Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 25/02) - After one year as an independent beauty consultant, Iqaluit resident Claire Kennedy is not only number one in Nunavut -- she's competing to be number one in Canada.

Kennedy's personal sales ranked seventh out of the 30,000 Mary Kay consultants working in Canada last year. "This year I'm hoping to become number one. There's five of us competing head to head. Every day it changes," she said.

Kennedy has between 150 and 200 regular customers. She said the lack of good products in the North means Mark Kay items almost sells themselves.

If one of her customers doesn't like what they've purchased, they can return it -- no questions asked.

"I hold skin care classes so the customers can try the product before buying it," she said.

Kennedy holds most of her classes in her own kitchen. She does this so no one else has to clean up when it's all over. At every place setting there is a pink beauty tray with its own mirror -- what looks like a painter's palette and several brushes.

Kennedy said her eight-year-old daughter likes to join in and it's easy to see why. The skin care class is like playing dress-up with your face. You clean, moisturize, exfoliate and decorate.

Kennedy can have as many as eight people per class. She teaches participants how to use the products and helps them correct bad habits like tugging at their skin.

"I'm not in their bathrooms in the morning. They have to learn how to use the products themselves," she said.

Kennedy said she does the job because it enriches women's lives. She also likes that she can take it with her wherever she goes.

"I know I'm not going to be in the North forever. It's a career I can take with me anywhere in Canada," she explained.

Kennedy has recruited three other women who want to become consultants.

The end of the seminar year for Mary Kay consultants is June 30, 2003. Kennedy hopes to be on top when that day comes.