| Summary: | Hairstylist and entrepreneur Olive Lee Benson was born on September 11, 1932 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After graduating from the Wilfred Academy, Benson opened her first salon in Cambridge, and later continued her beauty training in Chicago, Illinois; London, England; New York City; and Boston, Massachusetts. She later moved her salon to Boston, and then opened several larger locations. Benson also worked as a researcher and developer for Johnson Products and Soft Sheen, among other companies. Upon becoming involved in hair styling competitions, Benson won numerous awards; and, in 1991, was the first African American stylist to be inducted into the Hall of Renown of the National Cosmetology Association. In 1996, Benson launched her own line of hair care products, Universal Textures. That same year, she was the first African American recipient of the North American Hairstyle Award. Benson passed away on June 26, 2005 at the age of seventy-two.
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