Jenny Bui facts for kids
Jenny Bui is a famous Cambodian-American nail artist. She is well-known for her amazing nail designs that sparkle with crystals. People often call her "The Queen of Bling" because of her dazzling work. In 2019, she was even named Nail Artist Influencer of the Year.
Many famous people are her clients. This includes Love & Hip Hop star Yandy Smith. The popular rapper Cardi B also loves Jenny Bui's nails. Her unique designs have become a special part of Cardi B's look.
Early Life and Journey
Jenny Bui was born around 1970 in Cambodia. She was one of nine children in her family. Her father was a cook, and her mother sold things on the street. Both of her parents were Chinese.
When Jenny was five, a group called the Khmer Rouge came to power. Her family had to leave their home when she was eight. They spent many years trying to find a safe place. Sadly, her younger brother passed away during their journey.
Jenny and her family traveled to Thailand, then to Vietnam. When she was fourteen, she, her mother, and a brother moved to Montreal, Canada. An older brother who was already there helped them. Jenny worked as a waitress and picked strawberries. Later, she got a job in a dental office.
At 22, she got married. In the 1990s, she moved to the Bronx in New York City with her husband. She had her first child at 23 and her second at 25. After her second child was born, she went to cosmetology school. She planned to style hair. However, she changed her mind after watching a manicurist. She had her third child at 28. After this, she became a single mother.
Becoming the Queen of Bling
Jenny Bui first worked in her sister-in-law's salon. Four months later, she opened her own nail salon in the Bronx. But she did not earn enough money there. She sold it and opened another salon in Harlem.
In 2001, while working in Harlem, she created her special style. She started using tiny Swarovski crystals on acrylic nails. She made beautiful, detailed patterns. These designs made nail art look like jewelry. She got the idea from a Japanese nail magazine. A friend had sent it to her.
Jenny specializes in long nails. She creates "stiletto, almond, and coffin shapes." These nails can take up to three hours to make. They can also cost up to $300. Her amazing creations earned her the nickname "The Queen of Bling."
Her work soon caught the eye of Yandy Smith from Love & Hip Hop. Yandy became a client. She also helped Jenny set up an Instagram account. This helped Jenny show off her beautiful designs to more people.
In 2012, Cardi B became a client at Jenny's Harlem salon. Jenny designs long acrylics for Cardi B. Cardi B has even called Jenny Bui "a second mom." Jenny's design for Cardi B's 2018 Grammy appearance was very important. It helped bring sparkly nails back into fashion. Jenny's designs are now a big part of Cardi B's famous look. They were even in a 2019 Super Bowl commercial with the rapper.
Other fashion and beauty influencers also helped Jenny become more famous. Jenny Bui works with Swarovski. She also has her own line of nail polish called Jenny Secret. As of 2020, Jenny Bui has two salons. One is Jenny's Spa in the Bronx. The other is Nails on 7th in Harlem. She has 20 employees working for her.
Awards and Recognition
Jenny Bui has received special awards for her work. She was named Make Up Artist Influencer of the Year in 2019. This award was given at the American Influencer Awards. She also served as a judge for the 2020 Beauty Envision Awards.
Personal Life
Jenny Bui has five children.
