Growth of Spanx:

Spanx quickly gained popularity, and Blakely expanded the product line to include other shapewear items such as bodysuits and leggings. By 2007, the company had over $100 million in revenue and had expanded internationally.

In addition to shapewear, Spanx also launched a line of activewear in 2015, and in 2017, the company launched a line of denim jeans.

Philanthropy:

Blakely is also a noted philanthropist and founded the Sara Blakely Foundation in 2006. The foundation supports female entrepreneurs through financial grants and training programs. The foundation has donated millions of dollars to charities and organizations that support women.

In 2013, Blakely became the first self-made female billionaire to sign The Giving Pledge, a commitment by wealthy individuals to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

Recognition and Awards:

Blakely has been recognized for her business achievements and philanthropy. She was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and was featured on Forbes' list of America's Richest Self-Made Women from 2016 to 2022.

Blakely has also received numerous awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002 and the National Retail Federation's Innovator of the Year Award in 2016.

Personal Life:

Blakely is married to entrepreneur Jesse Itzler, and they have four children together. They live in Atlanta, Georgia. Blakely is known for her positivity and humor and has said that her goal is to make people laugh every day.

Today, Sara Blakely is a billionaire businesswoman and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in the world. In addition to running Spanx, she is a philanthropist and founder of the Sara Blakely Foundation, which supports female entrepreneurs through financial grants and training programs. She is also a regular speaker and author, and has been featured in numerous publications and television shows, including Forbes, Time Magazine, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.