Although there is no one key to success in life, ambition and hard work always seems to be at the root of prosperity. Vera Moore is a product of that philosophy, which has elevated her to heights she could have never imagined. Following her dreams and laboring diligently throughout her career, Moore now reaps the benefits of her efforts as President and CEO of Vera Moore Cosmetics.
Despite her strong work ethic and unparalleled determination, Moore never envisioned herself to be a successful entrepreneur. She grew up with a passion for singing, which later translated into a career in acting. Breaking barriers along the way, Moore noticed a void in the cosmetics market for women of color.
While she managed to concoct solutions for herself, Moore wanted to provide the everyday woman with a product that would address their needs. Unaware of what she was getting herself into, Moore never considered failure an option; she was going to accomplish her goal and that was what mattered.
Moore credits much of her success to her close-knit family and her humble upbringing. Growing up in Corona with her five brothers and a sister, Moore's parents worked hard to make ends meet. Her mother, a domestic worker, and her father, a porter, instilled the importance of hard work early in their children's lives.
“My mother told me if I put God first and put my mind to it I could break barriers,” Moore said.
Though they may have lacked the physical luxuries, they had each other and strong faith in religion. They often attended church together and were thankful for what they had. It was in the church that Moore developed her love of singing. “Singing was my first love, I have always liked it,” Moore said.
She was forced to stop when she accepted a job with the U.S. Customs Office a week after graduating from Flushing High School. “I was just so excited to have a job,” she said. While she attended Hunter College however, Moore studied the language skills necessary for singing opera. With her talent, she received a 4-year scholarship to the Sadisbury Academy of Music.
Moore's interests however later shifted towards acting. While she dedicated herself to her job, she attended acting classes on the evenings and weekends. Confident in her abilities and with the blessing and support from her family, Moore left her government job in favor of an eight-week part in a Jones Beach Theater production of South Pacific.
Proving to be a wise career choice, Moore would only continue to only experience success in her career as an actress from that point on. Moore became nationally recognized as one of the first black actresses to be contracted to appear on a national television show. For 12 years, she portrayed “Linda” on the soap opera, Another World. She has many other credits for television shows and Broadway shows, including the Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical, “Purlie Victorious.”
Moore however, began focusing on the need to fill the void in the cosmetics market. She was willing to risk losing her home for the cosmetics company. “The industry was not servicing black women so I mortgaged my home for $65,000 to start the business,” she said.
Moore started her cosmetics company over two decades ago with the intention of providing high quality makeup for black women. More specifically, Moore provided a natural looking foundation that did not rub off on clothes at a mere touch; thus the birth of Vera Moore Cosmetics.
“I want to educate women and give them a soft, natural look,” Moore said. “We want to enhance our customers and show them how beautiful they really are,” she said.
“There was nothing on the market that met the needs of the black consumer,” Moore said. “I found myself mixing different shades of make up to find a color that suited my skin tone,” she said.
Today however, Moore has no such problem as she has created a complete line of products targeted for black women and women of color. One of her greatest accomplishments occurred when her company became the first black-owned tenant in the history of the Green Acres Mall. “I love owning my own business, I feel like I am in control of my destiny,” Moore said.
