Jenny Bui (born c. 1969) is a Cambodian-American nail artist known for her crystal-studded creations. She was named Nail Artist Influencer of the Year in 2019 and is known as "The Queen of Bling."
Among her clients are Love & Hip Hop cast member Yandy Smith and rapper Cardi B. Her designs have become part of Cardi B's signature look.
Early life and education edit
Bui was born around 1970[1] in Cambodia, one of nine children.[2][3] Her father was a cook and her mother a street vendor; both are Chinese.[3][4] She was five when the Khmer Rouge came into power, and her family fled when she was eight, spending years trying to escape; a younger brother died of starvation-related illness.[2][5] Bui and family members fled to Thailand, then Vietnam.[6]
When she was fourteen she and her mother and a brother immigrated to Montreal, sponsored by an older brother who was already there.[2][5] She waited tables and picked strawberries, eventually getting a job in a dental office.[4] At 22 she married and in the 1990s moved to the Bronx with her husband.[5][6] She had her first child at 23 and her second at 25.[4] After her second child was born she attended cosmetology school, planning to style hair, but switched to nails after watching a manicurist.[5][3][4] She had her third child at 28, after which she became a single mother when she and her husband divorced.[4]
Career edit
Bui first worked in a sister-in-law's salon.[5][4] Three months later she opened her own nail salon in the Bronx but didn't make enough money; she sold it for $3000 and opened another in Harlem.[2][4] She described being verbally abused by racist customers at the Harlem shop.[4]
In 2000, while at the Harlem salon and newly divorced, she developed her "signature style" using Swarovski crystals applied to acrylic nails in intricate patterns that "[turn] nail art into jewelry."[7] Her style was originally inspired by an article in a Japanese nail magazine a friend had sent her.[2][4] She specializes in long nails in "stiletto, almond, and coffin shapes" that can take up to three hours to produce and cost up to $300.[5] According to Vogue, 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) is the shortest nail length she's willing to work with.[6] Her creations have earned her the nickname "The Queen of Bling."[2][8]
Her work caught the attention of Love & Hip Hop's Smith, who became a client and helped her set up an Instagram account to showcase her designs.[2]
In 2012 Cardi B, then still working as a stripper at upscale club Sioux's, became a client of Bui at the Harlem salon; Bui designs acrylics 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 4.5 inches (11 cm) long for her.[5][7][6] Cardi B has referred to her as "a second mom."[8] Bui's design for Cardi B's 2018 Grammy appearance "helped bring bling back into the mainstream" according to Christina Parella writing for NYCGo.[5] Bui's designs have become a part of Cardi B's signature look and were featured in a 2019 Super Bowl commercial the rapper appeared in.[9][10]
Other fashion and beauty influencers also contributed to Bui's increasing prominence.[7] Bui has a partnership with Swarovski and her own line of nail polish, Jenny Secret.[8][7]
As of 2020 Bui has two salons, Jenny's Spa in the Bronx's Fordham neighborhood and Nails on 7th in Harlem, and 20 employees.[5][7]
Recognition edit
Bui was named Nail Artist Influencer of the Year award at the 2019 American Influencer Awards.[2] She was a judge for the 2020 Beauty Envision Awards.[11]
In popular culture edit
Bui was impersonated by drag performer Gia Gunn on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[12][13][14]
Personal life edit
Bui has been married twice. She has three children with her first husband and two with her second husband.[2][4][7][6] She met her second husband, Billy Bui, who owned an auto body shop, in 2004.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Meet Cardi B's manicure magic maker: Jenny 'Queen of Bling' Bui". COOLS. March 8, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Morgan, Heather R. "Not Just Cardi B's Nail Artist: Jenny Bui Explains How Surviving Khmer Rouge Gave Her Fearless Determination As An Entrepreneur". Forbes. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c Read, Bryan (May 17, 2019). "Cardi B's Manicurist, 'Queen of Bling' Jenny Bui, Reveals Traumatic Khmer Rouge Story". NextShark. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shunatona, Brooke (February 5, 2018). "The Astonishing Life Story of Jenny Bui, Cardi B's Nail Artist". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Parrella, Christina (June 26, 2019). "In the Salon with Nail Artist Jenni Bui". NYCgo.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Branch, Kate (May 7, 2018). "Cardi B's Nail Artist Did My Manicure for the Met Gala—And It Totally Upstaged My Dress". Vogue. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Cambodian refugee behind Cardi B's famous bling nails". South China Morning Post. February 12, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c Trupp, Johanna; Sowa, Emily (January 17, 2020). "Blinged out manicure by Cardi B's nail artist Jenny Bui aka 'The Queen of Bling'". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ Chan, Mi-Anne. "Cardi B's Manicurist Gave Me A Nail Makeover — & The Results Were Wild". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ Diaz, Thatiana. "Cardi B's Pepsi Nails Took 450 Swarovski Crystals — Plus A $9 Polish". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ "Wella Honors Outstanding Salon Industry Artistry at 2020 Beauty Envision Awards". www.salontoday.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "Jenny Bui claps back at Gia Gunn's shocking Drag Race portrayal". Who. December 31, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ "Manila Luzon caused a massive stir on this week's Drag Race All Stars 4". GAY TIMES. December 29, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ "Gia Gunn: People Should Be Laughing, 'Cause I Sure Am". www.out.com. December 31, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2020.