A 100-year-old Japanese woman holds the record as the oldest beauty consultant in the world

Tomoko Horino, a hundred-year-old Japanese woman who is considered the oldest beauty consultant in the world, entered the Guinness Book of Records in August. However, even though she is featured on the record, there are two other centenarians and at least 250 beauty consultants in their 80s.

Horino says that in the past she was ridiculed when she went to work at dawn with meticulous make-up. But now everyone is delighted with the difference.

“It was a time when married women stayed at home and took care of the home, but I had to work,” Horino explains to AFP.

In the 1960s, in his hometown of Fukushima (Northeast), his neighbors thought he was working in a hostess bar. “But what kind of housewife is she who gets up when the sun rises and comes back when the sun sets?” he asks, laughing.

Born in April 1923, the bride married the director of the local public administration. This union was “a mistake”, she admits today, although she lived with her husband until his death 16 years ago.

“He came from a very rich family and spent money without counting. He invited his colleagues for dinner and drinks and spent his entire salary,” he recalls.

In order to make ends meet and raise her three children, Horino started working, first making gift boxes.

Then, at the age of 39, she started selling at home for the Japanese cosmetics brand Pola and quickly rose through the ranks.

Soon she was earning three times more than her husband. “I worked a lot,” he insists. Even today, it continues to meet its sales goals.

aged country

Japan is one of the countries most affected by demographic aging: almost 30% of the population is 65 or older, and the archipelago has more than 92,000 centenarians.

The work of the elderly has increased in recent years due to the lack of labor force.

The company Pola explains, for example, that it has about 250 beauty consultants aged 80 or more. Three are centenarians, except Horin.

But the company decided to nominate her for the Guinness Book of Records because “she is the most active in communication with customers and participates in the formation of new products,” says Aya Katsuda, spokeswoman for Pola.

Horino is “wonderful,” he concludes.

“Like an older sister”

This woman, who wore high-heeled shoes until she was 80, still wears make-up and anti-wrinkle treatments every day.

Every evening he takes a bath, stretches his limbs in hot water and washes his face by splashing it 20 times. Then she puts on a series of lotions, two types of anti-wrinkle products, a beauty serum, a moisturizing milk and finally a cream.

She is also well informed and watches the news on television every night. This allows you to talk to your clientele.

“I have to be aware of many problems. I have to know baseball to be able to talk to someone who loves the sport, he says.

“It’s always wonderful to see her in such good shape,” says Yuriko Abe, a 75-year-old customer, admiringly. “She’s like an older sister.”

But it’s getting harder to keep your clients. “Many died at the age of about 80,” admits Horino.

“I will continue to work as long as I live,” he says. He likes to help people “be more beautiful and happier”, he adds. (AND)