Entrepreneur With Down Syndrome Megan Bomgaars Launches New Line With Artpop Cosmetics

“Born This Way” reality star and entrepreneur Megan Bomgaars has partnered with Artpop Cosmetics to launch a new line of cosmetics. Bomgaars’ initial line, titled “Don’t Limit Me,” will consist of four lip shades, which she co-created and designed with the popular makeup brand. The new line will be available starting Friday.

Bomgaars’ collaboration with Artpop Cosmetics began when the company reached out for a possible collaboration to create makeup products that would be new and innovative. For Bomgaars, Artpop’s vision of #BeautyHasNoLimits and her “Don’t Limit Me” life philosophy were a natural fit.

“We asked Megan what her favorite types of products, colors, daily makeup items were,” Jordan Leveau, CEO and co-founder of Artpop Cosmetics, told The Mighty. “Together we came up with the idea of a lip collection that would be distinctive.”

Bomgaars told The Mighty one of her biggest priorities for the line was to ensure each product had the sparkle and pop that suits her personality. Her “Don’t Limit Me” glass lip collection includes her favorite red and pink shades: Hollywood (red matte), Megastar (red gloss with sparkle), 1992 (nude matte), BTW (nude gloss with sparkle).

Bomgaars also told The Mighty her photo shoot with Artpop to launch the new lip line was the most fun she has ever had, especially wearing feather lashes.

Bomgaars, who has Down syndrome, has an eye for business. It began with her own fashion line, megology, where she created beautiful hand-crafted scarves. Last year, Bomgaars partnered with Sanrio’s Hello Kitty to launch a clothing line based on her moto, “Don’t limit me,” and other empowering phrases. Now, she’s taking on the beauty industry in partnership with Artpop Cosmetics.

Leveau said the company’s partnership with Bomgaars is a movement for the makeup industry. “Our primary goal here is to re-define the beauty industry with the idea of what beauty means to people individually, without the influence of society,” Leveau said.

He added that Bomgaars’ “Don’t Limit Me” movement promotes inclusivity and affirms individuals should not be limited when it comes to their dreams, including in the beauty world. He continued:

We are here to promote real people and inspire other beauty brands to join this movement of #BeautyHasNoLimits. Artpop believes that everyone deserves to feel beautiful in their own skin. Day after day, companies continue to falsify the way beauty is perceived, and we were not going to continue to fuel that fire. There is no definitive look for beauty and we want people to take chances and put themselves out there without the fear of being turned away.

Currently, Bomgaars is the only individual with a disability Artpop partners with. Bomgaars’ mom, Kris Bomgaars, told The Mighty many companies are not yet familiar with a new generation of individuals with Down syndrome who have entrepreneurial ambitions.

“Artpop and Sanrio did not limit her ambitions simply because she has Down syndrome,” Kris Bomgaars said. “They partnered with her because of her vision, ambition and ability to have a voice for people with all abilities.”

Laveau said Artpop will expand its partnerships to others with disabilities in the future. “We absolutely have plans to continue this movement with other future models who have a disability,” he said.

Megan Bomgaars has been a leader working in partnership with the corporate teams that recognize her “Don’t Limit Me” vision is good business. Bomgaars hopes that being the first person with Down  syndrome to have a business partnership and develop her own cosmetic line will open opportunities for more collaborations for people with disabilities.

Bomgaars’ line of lip products can be purchased online via Artpop Cosmetics’ website. The company has future plans to work with major retailers to get the products onto shelves in stores.