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Scott-Vincent Borba, the entrepreneur who co-founded e.l.f. Cosmetics, is opening up about the personal and spiritual transformation that led him from the beauty business to the Catholic priesthood.
Borba, 52, helped launch the cosmetics brand in 2004 before leaving the company in 2019. In May, he was ordained as a Catholic priest by the Diocese of Fresno in his hometown of Visalia, California. Speaking in his first interview since becoming a priest, Borba reflected on the experiences that inspired his dramatic career change.
Appearing on Today, Borba said he now sees God's hand guiding every stage of his journey.
"God sanctified this whole route to bring me back now to glorify His name versus to glorify myself or idolize the businesses that I was creating," he said.
Borba recalled reaching a turning point while hosting a party at his home in the Hollywood Hills. Despite his professional success and luxurious lifestyle, he said he felt empty and disconnected.
He questioned whether life was meant to revolve around wealth, pleasure and repeating the same cycle of indulgence. Asking himself why God created humanity, he searched for a deeper sense of purpose.
The moment he describes as his conversion came when he prayed, asking God to help him become the man he was created to be.
Borba said he experienced what he called an "enlightenment of soul," which made him realize that, despite outward success, he was spiritually lost.
He explained that he believed he was a good person, but understood that goodness alone was not enough. According to Borba, God's mercy showed him that no one's past mistakes place them beyond redemption.
"He can take a broken person and change it," he said.
When asked what advice he would give others struggling in their own lives, Borba encouraged people not to lose faith.
He said God is real, active in the world and capable of forgiving any sin.
Borba co-founded e.l.f., short for Eyes Lips Face, alongside Alan and Joseph Shamah. The cruelty-free beauty brand grew rapidly and surpassed $100 million in sales by 2014.
After stepping away from the company, Borba committed himself fully to ministry, even selling personal possessions and donating the proceeds.
He said he had felt called to the priesthood for as long as he could remember but only accepted that calling in recent years.
Reflecting on the experience, Borba described it as a profound encounter filled with love, mercy and grace that ultimately changed the course of his life.
