Candace Payne is the Vice President of Brand & Seasonal at Sephora. In her role, she is responsible for leading brand strategy and content development for Sephora's best-in-class marketing organization, bringing to life campaigns that inspire, connect, and celebrate beauty in all its forms while amplifying the retailer’s platform, products, and purpose.

Since joining Sephora in 2008, Candace has held a variety of marketing roles while leading priority brand initiatives including the rollout of the retailer’s award-winning “We Belong to Something Beautiful” campaign – Sephora’s first public articulation of its brand values to foster belonging among all clients and employees, and to strive for a more inclusive retail environment. Her creative leadership extends across many of Sephora’s most impactful initiatives, including the retailer’s yearly multi award-winning Holiday campaign, and the launch of Sephora’s first-ever Black-Owned Brands campaign and its accompanying statement film, “Black Beauty is Beauty,” which honored the profound influence of Black culture and innovation in beauty. Candace also played an integral role in the production of “The Beauty of Blackness,” a documentary film that chronicles Fashion Fair, the first cosmetics brand created exclusively for Black women.

With a career rooted in crafting compelling brand narratives and building emotional connection through creative storytelling, Candace continues to shape how Sephora engages and inspires beauty lovers everywhere.

Prior to Sephora, she worked at Creative Artists Agency. Candace has a B.A. in Psychology and French from Claremont McKenna College, and currently resides in the Seattle area with her family.