Written by Parsons Green

The Mary Kay Facebook groups are full of a thriving sisterhood of Mary Kay sales directors sharing their concerns and struggles in a spirit that is focused on the Go Give attitude. (My sarcasm will be clear soon, friends.)

Million dollar director and nsd daughter Kali Brigham reached out for help. (Her mom is retired nsd Kate DeBlander.) Kali wondered whether anyone had a good onboarding process for consultants who don’t want to carry inventory and strictly work their business through My Shop?

Ellen Bowman Cox replied that she needs help. She signed up ten consultants who wanted to focus on My Shop. Only two have ordered a starter kit and some haven’t even set up their My Shop. She’s discouraged. She’s been in Mary Kay for over 20 years. Does she even want to continue in this business?

I then remembered when I first noticed Ellen in a Facebook group three years ago. A sister director shared that she loved seminar, and hopes that everyone would share her feedback with the company.  Ellen had complaints. If you were in the front section, it was hard to see the action on the stage. Please raise the monitors higher.

Ellen then barged in to say her problem was with translations. The company should not provide subtitles in other languages. I’ve attached several screenshots from this particular thread. Her words speak for themselves.

After a few days, the moderators of this group deleted the comments. I then made a point to look for more of Ellen’s posts and comments. Here are a few more of her greatest hits. (And to be clear, they don’t make her look so great.

One month, the consistency prize was a wax seal kit that was yours for a $600 wholesale order. Larry Deweese did not want this prize, and he didn’t order inventory that month. But Ellen is thankful that she gets much more joy out of this than Larry does.

Ellen is a moderator in one group, and is frequently irritated by consultants who have questions. Call the company and don’t ask the group!

Ellen then has the audacity to call out another member for lecturing consultants.

Sadly, Ellen shared that her sales are going down. She’s had a holiday open house for 18 years. She typically has 45 women and $6000 in sales. That year she only had $2100 from 15 shoppers. (She never provided an update for 2024 or 2025).

A director shared that her picture was on the front of the Applause magazine. Ellen immediately jumps to conclusions.

Then in 2024, the tides turned. Ellen needed help. Her consultant needed help putting an order on hold. This now banned practice let a consultant and director put an order on hold so it would count towards that month’s production but didn’t need to be paid for til the following month.

In January 2025, a director offered styling suggestions for the current sales director jacket thinking a replacement would be announced at leadership that year. As we all know, it still hasn’t been announced. Ellen attacks this poor woman repeatedly.

Ellen had a potential new consultant, but her husband talked her out of signing up.

A director posted in March 2025 asking questions about the phaseout and repackaging for the men’s line. Ellen blew a gasket because directors have been telling consultants about this. Consultants do not need to know. They are not business women. If new product is coming they may delay ordering product and that could affect HER production and TITLE.

Ellen commented on a post that was 6 years old that asked for help in finding a low credit card rate to offer new consultants who want to order inventory.

And finally, Ellen needed help motivating her unit to order in December.

Ellen, Ellen, Ellen – with your positive spirit and your devotion to the Mary Kay principles I’m shocked beyond belief that you’re having so much trouble finding recruits to build your future National Area. If you do read this, and I know you will, could you please submit a rebuttal to us for our weekly Friday series? I’d love to hear YOUR Pink Truth.