Meet Anna Yoo | Educator & Entrepreneur & Miss Korea 2024

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

Hi Anna, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for my business by consistently overhearing friends talk about how bad dating in LA has become. However, noticing that there wasn’t a place for growth or an outlet where people could grow together to speak their minds about how they truly felt about situations for deeper emotional connection, I wanted to start an organization to help create a wellness support group. In a sense, kind of like AA for LA dating culture.

What should our readers know about your business?
Itstartswithyoo is a wellness for dating culture organization currently partnered with an app in San Francisco called clarity with a similar goal and vision. The reason why clarity and itstartswithyoo have decided on a collaboration is because itstartswithyoo was open to doing social, in- person events in the LA area with other organizations, charities, and professionals as clarity was working more on the technical features of the app.

What sets itstartswithyoo apart from other mental health awareness organizations is that we strive to educate and inform our colleagues of the importance of social and emotional awareness and intelligence. We bring in how our childhood attachment styles can affect our future relationships when it comes to dating.

In 2024, for many people, it has become the norm to be online for long periods of time for multiple reasons whether it be for work or personal reasons. However, when it comes to relationships, it is mindful to keep in mind that there is a saying that “hurt people hurt people.” No matter how much of a good person they may be if their childhood was damaged or they can not heal from a past relationship, it is reasonable that they will end up hurting their next partner without even knowing that they are doing it. In fact, some hurt people may even end up thinking their partners are the villains in their story, constantly getting upset when they bring up their past girlfriends and being too emotional.
This is why one of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is that not every man who asks me out has good intentions. It’s why intentions should be stated before anything goes. As California is the state with the most good-looking, unmarried, single people and yet prevalent in hookup culture. I’ve learned that it is ok to move on if a guy treats you like an option.

Having the crown Miss Korea 2024 as a platform for speaking, I believe this community will be important- so people will be able to differentiate what a real, authentic relationship is by solving their past emotional problems and having the strength to acknowledge them before starting a relationship. Not during or after.
One thing I want the world to know about @itstartswithyoo is that we are here to help people with their mental health when it comes to dating. We have noticed that dating in LA is a struggle and it hasn’t been just one person stating this fact. There are multiple people having trouble finding love and we would like to be the first mental health organization that helps couples and groups solve what the issue was with a person’s past relationship or even childhood to help people resolve childhood traumas and understand attachment styles by delving deeper into understanding them. Further, knowing how to be a romantic by asking the right questions may greatly enhance your dating life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the area, I would take them to:
Alabama Hills, Solvang, The Getty Center- Malibu, Disneyland, Palm Springs, The Original Farmer’s Market- The Grove, Santa Monica Pier, and Universal Studios Hollywood
Here would be a little itinerary for a week- long trip:
Sunday- winery in newport or Laguna beach, Food at watergrill
Monday- Solvang, Dinner at First &Oak at the Mirabelle Inn
Tuesday-Disneyland, California Pizza Kitchen
Wednesday-The Original Farmer’s Market in Brentwood or Santa Monica
The Grove, Santa Monica Pier, Food at Kazunori, Getty Center in Malibu, Dinner at Nobu
Thursday– Universal Studios Hollywood, Food inside the theme park
Friday– Alabama Hills- It would take two days to get there. We can stop at nearby liquor stores or grocery stores for food.
Saturday-Alabama Hills & Bishop. It would take two days to get there.
I think Disneyland, as well as the other theme parks in southern California are one of the most fun and interesting places to visit both as a child as well as an adult.
I also believe some of the most fun, interesting, and exciting people, places or things to check out are located in Los Angeles. I believe this is why many people have a love- hate relationship with this city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank my parents as well as my friends who have continued to support me through this path. I was also inspired by the book Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown which has taught me a lot of things about human behavior and psychology which can not be changed. I would also like to acknowledge past lovers who have taught me that emotional intelligence is not something that can be learned in one sitting. This organization is for people who truly want to grow and understand why things are not working out in their love life and be open to receiving some critiquing with an open mindset.

Website: https://www.itstartswithyoo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annayyoo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annayyoo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annayyoo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annayoox

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/it-starts-with-yoo-santa-monica

Other: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1018492479/analytics

Image Credits
Huy Khiem