Moms to moguls

Moms to moguls

Moms to moguls. Before they were millionaires, these women were working moms trying to put food on the table. From a makeup mogul to a former file clerk to a home design icon, each one has her own rags-to-riches story.

J.K. Rowling
She's the author of some of the best-selling books in history who used to be on welfare and worked on her first books in cafes with her young daughter in tow.

Paula Deen
The Food Network star, famous for her deep-fried cooking, started her catering business as a divorced mom of two sons and eventually opened her own restaurant.

Sarah Palin
The mother of five began her political career as a small-town city council member before becoming a governor and vice presidential candidate. Now she's written a second book and has a multi-year contract with a cable network.

Mary Kay Ash
The woman whose name is synonymous with the color pink started with one store and fostered her business into a makeup empire before her death in 2001.

Bette Graham
The single mom was a secretary when she invented this helpful substance still used in offices today. She left quite a fortune when she died in 1980.

Linda McMahon
She and her husband once filed for bankruptcy, but they went on to run a successful sports entertainment company. She took a shot at political office.

Susan Powter
She lost a lot of weight as a single mom and became a fitness guru with a popular catchphrase in the '90s.

Rosie Herman
The former manicurist was the new mom of premature twins when she mixed up a batch of nail product in her kitchen. Today she's a millionaire.

Lisa Lloyd
She was a 23-year-old single mom when she invented a popular hairstyling tool. Now she runs her own marketing company.

Erin Brockovich
She was a law firm file clerk and divorced mother of three when she helped win one of the biggest civil lawsuits in U.S. history. Her story inspired an Oscar-winning performance.

Irene Rosenfeld
The widow and mother of two worked her way up to the top spot at this food company and now earns millions each year.

Martha Stewart
She was a wife and mom with a catering company when she published the book that started her entertaining empire.

Jeanne Bice
The happy host went from being a home crafter to making millions each year by selling her own line of clothing on QVC.

Rachel Ashwell
The English-born mom designed her first kid- and pet-friendly slipcovers in the '80s and now heads a hugely successful home goods business.

Cheryl Womack
She started her company selling insurance to independent truckers around the same time she had her two kids; she later sold the lucrative business for millions.

Source: msn

Sarah Palin's Style Tranformation

Self-proclaimed maverick Sarah Palin blazed her own beauty trail during the 2008 campaign with her chestnut pouf and rimless glasses. In honor of her new reality show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," InStyle examines how the former governor has changed over the years.

1981: The Wasilla High School athlete sported a flipped-back shag.

1984: Feathered hair and a big smile! Palin won the Miss Wasilla pageant, going on to place third in the Miss Alaska competition.

1992: The busy mother of two had an appropriately wash-and-wear bob when she announced her candidacy for Wasilla City Council.

2002: Palin nailed her signature style -- a voluminous bun, sleek specs, and dark lipstick -- while a member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation.

2006: The soon-to-be Alaskan governor campaigned with caramel highlights and new wire frames.

2008: As John McCain's running mate, Palin incited a nationwide demand for her Kazuo Kawasaki rimless spectacles.

2009: The one-time vice presidential candidate let her (now highlighted!) hair down for a chat with Barbara Walters.

2010: The former governor attended the Time 100 Gala with soft, peach-toned makeup.

Age of celebrity first-time moms

Age of celebrity first-time moms

Age of celebrity first-time moms. They may have more kids now, but have you ever wondered how old some celebrities and public figures were when they had their first baby? Let's wish all these moms a happy Mother's Day!

Kate Hudson
She's expecting hersecond child with this rock band's frontman, to whom she just became engaged after dating for a year. She had her first child, Ryder, now 7, with another rock star, to whom she was married for seven years.

Lisa Leslie
This WNBA superstar and four-time Olympic gold medalist took a break from her career when she had her first child, Lauren, now 3, with husband Michael Lockwood. She had her second child, Michael, in 2010.

Niki Taylor
A model since age 13, she had her twin boys, Jake and Hunter, at this age, with her former linebacker husband. They were married for two years. She's now remarried and had a daughter in 2009.

Beverly D'Angelo
She was this surprising age when she had twins Olivia and Anton, now 10, with a well-known actor, to whom she was married for six years.

Solange Knowles
When your sister is a superstar, the world notices when you have a baby at this age. Solange had her son, Juelz, now 6, with then-husband Daniel Smith, whom she married at age 17. They divorced after three years of marriage.

Mia Hamm
A two-time Olympic gold medalist in soccer, this superstar athlete became a first-time mom to twin girls Grace and Ava with her major-league husband, to whom she's been married for seven years. The girls are now 4 years old.

Keisha Castle-Hughes
This youngest-ever Academy Award nominee for Best Actress had her daughter, Felicity-Amore, now 4, with her boyfriend of eight years, Bradley Hull.

Celine Dion
This diva had her son Rene-Charles, now 10, with her husband and partner of 24 years, Rene Angelil, when she was 33. She gave birth to twins Eddy and Nelson in 2010.

Halle Berry
She had her daughter, Nahla, with former flame Gabriel Aubry, whom she dated for five years. They broke up in 2010. Nahla is now 3.

Sarah Palin
A mother of five, she had her first child, Track, when she was 25. She and husband Todd have been married for 22 years, and everyone is wondering if she'll run for president in 2012.

Michelle Obama
The first lady had her first daughter, Malia, when she was 34. Now 12, Malia and sister Sasha, age 9, are part of the first family. Michelle and Barack Obama have been married for 18 years.

Jamie Lynn Spears
Her famous sister was the headline-grabber in the family before Jamie Lynn had her daughter, Maddie, at this age with boyfriend Casey Aldridge. They were together for four years before breaking up in 2010. Maddie is now 2.

Hillary Clinton
She became a first-time mom to daughter Chelsea at age 33. Chelsea is now 31, and Hillary and husband Bill have been married for 35 years.