Wende Zomnir

Founder, Urban Decay

As Founding Partner of Urban Decay Cosmetics, Wende's chief priority is to keep Urban Decay a step ahead as one of the hippest, most aggressive players in the scene.

As Founding Partner of Urban Decay Cosmetics, Wende's chief priority is to keep Urban Decay a step ahead as one of the hippest, most aggressive players in the scene. Wende’s endeavors proved successful in late 2012, when the brand was purchased by L’Oréal USA. Since then, Urban Decay has retained its spot as one of the top makeup brands both in the United States and worldwide.

Zomnir’s love affair with color and makeup started at an early age. As a little girl she was fascinated with all of the powders, creams, and potions in her mother’s makeup drawer, igniting her passion for the beauty industry. Growing up around the world, Wende received an international education and eventually moved to CA, where she began mixing nail polish in her cottage in Laguna Beach. This led her to a creative partnership, which allowed her to expand her vision and launch Urban Decay in January 1996 – an edgy and “pretty different” makeup brand that disrupted the sea of pink seen across makeup counters everywhere. Today, Wende lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband Doug, and two boys Crash and Cruz, but she travels frequently to maintain inspiration.