That changed 15 years later when God’s preparation met Paula’s willingness. After returning from Mary Kay’s annual Leadership Conference, Sue felt led to extend the opportunity one more time. She told Paula, “I see you as a leader.” At that moment, the timing was divine. Over the previous year, Paula had been searching for a way to empower women and help them build confidence. Through her volunteer work with teen girls at church, she realized that the most powerful way to impact young women was by first transforming the lives of their mothers.

This passion led Paula to a local women’s domestic violence shelter, where she began offering makeovers to the residents. Watching their faces light up, she saw firsthand how something as simple as lipstick and encouragement could reignite a woman’s spirit. That was the moment Paula knew—Mary Kay wasn’t just about beauty products. It was a vehicle for empowerment.

Paula’s business took off. Within just seven months, she earned the use of her first Career Car (a Pontiac G6), and in only nine months, she became an Independent Sales Director.  Her success has continued, earning her;

✅ Eight additional Career Cars, including  six iconic Pink Cadillacs
✅ 11 Top Director Trips
✅ 6 Prestige Trips 
✅ Eleven Time Circle of Excellence Unit
✅ One Million Dollar Circle achievement
✅ Top 10 Nationwide Rankings in total retail sales twice
✅ Queen of Retail Sales (Ruby Seminar, 2014) & 1st Runner-Up (2019)

✅ Triple Star Achiever

✅ The #1 Sales Director in the State of Indiana two times

But beyond the accolades, Paula’s greatest achievement lies in the thousands of women she has helped discover their God-given beauty and confidence through her Mary Kay organization.

Paula is married to her best friend and business partner, Kirby Kirkpatrick. They are proud parents to Kayla Wood (married to Justin) and Kori Kirkpatrick (married to Samantha). However, their favorite titles are Papa and Gigi to their four beloved grandchildren: Kamdyn, Braydyn, Skyler, and Emery.

Paula and Kirby currently reside in Rockville, Indiana, where they continue to build their Mary Kay legacy—one life, one transformation, and one empowered woman at a time.