New recognition honors 25 Triangle women for their influence in their fields and their
commitment to lifting up other women
RALEIGH, N.C. — Monday, October 12, 2026 — Karen Albright, founder and CEO of BodyLase Med Spa, has been named one of 25 honorees of the inaugural Triangle Women of Impact recognition. Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, founder of Success Curated, presented the honor at a private luncheon at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary on October 1, 2026.
Triangle Women of Impact
An independent recognition, open to women in any industry and at any age. Honorees were chosen from nominations submitted by trusted local women leaders, based on their measurable influence in their fields and their commitment to lifting up other women. Albright was honored alongside leaders in business, media, healthcare, law, and the nonprofit community across the Triangle.
“I’m truly honored to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group of women,” said Karen Albright, Founder and CEO of BodyLase. “When I opened BodyLase in 2002, the term ‘med spa’ didn’t even exist in the Triangle. I’ve been lucky to have incredible women beside me at every step—mentors, clients, and a team I’m so proud of. This recognition belongs to them, too.”
Albright founded BodyLase in 2002 as the first stand-alone med spa in the Triangle, starting with laser hair removal before the industry had a name. Over more than two decades, she has grown BodyLase into one of North Carolina’s most recognized names in aesthetics, with locations in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill/Durham, and Clayton.
Today, BodyLase’s team of Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Licensed
Aestheticians brings over 200 years of combined experience to every client. Under Albright’s leadership, BodyLase has been voted Raleigh’s Best Med Spa by readers of The News &
Observer for four consecutive years and named to the 2023 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Albright is also active in the Triangle’s entrepreneurial community and served as president of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Raleigh-Durham chapter.
“Our clients come to us to feel more confident, and I see the same thing happen with the women on our team when they’re given room to grow,” Albright said. “Lifting other women up isn’t separate from building a business. It’s how you build one that lasts. That’s what ‘Confidence Feels Beautiful’ means to me.”