: Mestre claims she was terminated after refusing to implement a hiring policy that prioritized white applicants over other races.
The "44" in your search often highlights a critical data point from Sephora’s own 2021 . The study revealed stark differences in how minority groups experience shopping:
The phrase refers to a growing intersection of legal challenges and social controversies involving the retail giant Sephora, particularly concerning the treatment of Latina employees and customers. While the number "44" is often linked to statistical disparities in racial profiling—specifically that 44% of Black and BIPOC retail shoppers report unfair treatment based on their skin color—recent high-profile legal cases have brought the specific experiences of the Latina community to the forefront. The Nixaliz Mestre Retaliation Case Latina Abuse Sephora 44
: According to the complaint, Sephora’s internal policy aimed to "match store employees with the customer demographics" of each specific location, which Mestre argued was a discriminatory practice.
: In April 2025, a U.S. District Court judge in Georgia refused to dismiss Mestre’s claims, allowing the case to move forward into the discovery phase. Racial Profiling Statistics (The "44%" Connection) : Mestre claims she was terminated after refusing
: The singer SZA reported being racially profiled at a Calabasas location, which led Sephora to close all U.S. stores for a day of diversity training.
: Sephora was sued for deactivating thousands of accounts with "Asian-sounding" names during a sale, allegedly suspecting them of being bulk resellers. While the number "44" is often linked to
As of April 2026, Sephora is also fighting legal claims that its digital tools may inadvertently discriminate against users based on race and age.