People are only just realizing what OPI nail brand stands for – and it’s much deeper than you might expect
KNOWN for its bright nail polish shades and equally catchy names, OPI is a household name.
However, many people don’t know what OPI stands for or the beauty brand’s interesting background.
“Have you ever wondered what the nail polish brand, OPI stands for? It’s likely not what you think,” the Humans of Judaism Twitter account (@humansofjudaism) asked.
OPI, as we know it today, was spearheaded by the “First Lady of Nails” Suzi Weiss-Fischmann.
According to the Humans of Judaism, Suzi was born in Hungary in 1956.
The beauty mogul was born “during the Hungarian Revolution to Jewish parents Magda and Laszlo Weiss, both Holocaust survivors.”
After a brief stint living in Israel, the family then moved to New York in 1969.
The Weiss family eventually settled in California during the 1980s.
“In 1982, Suzi started working for her brother-in-law, George Schaeffer,” the Humans of Judaism reported.
George owned a dental supply company called Odontorium Products, Inc.
While working together, Suzi and George “soon realized that making dentures was similar to making acrylic nails and put together three products to create artificial nail extensions.”
The duo shortened the tongue-twister name soon after deciding to make the switch to the beauty industry.
“And just like that, OPI was born,” the Humans of Judaism explained.
OPI Nail Lacquers were developed in 1989 and Suzi went on to become hugely successful.
The iconic beauty company was sold for close to $1 billion in 2010.