The Honest Company has had widespread sales due to its great product lines and distribution. While their products appear in health food stores across the country and even supermarket chains like Whole Foods and Target, they mostly sell their products through their online store. Soon enough, the company went international and now also serves China, Canada, and Europe.
Investors were only happy to jump on the unicorn brand, with $200 million raised from those including Wellington Management, General Catalyst Partners, Institutional Venture Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Eco-friendly with a super friendly and gorgeous face behind it, The Honest Company thrives!
A Modest Upbringing
Like many big names in Hollywood, Jessica Alba didn’t exactly come from money. She was born to parents who were perhaps a little too young to welcome a baby daughter into the world, her father is Mexican-American and her mother has Danish and French roots. Definitely an interesting combination!
With her parents changing careers a number of times, it’s clear that the pair weren't born with a silver spoon. Despite their rather difficult start to life together, Alba claims she never felt that she belonged to that lifestyle. She has admitted to always having a sense of entitlement, feeling like she was a royal born into the wrong family, and that nobody knew it but her.
She Should’ve Joined the Breakfast Club
It seems that Alba would've fit right in with the misfits in the 80s classic film "The Breakfast Club". Her need for praise and respect from her peers translated into a rebellious attitude from a young age. One particular incident marked the beginning of this rebellion against authority when she was just a little girl.
After her teacher found her writing with her left hand (something this teacher apparently had a problem with), he forced Alba to write with her right hand. To Alba, it made no sense – and since then, Alba confesses she has had a big problem with authority.
How Young Is Too Young?
These days, people are becoming parents at a later age, with many starting families in their 30s. But for Alba’s parents, however, the pair had married as teenagers and had two children by the time they were 20 and 21! Alba, too, was well aware that her family unit operated a little differently from that of her peers.
She even commented about it to "Rolling Stone" Magazine saying it felt as though they all grew up together. It seems it clicked for Alba that she was destined for the limelight as young as five years old when she told her parents she wanted to act. While every five-year-old has some whimsical idea of what they’ll be when they grow up, Alba’s turned out to be true!
Never Really Fitting In
Alba's background is part Danish, French, and Mexican. But despite her exotic looks, Alba struggled with the fact she was of diverse ancestry – she felt as though she never could really fit in or identify with a single culture. Did you know she felt shunned from the Latin community for not being Latin enough?
It was this feeling of not belonging that spurred Alba into action, and she had a deep burning ambition to make something of herself and prove that she was so much more than where she came from. She really wanted to show that she doesn't need to fit in — that she was born to stand out.
In the Name of the Father
Alba had a rather strict Christian upbringing, which meant that she lived by a certain set of rules that limited her “freedom.” We’re talking about curfews and fulfilling certain obligations, like praying. Not to mention the modesty part: no physical intimacy before marriage is an extremely important tenet in Christian families, Alba’s included.
She realized that she was being looked at differently to the other girls, and wasn’t particularly fond of all the attention – so much so that she confided in her youth pastor. Unfortunately, the pastor only commented on how Alba should dress less provocatively, causing her self-esteem to drop even more.
Finding Her Way
Every kid has difficulties coming to terms with who they are and where they fit in in the world, and Alba was no exception. A sore spot for Alba was being shunned by the Latin community, but also not being accepted as white. She was bullied a lot back in high school. This made her all the more determined to make something more of herself, outside of her community and school.
At only 11 years old, Alba had her mother take her to an acting contest in Beverly Hills. The winner would be awarded free acting classes, and you can probably guess how Alba fared in the competition! After winning, she enrolled, and from that opportunity, her life would forever change.
Learning the Actors' Way
Starting acting lessons helped her channel her teen angst and pent-up emotions — she was using all she had pitted against her to make her a great actress. Alba proved that she had a natural talent for it, and after just nine months into her acting lessons, she was signed at 12 years old!
Following this momentous change, things were looking up for Alba and she finally found a place where she belonged. But it wasn’t all rosy – there were a few hiccups along the way – and terrifying ones at that. As it turns out, her intense beauty would somehow both help and hinder her career.
Alba’s Film Debut
She soon got a small role on the Nickelodeon TV show "The Secret World of Alex Mack". Things were moving quickly for Alba, who even got herself a talent agent. She garnered a role in her first film, the 1994 comedy, "Camp Nowhere". As she entered her teens, Alba also began doing some modeling work, as well as commercials.
