Jeannie Mai, a Vietnamese-American TV host, left a deep impression on young audiences at a meeting last week at the American Center in HCMC where she shared her thoughts on life, career and ways to success.

Jeannie Mai in the Vietnamese ao dai.

The meeting was part of her trip to Vietnam until August 15 to join activities of the Pacific Link Foundation to fight human trafficking which will take place in Hanoi and Lao Cai. 

Mai said she had been part of the project since she found out the issue six or seven years ago.

 She has worked with the foundation in Vietnam and has come to the country to visit the shelter, work with women rescued from trafficking, and empower them.

During the meeting, the 37-year-old emphasized the importance of being who we are and being confident in whatever we do. 

“If someone who says no to you, it means that they say no to themselves not something you can’t do,” she added.

Her mother was the one who has helped her to truly know herself since she was a little girl.

 “When I was younger, my mom told me that you don’t need to be famous or rich to dress the part... And so on August 9 when I host the television show about fashion, I want to teach other women how to also gain the respect they deserve.”

Mai said following a career passion should be hard. 

“I believe that when you work really hard for your passion, so hard that you almost think that you’re going to give up but you don’t and so hard that you work tirelessly sometimes being underappreciated, sometimes being underpaid, that’s when you are really reaching that dream and I know that from myself. And I never think how I’ve made it, because I’m still chasing my goal but I know all the milestones that I’ve already passed have made me the stronger person I am on August 9.”

When she first started out in television about ten years ago, it was all white Americans, but now a lot more races are mixed. 

“At first I had to work hard to show people that I have my talent that’s different from other people. I’ve worked really hard to prove that. I don’t want people to look at just race. I want people to look at who is the right person for the job and that’s me.’

From the first days of starting her career in television industry, Mai faced judgments about her race. 

“As I’m mixed of Vietnamese and American cultures, so I actually have a more diverse perspective on life.”

Mai said her upcoming project is a new makeover show named “How do I look?” in Asia. It will come out this September and it’s going to be in Vietnam. 

“This is a really fun show I can’t wait to bring here to Vietnam.”

Jeannie Mai is also a makeup artist/fashion expert and a host of many popular TV shows like The Real and Emmy-nominated How do I look?

In 2012, she was an invited judge of the reality show Asia’s Next Top Model. She was also a red-carpet MC for the Golden Globe and Miss Universe contest.

SGT