The major milestone also sees Ruby become the UK's oldest working Avon Rep, and she has been serving her local community with beauty, skincare, and fragrance products since 1974.
Ruby has continued to run her successful beauty business through all major local and global events of the past 51 years and has remained committed to her customers throughout.
Ruby said: “When my husband died in 1974 I was at a low ebb and needed something to keep me occupied. I took up selling Avon as a way to get dressed up and go out to meet new people – I’ve just kept going ever since.
“I’ve been fortunate to never have had any major illnesses, and I take each day as it comes. I believe that continuing to do Avon at my age has helped to keep my brain active and healthy.”
Not even a global pandemic could stop Ruby and while Covid saw many other small business suffer Ruby continued to deliver to her loyal customers, who would collect their orders from her doorstep – a practice they have continued to this day.
Ruby’s daughter Jackie Payne, 69, said: “Mum is an inspiration to us all. She continues to work as an Avon lady even now, and the only times I’ve had to help was getting her on the internet when Avon moved to online orders only and now that she has stopped driving.
“I would say that being an army wife probably made her very resilient and independent. She doesn’t drink alcohol and has never smoked, and when we were young she went everywhere on her bike which meant she was very fit.”
Avon UK Sales Director Tracey Powers said: “It’s not every day we can celebrate one of our Reps turning 100 and we are incredibly proud that Ruby is still such a big part of our community. We truly hope that Ruby has a day that is as wonderful as she is.”
About Ruby
Ruby Covey was born and raised in Melrose in Scotland. She left school at 14 and worked in the Registrar’s office before taking up a role at the local munitions factory during WWII.
Once the munitions factory closed she was sent to join the NAAFI and was transferred to Bulford Camp in Wiltshire, where she met her paratrooper husband. Over the years, Ruby and her family lived in various places across the world and settled in Farnborough in 1962 after returning from a posting to the USA. Her husband sadly died in 1974 and Ruby was given a council house in Brookhouse Road, where she still lives today.
About Avon
We invite everyone to embrace their power to make the world a better place for all.
We are the beauty brand that proudly helps women everywhere to realise their potential. Millions of independent sales Representatives sell iconic Avon products through social networks built on relationships, with every sale of Avon products supporting women around the world*. Our unique omnichannel eco-system gives consumers access to our brand when, where and how they want.
We use our world-class innovation capabilities to develop high quality and award-winning holistic beauty and wellbeing products, ensuring the very best beauty is accessible and affordable for all. Plus, all Avon beauty and personal care products are approved under Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny Programme.
We stand for progress for women: we believe in listening to women’s needs, speaking out about issues that matter and creating positive change for people and planet. Through Avon and the Avon Foundation, we’ve donated over $1.1billion, with a focus on tackling gender-based violence and breast cancer. Avon is part of the Natura &Co Group. Learn more at www.avon.uk.com