For a young teen wanting to be an actress, it would’ve been a dream come true – but this was just the beginning for Alba and her career. But with great attention, can sometimes come unwanted consequences. The actress soon found herself weathering bad reviews and intense negative attention.
Mysterious Older Man
It isn’t the first time we’ve heard “pretty young girl” and “strange man” in a news headline – but unfortunately, these terms were used to describe what happened to Jessica Alba. At the age of 15, Alba was given the role in a remake of the classic marine adventure series, "Flipper". It was Alba’s first major role in a television show, which was undoubtedly very exciting.
But while the sandy shores of Australia were appealing, there were some circumstances to follow that left a bitter taste. While on set, Alba received a random phone call from a strange man. A prank, or a fan, Alba didn’t think much of it – but he kept calling. Unfortunately, this was the early 2000s, when blocking a phone number wasn't an option.
An Australian Stalker?
Alba went about her business on set as usual but was still receiving these strange phone calls. And it seems that Alba kept it to herself, thinking it was probably just some overenthusiastic fan. Alba clearly thought she was safe – but there was definitely more reason for her to be on guard than she thought.
Eventually, the man proved to be relentless, incessantly calling her and she soon started becoming concerned. The unnecessary attention was initially a slight annoyance, but now it became unsettling and Alba was beginning to worry. The problem was that calling wasn't enough for this type of person – he was going to want more soon.
Just Another Day on Set?
As predicted, the calling stopped, but something more sinister was in the works. One day, on the set of "Flipper", there was an unidentified man lurking on set and no one actually noticed. Soon enough, Alba was missing and nobody could find her. She wasn't in her trailer and she hadn't been seen around the set.
Obviously, the people on set quickly realized a main cast member was missing. Where could the 15-year-old have disappeared to? It couldn't be that she had just wandered off, it was totally out of character – and it didn’t take long for people to catch on and realize something serious was going on.
M.I.A.
The cast was none the wiser to her disappearance, until, of course, Alba was called on to shoot a scene. Nobody could reach her on her phone and she hadn't been seen for a few hours. People realized that she didn’t just leave the set of her own accord and eventually, a third party had to be called in to look for her.
A search party was organized, and the cast and production team were fraught with worry, alarmed that they hadn’t found her within half an hour. She was after all, still a teenager, and everyone was hoping she was safe. The local authorities were called, and they all got to work to recover the missing Alba.
What’s Really Going on Here?
After the police were called in to investigate, the case of a missing teen was dealt with seriously. The fact that Alba had been potentially kidnapped from the set, and the fact that she was a minor, made police all the more worried and eager to find and recover her.
While the crew couldn’t offer much assistance when it came to her whereabouts, the authorities immediately suspected foul play. But was that in fact the case? Or was it all just a misunderstanding? What they were about to find was extremely disturbing, but luckily, they found her just in time.
Flipper or a Horror Movie?
After fourteen long hours, Alba’s family and crew were extremely worried and distressed. No one had made much progress up until now and people began suspecting that something awful must have befallen the young starlet. Investigators didn’t know it at this stage, but they were very close to finding the young Alba.
In a shocking discovery, the authorities somehow heard muffled sounds coming from the trunk of a car. Which is exactly where they found her, bound and gagged. Needless to say, the young starlet was terrified but also incredibly relieved that she had been found. But what had happened? How had the situation escalated so terribly?
Alba's Silence
A frightened Alba was pulled out of the trunk, her bonds were cut, and she was given all the care and attention that she’d so lacked in the past 14 hours. After authorities found her and calmed her down, the questioning began – firstly, how did any of this happen? But Alba didn’t utter a word, she was too shocked to speak.
In a strange twist, however, it seems that there was no evidence of foul play – and especially as Alba wasn’t willing to open up about the ordeal, it made it even more difficult for authorities to press any charges. A mystery that we’ll never really get to the bottom of, it seems. Fortunately, Alba wasn’t harmed and it’s well in her past now.
Made Tough
Following the harrowing ordeal and her mysterious kidnapping, Alba wasn’t herself, understandably. She became anxious and a little cagey, but it didn’t take too long for her to revert to her old self. She was a little wiser now, and still went about her life happily, albeit with a touch of caution in her step.
