The Success Story of Vandana Luthra, the Beauty and Wellness Queen!

Vandana Luthra’s name has become synonymous with beauty and wellness in India. She is one of the top women entrepreneurs in India and the powerful figure behind the success of VLCC! Always been inclined towards skincare and wellness, Luthra saw the immense potential in the beauty industry in India and started with her own beauty and slimming services back in 1989. Fast forward to 2021, she has built a successful beauty empire through VLCC which holds a strong consumer base for exceptional beauty products and services! This blog presents you with the success story of Vandana Luthra, the woman who transformed the beauty and wellness industry in India!

“To be a successful entrepreneur, one has to have an indomitable spirit, enthusiasm, self-belief, and be a bit of a visionary and have the ability to take the knocks.”

Education and Personal Life 

Vandana Luthra was born on July 12, 1956, in Delhi in an affluent family; her father was a mechanical engineer while her mother was an Ayurvedic doctor who ran her own organisation. Inspired by her mother’s focus on healthcare and self-development, Mrs Luthra went on to study at Polytechnic for Women in New Delhi with an engraved ambition to affect change in society. After finishing her graduate studies, Luthra travelled extensively to European countries like Germany, UK and France. In Germany, Luthra formally studied cosmetology and nutrition and she learnt about lifestyle care, nutrition, beauty and fitness industry; an industry under-researched, unorganised and practically non-existent in India back in the 1980s.

The 1980s were momentous times in Mrs Luthra’s life. The successful entrepreneur got married to Mukesh Luthra, gave birth to her two daughters and started beauty conglomerate Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves (VLCC) in New Delhi that ultimately transformed the wellness industry in India.

‘I see an empowered woman as someone who has the ability to lead with example, adapts naturally to changes and brings out the best in an individual. And works towards empowering the women around her’

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The Inception of VLCC: Vandana Luthra’s Success Story

Once she decided to start on her own, a meticulous and scientific approach to beauty and wellness services was needed to build a brand like VLCC. But it was Vandana Luthra’s passion for revolutionising the beauty industry that drove her to create her own legacy. She researched extensively on conceptualizing a beauty company that people can trust. Initially, VLCC was a wellness centre but with her vision, it was expanded into a prominent business company with operations in 150 cities and 14 countries like India, UAE, Bangladesh, Nepal, Singapore, Kenya, Sri Lanka; all due to the efforts and hard work of an ambitious woman who had the foresight to combine medical expertise with nutrition and cosmology to carter to growing lifestyle demands of women and men.

Under Luthra’s guidance, VLCC has emerged as a major employment generator across India providing a range of services from slimming packages to laser at affordable prices. Even after 30 years since the company’s inception, Vandana Luthra remains a critical part of the empire. In order to keep her company up-to-date and relevant, she relies on her R&D team and her travelling to keep up with the constantly-changing world of beauty and to provide her clients with exciting products and services. The seasoned entrepreneur is constantly hustling to keep VLCC at the top so much so that VLCC is apart of Pradhan Mantri’s Jan Dhan Yojana. The company has expanded to incorporate manufacturing units in India and Singapore, they also training and vocational education under the Insitute of Beauty and Nutrition.

‘I loved the idea of impacting someone’s life and making things better for them.’

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Humanitarian Endeavors

Mrs Luthra’s philanthropy sets her apart from many Indian entrepreneurs. Her firm conviction of promoting beauty health and wellbeing has translated into her humanitarian efforts. Luthra is the co-chairperson of an NGO called Khushii founded by Kapil Dev with the aim to empower, educate and ensure the well-being of the underprivileged. Mrs Luthra is also an active member of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga through which she promotes yoga, mental health and self-growth.

Luthra practices what she preaches; constructing a healthy lifestyle by exercising and meditating is extremely important to her!

Luthra’s company has been involved in various governmental efforts like providing wellness training and education at schools in different states, facilitating admissions of downtrodden children into job-oriented courses and launching campaigns like Stand Up – India to fight obesity.

‘Hard work and dedication have no substitutes.’

Awards and Achievements

• In 2013, Mrs Luthra was honoured with Padma Shri by the Indian government for her service to the trade and industry.
• Appointed as the chairperson of the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill and Council (B&WSSC).
• Winner of prestigious awards like Rajeev Gandhi Women Achiever, Asia’s Greatest Brands & Leaders 2017, Women Entrepreneur of the year by The Enterprise Asia and Trailblazer award
• Featured in the Fortune magazine’s 50 most powerful Women in Business in India five times in a row.
• Featured in 50 Power Businesswomen in the APAC region by Forbes Asia.
• An accomplished writer and author of books like A Good Life and Complete Fitness Programme.

Hopefully, you enjoyed reading about Vandana Luthra and VLCC’s journey! If you are someone who finds enjoyment and inspiration in the stories of successful female entrepreneurs then follow Leverage Edu to get exciting and riveting content on success stories and education. Follow our latest series on International Women’s Day 2021 featuring ’62 Ultimate Stories of Inspiration’ and know more about such inspirational women who are the power of change!