We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenni Vo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenni, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
“Inspiration” for me means motivation to be a better individual. So I would say ambition and kindness are what inspire me. I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by friends who built their own empires from the ground up purely through hard work and dedication, all the while staying humble and kind. Watching their resiliency to always strive for better has taught me that sky is the limit. You can do anything you put your mind to, as long as you have the ambition to shoot for the stars.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I moved to the States from Vietnam when I was 12 following my parents’ wishes. Being the oldest child and the first member of my family to live here, I had a completely different career path in mind. All my teenage years I wanted to either be an attorney or a writer, thinking that if I wasn’t in either of those career paths, I would be a failure. I lost my father when I turned 23, and when he was gone I had realized that I was actually lost. I didn’t know where I would go without his guidance and support. Life is a funny thing, because around the same time I lost him, I met the person who would be my mentor now and she helped put my career in the beauty industry in motion.
What I love most about my job is how I can make my clients feel beautiful. I always tell them that the smallest act of self care can make a big difference, even if it is something small like a pair of groomed brows. I remember when I first started taking clients professionally, I had anxiety every day. I would doubt myself, my work, and my knowledge. But I still showed up for my clients. I told myself that as long as I put my passion and love into it, my work will speak for itself. I would practice for at least an hour every day to get my hands warm and create muscle memory. I would look at other artists’ works who have come before me to study their methods. This job has taught me that as long as I put my heart into something, I can overcome any challenge. My goal is for my clients to know that not only can I make them feel beautiful, I can also lend them a place of comfort, a small escape from their busy schedules, so that when they leave my chair they are ready to tackle their own challenges.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a big foodie, so if I had my way I would only take them to restaurants to eat all day! I love Korean BBQ, so I would definitely take them to Road to Seoul in Downtown. It was one of the first kbbq place I went to when I first moved to LA and it has stuck with me since. For good drinks I would take them to Firefly in Studio City. I like that place because their lounging area resembles an old library, their dining area is outdoor and cozy. It feels as though you’re in an intimate dinner in a really nice garden. I also like Elephante in Santa Monica. It’s a chic restaurant with a nice view. For activities I’d ask them if they prefer the beach or the mountains. If they like the beach, I would take them to see Malibu & Laguna for ocean views and nice cliffs. If they prefer dry land I would take them hiking to Paradise Falls in Thousand Oaks, or a nice spot with great views would be the Culver City stairs or the Calabasas stairs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my mentor, boss, and most importantly my best friend Katya Dmitrenco.

I met Katya as a client when I was working as a server full time. I was working 14 hours/day, four days a week. Katya saw how exhausted I was all the time. She offered to take me under her wing and teach me about microblading. Microblading is a semi-permanent makeup procedure that mimics your natural brow hair pattern. This was about 5-6 years ago, it was fairly new to the States and in the beauty industry. Naturally I was nervous and doubted myself for a long time. I remember there was a period when I had given up practicing for 6 months. But Katya was very patient with me and waited until I was ready again. She didn’t push me, she wasn’t disappointed when I gave up. Instead she believed in me and what I can bring to the table. She calls me her little project and she’s right. I would not be where I am today had it not been for her and I’m forever grateful.

Website: www.kd-brows.com

Instagram: @jenkdbrows

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