Her acting career grew from strength to strength, and she even dipped her toes in the dating pool. Whilst her Christian values deterred her from pursuing anything too serious before marriage, it didn’t stop her from going on dates and meeting potential boyfriends. And one day, an older handsome man caught her attention.
Her First Foray in Love
For many young women, their worst critics are often themselves – and Alba is no exception. When she was in her teens, Alba wasn’t quite so confident in her ability to attract and date members of the opposite sex. Maybe it was due to her rebellious nature or poor reputation at school, but Alba remarks that “hardly anyone” ever asked her out as a teen!
Eventually, however, she met someone who caught her eye and even her heart. This man had such a profound impact on her that she soon began questioning her faith and its strict tenets. So, who was the lucky guy, and what made him so special?
What a Man
While most of Alba’s teen dates were boring – most men around her age cared only about “hanging out at the bar”. For an ambitious young woman who was already serious about her career in showbiz, this was hardly the crowd she wanted to be in. She had been working for a few years and was much more mature than many of her peers.
This is where her mystery man comes in. A little older, and clearly charming enough to pique Alba’s interest, he was quick to ask her out. He was certainly well out of high school, and we’re sure her parents protested his advances, but he had a certain something about him that made him stand out from the rest.
Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer
She met him at a club, the two connected, and he seemed to be what she was looking for. Whether it was the thrill of seeing someone who had a different outlook on life or it was her rebellious streak coming out in full form, it’s easy to see that her parents had issues with them dating.
Many of her born-again Christian friends also disapproved of their relationship, and soon enough, her feelings for this guy made Alba begin to question her own faith. Was this happily ever after, at 16? The beliefs she grew up with didn't sit well with her anymore, especially since her new crush didn't believe the way she did.
Lasting Power
“I was so in love with him and thought, ‘There’s no way this guy can be bad if I like him so much,’” she has said of her real first crush. She found her feelings for him made her doubt the Christian beliefs that helped to shape her into who she was.
It opened her eyes, and she began experimenting and walking down a more secular path, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The relationship barely lasted despite their intense connection and soon fizzled out. More importantly, Alba decided from then on that she wouldn’t let religion come in between her and the things she wanted.
Alba’s Big Break
After starring in the series "Flipper", and of course, after her crazy ordeal, Alba began appearing as a guest on a number of shows. These little cameos and guest appearances greatly helped with her exposure and eventually led to her big break. While she was flirting with a number of TV shows, she also decided to take a walk on the wild side.
She soon shed the shackles of her faith and conservative parents and began living more freely. Having worked through her teens for her career, she sacrificed those blissful years in order to hit the big time. And that moment finally arrived. Her breakthrough role came through as the leader of the sci-fi series "Dark Angel".
Rags to Riches Story
On her 18th birthday, it seemed that all was going great for the young star, and it was a milestone – she had successfully transitioned from a formerly bullied teen to one of the hottest young celebs in the world! We’re sure that there were never again any shortages of male suitors. Enter Michael Weatherly, her co-star on "Dark Angel", who also happened to be 12 years her senior!
After her a change in her outlook on life and a slight change in values, Alba took the plunge with Weatherly, and for good reason: the pair had great chemistry, both on-screen and off-screen. Alba was falling for Weatherly just as hard as he was for her – but was he her forever man?
Popping the Question!
The two had been dating for almost two years by now and on her 20th birthday, something extremely romantic happened — Michael Weatherly proposed to her! Her parents and many of her friends disapproved of their relationship, especially because of the 12-year age gap between them, but she was still happy to accept his hand.
Now, that’s a birthday to remember! But soon, everyone was questioning her decision; "would their relationship last?" "Is she rushing into things?" This did not deter Alba, so after two years of dating Weatherly, it seemed the time was right for them to take the next step as a couple.
Well… That Didn’t Last
Alba knew that getting married this young might spell trouble for her, but she trusted Michael and thought he knew better. Despite their relationship and experiencing great highs together, the pair broke things off in 2003. Their marriage lasted 3 years – which even by Hollywood standards, is pretty good!
After some time on the screen and living her life as a movie star, she discovered that the real world was tough, and soon she knew exactly what she did and didn’t want, relationships included. Role after role fell in her lap, and her name was everywhere. But it seemed that the single Alba was ready for a special someone to come into her life.
