User:Hsenda

Early Life
Konstantina Dimitra Mahlia was born in Vancouver, Canada and though a first generation Canadian of Greek origin, and her childhood was filled with British influences. Mahlia enjoyed a bucolic childhood growing up in Vancouver. She attended one of Vancouver's most prestigious private schools where she excelled. As a top student, Mahlia was involved in student government, voted class president several times, was in choir, debate, theatre and was asked to run for Head Girl in her senior year. At 15, as Head of Missions, she began to exercise her taste for entrepreneurship by coming up with innovative business models to raise funds. Mahlia was always interested in the design world. Artistic careers were not highly regarded in her curriculum, and as a top debater she was encouraged to pursue a career in law. In a discussion with her art teacher, however, she was told she would never be satisfied if she did not pursue a career in the arts. . Mahlia enrolled at the University of Arizona in 2001 and graduated with both University and English Honors from the University of Arizona in 2003. She was the first non-business major ever accepted into the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at Eller College of Management from which she graduated With distinction in 2004. .

Career
In 2005, Mahlia began selling her jewelry collections with Saks Fifth Avenue; that same year she was voted into the Designer Pavilion at the AGTA GemFair in Tucson Arizona; the largest Gem Show in the world. Her furniture was featured in the Architectural Digest Home Show in New York in 2006. In April 2008, she was invited to sell her jewelry on air with a special collection designed just for QVC. That same year she was named Rising Star by JCK (Jeweler's Circular Keystone). Mahlia opened her first store in January 2007. The collection spans from couture gold and sterling silver collections to demi-couture clothing, furniture, and a bo-chic fashion collection made by Tibetan diaspora in Santa Fe New Mexico. .

Awards
Rising Star: JCK 2006 Panelist:Virginia Festival of the Book March 2008 Architectural Digest Home Design Show: March 2006 Contributor to the Luxury Jewelry Market: JCK 2008 Mar Com Advertising and Marketing GOLD Award 2010 Mar COm Advertising and Marketing PLATINUM Award 2011 Golden Key Honor Society Uof A 2003 Cool store of the Year, INSTORE 2008 Cool Store of the Year, INSTORE 2010 Dean's List U of A 2002 Uof A Honors Society 2003 Sum Lau de English Honors, U of A 2003 University Honors, U of A 2003 Eller Entrepeneurship Program, U of A: Distinction 2004 International Women's Elite, Woman of the Year, 2012, 2013, 2014