Jenny Bui facts for kids
Jenny Bui was born around 1969 in Cambodia. She is a famous Cambodian-American nail artist. She is known for her amazing nail designs that sparkle with many crystals. People often call her "The Queen of Bling" because of her shiny creations.
In 2019, she was even named the Nail Artist Influencer of the Year. Many celebrities love her work. Her clients include Love & Hip Hop star Yandy Smith. The famous rapper Cardi B also gets her nails done by Jenny. Jenny's designs have become a big part of Cardi B's unique style.
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Jenny Bui's Early Life and Journey
Jenny Bui was born in Cambodia around 1970. 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 took control of Cambodia. Her family had to leave their home when she was eight. They spent years trying to escape. Sadly, her younger brother died because he didn't have enough food. Jenny and her family went to Thailand, then to Vietnam.
Moving to a New Country
When Jenny was fourteen, she moved to Montreal, Canada. Her mother and a brother came with her. An older brother who was already there helped them. Jenny worked hard, waiting tables and picking strawberries. She later got a job in a dental office.
At 22, she got married. In the 1990s, she moved to the Bronx in New York 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 first planned to style hair. But she changed her mind after watching a manicurist. She had her third child at 28. After that, she became a single mom when she and her husband divorced.
Jenny Bui's Amazing Career
Jenny Bui started her career working in her sister-in-law's salon. Just four months later, she opened her own nail salon in the Bronx. But she didn't earn enough money there. She sold it for $3,000 and opened another salon in Harlem. She faced some tough times there, including rude customers.
The Queen of Bling's Signature Style
In 2001, while working at the Harlem salon, Jenny created her special "signature style." She started using Swarovski crystals on acrylic nails. She made detailed patterns that looked like jewelry. Her idea came from a Japanese nail magazine a friend sent her.
Jenny is known for making long nails. These include "stiletto," "almond," and "coffin" shapes. Creating these designs can take up to three hours. They can also cost up to $300. According to Vogue magazine, the shortest nails she works with are about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. Her beautiful creations earned her the nickname "The Queen of Bling."
Working with Celebrities
Jenny's work caught the eye of Yandy Smith from Love & Hip Hop. Yandy became a client and helped Jenny set up an Instagram account. This helped Jenny show off her amazing designs to more people.
In 2012, Cardi B became a client at Jenny's Harlem salon. At that time, Cardi B was working as a dancer. Jenny designs acrylic nails for Cardi B that are usually 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 4.5 inches (11 cm) long. Cardi B has even called Jenny "a second mom."
Jenny's design for Cardi B's 2018 Grammy appearance was very important. It helped bring "bling" nails back into fashion. Jenny's designs are now a key part of Cardi B's famous look. They were even shown in a 2019 Super Bowl commercial where Cardi B appeared.
Other fashion and beauty influencers also helped Jenny become more famous. Jenny Bui now works with Swarovski crystals. 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 Fordham area of the Bronx. The other is Nails on 7th in Harlem. She has 20 employees working for her.
Awards and Recognition
Jenny Bui received the Make Up Artist Influencer of the Year award in 2019. This was at the American Influencer Awards. She was also a judge for the Beauty Envision Awards in 2020.
Jenny Bui's Family Life
Jenny Bui has been married three times. She has three children with her first husband. She also has two children with her second husband, Billy Bui. She met Billy, who owned an auto body shop, in 2004.
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