Blinkered
Following her breakup with Weatherly, Alba began dating a number of high-profile celebs, such as actor Mark Wahlberg, and baseball star Derek Jeter. Despite saying of the two men that they were “really nice guys”, she just wasn’t cut out for casual flings. She was serious and responsible and was looking for someone to commit to.
For Alba, it was never about dating for status. In the same way, she wanted a man that would hopefully be more than just an accessory or arm candy, Alba was looking for her other half. Soon, she’d meet a man who would take her breath away. A fellow actor, perhaps?
What Goes on Behind-the-Scenes
In 2004, Jessica Alba landed one of the biggest roles in her career – she was cast as Susan Storm in the "Fantastic Four" franchise. Playing alongside the now Captain America, Chris Evans, Alba played the Invisible Woman. Sparks didn’t fly with Evans, but with someone who was a little more behind the scenes.
While working, she met the set's production assistant, Cash Warren, and it seemed he was the one. When she first laid eyes on him, Alba was smitten. “It was kind of a love-at-first-sight thing,” she recalled in interviews. But while the sparks flew, there was one issue with falling for Warren.
There Was Another Man Involved!
The only problem was that Alba was already seeing someone else. So for the time being the two remained friends, but the tale as old as time tells us that staying friends is a lot more difficult, particularly when there is a mutual attraction. So the actress remained busy and starred in a few new roles as part of an ensemble cast.
However, the flirting between them escalated, and as Alba found out more about Warren, she became even more intrigued. This spelled disaster for her current beau, but looking back, Alba remarks that she was attracted to Warren’s spirit. Their attraction was undeniable, and a romantic relationship seemed right for them.
Less Is More
Soon enough, the chemistry between them was too strong to fight off, despite the fact that Alba was still dating someone else. It was too much for Warren to bear, and being a man of action and knowing he wanted to be with Jessica, he decided to make it happen.
So Warren waltzed right up to her and handed her a note, and all it said was, “I really, really like you,” signed with a dollar sign (for Cash). While Warren made the first move, Alba was already quite into him, so when he initiated the conversation, she was only happy to oblige.
Just a Jealous Guy
It seems now that Alba knew all along that Warren was the guy for her – and it wasn’t too difficult for her to break up with her then-boyfriend. Alba has said of love and men that, “If I met Cash and I was married to somebody else, I would have to get a divorce. We make that much sense together.”
However, Warren turned out to be the jealous type and he couldn’t help but act up. The jealousy was so strong that Alba had to take a break – not that her “break” was going to last long. Fast forward a few months and Alba was pregnant with their first child. And the two got engaged shortly after!
Alba’s Happy Ending
In 2008, Alba tied the knot with Cash Warren. Since then, the pair have remained as close as ever, which now adds up to an impressive number of years together! We really love a couple that defies statistics and lasts in Hollywood. Though it seems the secret to their survival is staying away from the spotlight.
Since the pair has been married, Alba has enjoyed great success and many awards, including Choice Actress Teen Choice Award and Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television. During an interview, Jessica Alba expressed her desire to be recognized and respected as a serious actress.
Riding the Business Success Train
She acknowledged that, in order to advance her career, she felt it necessary to take on movie projects that might not align with her personal interests or preferences. By making these strategic choices, she believed she could establish herself and lay a strong foundation for her future career and will hopefully be able to be more selective with future roles.
But soon enough she wanted to try something a little more entrepreneurial. In 2011 she co-founded The Honest Company — a collective that sells baby, personal, and household products. Of the brand and her fame, Alba says that there are actually many people that only know of her through The Honest Company. She even claims her kids didn't know she used to be a big Hollywood star!
But Wait… Let’s Be Honest
Quite incredibly, her company was valued at around $1 billion just mere years later in 2o14. This is no small feat, even for a wealthy celebrity, with so many having funds to freely test out their crazy business ideas. More often than not, these fail spectacularly. But not Jessica Alba — she's one of the few who actually made it big in business!
In October 2015, Alba launched a collection of skincare and beauty products called Honest Beauty as a separate entity with its own website and logo. Just one year later, The Honest Company, had a revenue of $250 million in 2016. Pretty awesome to think that Alba takes the credit for starting up this business! She is currently employed as the company's chief creative officer.
