L’Oréal Paris announces the ten Women Of Worth honorees; Yasmine Arrington Brooks, Mizpah Brown-Rich, Keely Cat-Wells, Amy Bowers Cordalis, Sloane Davidson, Lynne B Hughes, Dr. Anita Ravi, Cristina Rodriguez, Gloria Umanah, and Olivia Zhang.
Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris
L’Oréal Paris showcases its 20th anniversary initiative, Women of Worth. The program is adding ten 2025 honorees to the existing 190 women recognized over the past two decades. L’Oréal Paris recognizes these extraordinary women who embody leadership, service, and innovation as they drive transformative change across the United States through their non-profit organizations. Women of Worth has provided millions of dollars in grants, offered mentorship through educational programming, and provided national media visibility by amplifying grassroots activism for two decades.
Women Of Worth: Because You’re Worth It
Women of Worth continues to embody the spirit of its tagline, ‘Because You’re Worth It’; however, Helen Mirren, award-winning actress and L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, flips the iconic tagline, stating in an interview about the program: “I use ‘because you’re worth it’ to encourage others. That’s what the Women of Worth do—they go beyond themselves to tell the communities they serve: you’re worth it. I had no understanding of what some women are capable of and what they’ve achieved. And every year, it’s an absolute revelation. It’s exciting to see,” said Mirren as she shared how the program has been revelatory for her, opening her eyes to the extraordinary work women are doing in their communities. “It’s very moving and such a positive experience to witness what humanity is capable of, but certainly what women are capable of in leadership roles, in creating community initiatives, and in the extraordinary work that they do on so many different levels,” explained Mirren.
“They have enormous energy, and they have heart,” saId Helen Mirren, award-winning actress and L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, when asked about this year’s Women of Worth.
Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris
The Women of Worth have a common characteristic, according to Mirren’s experience with meeting the honorees over time. “They (the honorees) would all say to start small. Address the immediate need you see and build from there. That’s their common thread—spotting a need and asking, why not help? None of them began thinking globally. It was always a simple, one-to-one human connection that sparked everything,” said Mirren.
Women Of Worth Transforms L’Oréal Paris’s Brand Identity
“The Women of Worth program has transformed what it means for L’Oréal Paris to be a beauty brand,” said Laura Branick, President of L’Oréal Paris USA, in an interview. She continued, “The phrase exemplifies the notion that the company’s purpose extends far beyond beauty products: it’s about empowerment, representation, and celebrating women who use their voices to uplift others. As the number one beauty brand worldwide, we have a responsibility that we take seriously. We want to have an impact on the role of women in society that goes beyond great products.” Branick explained that the program represents the evolution of the iconic 1971 ‘Because I’m Worth It’ tagline, affirming women’s value through the impact they create and the communities they touch. “Beauty and purpose are synonymous,” stated Branick.
Branick notes how the program balances immediate crisis response with long-term systemic change, and has fostered a culture of empathy, innovation, and purpose among L’Oréal employees who volunteer their expertise. “Receiving thousands of applications each year gives us an astounding window into the landscape of women-led social innovation in America. The breadth of causes, from mental health and education to environmental justice and healthcare, reflects both the complexity of the challenges women are tackling and the creativity of their solutions,” stated Branick.
Women of Worth Beyond 20 Years
Looking beyond the program’s 20th anniversary, Mirren expressed hope that despite advancing technology, the simple human connection these women exemplify will remain central. “Women have such a powerful contribution to make, and places in the world where women are not allowed to make that contribution with their intelligence or their energy or their empathy or their love, they are very miserable. It’s a miserable society. So I just hope that rather than women being pushed back, they are encouraged to come forward in the future more and more,” said Mirren, reflecting on the current cultural moment, expressing concern about movements to diminish women’s voices and agency, and emphasizing the vital contributions women make to society. “My great fear is that women will again be pushed back into a silent role,” said Mirren.
Future Women of Worth honorees can further amplify their missions by leveraging evolving technology, social movements, and global connectivity to scale their impact in unprecedented ways.”When courage and vision meet opportunity, there is no limit to what can be achieved,” said Branick.
Women of Worth Sustained Social Impact
Through amplifying grassroots voices and providing crucial resources, L’Oréal has created a sustainable model for corporate social impact that responds dynamically to society’s most pressing needs. Women of Worth demonstrates that authentic corporate purpose is not about choosing between business objectives and social good. It’s about recognizing how sustained commitment to values creates both community impact and business value.
Women of Worth 2025
L’Oréal Paris has selected the following Women of Worth honorees for its 20th year:
Amy Bowers Cordalis – Ashland, Oregon, co-founder and executive director, Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group (R2R), an Indigenous-led nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring Indigenous land, water, and cultural resources.
Dr. Anita Ravi, MD – New York, New York, CEO and founder, PurpLE Health Foundation, an innovative nonprofit creating a new field of medicine—gender-based violence care—for women who have experienced domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault, using a ‘Care and Share’ model that turns lessons from its pioneering clinic into training for clinicians worldwide.
Cristina Rodriguez – Miami, Florida, co-founder and president, Mind&Melody: a nonprofit that uses music as a tool for joy, dignity, and intergenerational connection among older adults with neurological conditions and youth with special needs.
Gloria Umanah – Atlanta, Georgia, founder and executive director, Hope Booth, an evidence-based mental health nonprofit making hope and help free and accessible 24/7.
Keely Cat-Wells – Los Angeles, California, founder and CEO, Making Space, a talent and learning platform that equips disabled professionals with resources and opportunities to build meaningful careers.
Lynne B Hughes – Richmond, Virginia, founder and CEO, Comfort Zone Camp, a national non-profit organization that offers free weekend bereavement camps for children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver.
Mizpah Brown-Rich – Fremont, California, CEO and co-founder, Joshua’s Gift, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization driven by a mission to foster inclusion, connection, and support for families affected by autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Olivia Zhang – Mclean, Virginia, founder and CEO, Cancer Kids First (CKF), an organization that empowers young people to support pediatric cancer patients by normalizing the hospital environment and providing a loving community.
Sloane Davidson – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founder and CEO, Hello Neighbor: a nonprofit organization founded to transform the lives of refugees and immigrants through mentorship, resettlement, and community-based programming.
Yasmine Arrington Brooks – Washington, D.C., founder and executive director, ScholarCHIPS, Incorporated, an organization dedicated to providing college scholarships, mentoring, mental health support, technology, and a robust support network for children of incarcerated parents, empowering them to complete their college education.