Beauty Industry Pioneer Maya Paranjapye Passes Away
Renowned Educator and torchbearer of the Indian beauty industry, Maya Paranjapye passed away on 22 September 2019 in Seattle, USA. Lovingly known as ‘Maya Tai’ to those in the beauty industry, she was amongst the first few in the aesthetics field, who started offering CIDESCO (Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétology) certification in India.
Staring her professional journey in 1966 as a beauty consultant for an international cosmetic company – Ovation International – in Mumbai, Maya successfully managed to create a niche for herself at a time when salons in India were at a nascent stage. She launched her own venture – Butic Beauty Parlour- in 1968 at Khar, Mumbai and later, expanded to more branches across the city. During the same time, Maya also began offering a short course in “Beauty Culture” – making Butic the first training centre in Mumbai to give complete scientific Beauty training.
In 1977, she became the second Indian to be accepted as Overseas Member of ‘British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology. In 1980, she was also accepted as a member of Aestheticians International of America – Dallas, USA. Maya was accepted as CIDESCO International Examiner in 2010 and also became a member of Government Council of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), in 2014.
A recipient of several honours from renowned organisations within India and abroad, Maya is considered a legend in the Indian beauty industry. “A pioneer indeed and always a smiling, inspiring figure. She definitely left us untimely but left her footprints on the sands of time. A life so meaningfully lived,” said Ritoo Jhha – Editor-in-Chief, Beauty Launchpad India.