A Closer Look at Honest
The Honest Company has had widespread sales due to its great product lines and distribution. While their products appear in health food stores across the country and even supermarket chains like Whole Foods and Target, they mostly sell their products through their online store. Soon enough, the company went international and now also serves China, Canada, and Europe.
Investors were only happy to jump on the unicorn brand, with $200 million raised from those including Wellington Management, General Catalyst Partners, Institutional Venture Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Eco-friendly with a super friendly and gorgeous face behind it, The Honest Company thrives!
Brains and Beauty
Alba has received attention for her appearance over the years and has been included in several publications' lists as one of the most attractive celebrities of our time. But as it turns out Alba is definitely more than just a pretty face – she’s got a business mind and a heart that cares for ethics and the environment.
After doing all we've learned about Alba’s life so far, we love how this woman has grown and flourished, even outside of Hollywood. She's become such a great role model – not just for her own daughters and son, but for girls worldwide. She proves that you can do anything you set your mind to.
Still Totally Smitten
As her professional life was blooming, so was her personal life. Her husband, Warren, is very open about his love for Alba, and we love his sweet Instagram post dedicated to his wife! “11 years ago we were so excited to meet our new baby in the coming weeks... The decision we made that day would forever change the course of our lives..."
"We hopped up, got dressed, and drove straight to the courthouse…11 years and 3 kids later, we’re still learning, growing, giggling, and loving ... here’s to a lifetime of pushing each other to be the best versions of ourselves and catching each other when we fall. Happy Anniversary Mrs. Warren!”
Happy Families
The couple has built a wonderful life for themselves and their family. Their first daughter Honor was born in June 2008. The first photos of her eldest daughter, which appear in an issue of OK! magazine reportedly earned Alba $1.5 million. Their second daughter, Haven, was born in August 2011, and their son Hayes was born six years later in December 2017.
As well as raising a beautiful family together, Warren and Alba have a great marriage, taking the time to work on their relationship. Alba often praises her “feminist” husband for all that he does for their family, as well as for her. It seems that Alba hit the jackpot when it comes to the man in her life!
A Bit More About Alba’s Man
While Alba was always in front of the screen, Warren was always behind, working in production. His debut as an assistant producer in the 2004 movie "Taxi", working with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon. His big break, however, came on the set of "Fantastic Four", which is of course when his big break in love came too!
Cash Warren actually grew up somewhat familiar with fame and Hollywood as he is the son of the professional basketball player and TV actor Michael Warren, best known for playing Officer Bobby Hill on the NBC television series "Hill Street Blues". Cash has since worked on a few independent films and documentaries, and more recently he established his own production company, Verso Entertainment.
And the Credentials Continue!
But that’s not all for Warren – he’s also co-founded a digital management agency, called Apoko, which assists celebrities in monitoring their engagement with the public. Not to mention the fact that he started a gaming site, ibeatyou.com as well as a multi-functional product platform called Pair of Thieves. He’s accrued about $10 million from his ventures!
What we love about Alba and Warren is that they are supportive of one another and respect each other’s dreams and careers. Still, despite their combined wealth and booming careers in different fields, the couple follows a down-to-earth lifestyle and prioritizes their family with a strict policy that entails leaving their work at the office.
Couple Goals
Now, we don’t want to jinx this wonderful pair, but they're totally our role models for family and relationships. The truth is, staying together is hard and comes with as many pitfalls as it does perks. This is why we love that they’re still committed to each other, and have nurtured a beautiful family together.
Despite Alba’s rocky start with relationships, it seems that she’s found her man. A laudable thing all around, especially since a successful career in Hollywood has proved to be the downfall of many relationships. We're pretty sure she has everything she could’ve ever dreamed of, as well as fantastic people to share it with.
So What’s Next?
Well, apart from spending time with her family and juggling her business ventures, Alba is living the life! Despite the naysayers, Alba continued to work, albeit in a totally different field, and steadily proved that she was more than just her looks and that her career could be more than just acting.
Looking back at her humble beginnings, it's clear that Jessica has come a long way. We’re not sure what the future holds for Alba, but for now, we’re sure she’s content and enjoying the life she's built. Alba currently resides with her family in an extravagant home in Los Angeles.