Nail Software Ambassador Jenny Bui Shares Her Story to Inspire Others

Becoming a posh boutique owner, celebrity nail stylist, and Booksy Ambassador for nail software is a dream that many techs have at an early age. But for Jenny Bui, achieving world-wide recognition meant traveling a tougher road than many people could even imagine. In fact, when Jenny retells her story, it still brings tears to her eyes. 

Nicknamed the “Queen of Bling,” this Bronx based nail artist is best known for her signature style—applying Swarovski crystals to stiletto-shaped nails to create star studded sensations. Two years ago, she won Nail Artist Influencer of the Year at the American Influencer Awards. Since then, her designs have been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Essence. 

Fans of her work say that Jenny creates nail art that sparkles like diamonds. Still at the height of her career, an appointment with this self-taught manicurist could run up to $300 for one set of acrylic nails. Yet the long list of celebrities who’ve spent that amount or more to sport 2 to 4 inch long crystal laden nails, include rapper Cardi B. and Love & Hip Hop cast member Yandy Smith. 

Despite reaching the top of the mountain in the nail industry and very literally being crowned its queen, Jenny stays humble. Read her story to find out more about her past, and get brought up to speed on her latest projects. And in the process, learn how Jenny stays grounded, despite being the brightest star in the sky, who continues to shine one crystal at a time.

Escaping the Cambodian Genocide 

If the name Jenny Bui doesn’t immediately ring a bell, then it’s time to take note. And for those who’ve already heard of Jenny, pay close attention to her story and learn about the hardships she overcame, which she shares to inspire others. Jenny was about five years old when political conflict wreaked havoc on her life and the lives of her family, who were all living in Cambodia. 

Between 1975 to 1979, the Cambodian Genocide was an explosion of chaos and mass violence. Approximately 1.7 million people were murdered by the Khmer Rouge, a communist political group. The Khmer Rouge wanted to create a classless society based entirely on worker-peasants, and they took power in the country directly after the Cambodian Civil War.

For Jenny, who was still so young, this meant losing everything. After she turned eight years old, Jenny remembers walking nearly 300 miles to flee to the neighboring country of Thailand. It took six months for her family to escape the political violence and atrocities on foot. And during that time, Jenny remembers her younger brother dying due to a starvation-related illness.

“We had to keep walking and walking. I tried to look for my father in the dark. We walked for days without shoes or enough clothes. And now, I cannot really talk. Every time I talk, I cry because it was so bad,” Jenny said, taking a moment to collect herself and find her strength. 

The family spent the next decade as displaced refugees without a homeland or even a country where they spoke the dominant language. Eventually, they relocated to Vietnam. Around the time that Jenny was 14 years old, they moved again to Canada. Several years later, she met her first husband and together they moved to the United States to start a new life. 

Becoming the Queen of Bling

Despite her efforts, the first marriage didn’t last. It ended in a divoce that left Jenny a single mother raising three kids in New York. At age 24, she started working inside a local nail salon. It was her first introduction into all things bling. Just a few months after being introduced to the world of nails, Jenny started her own nail salon in Harlem, a New York City borough.

With only $3,000 in savings, it was make or break time. And Jenny wasn’t going to let anything stop her. Unfortunately, she experienced even more obstacles. As a Cambodian immigrant with a thick accent, she confronted racism like none other. Clients called her names. Customers left before paying their bills. And some even physically attacked her. 

Even while suffering the harsh reality of racism, Jenny dug deep within herself to begin creating her signature style. And despite the hardships she experienced, new customers would flock to her space and request her services. Eventually, she started rubbing elbows with online influencers and A-list celebrities who encouraged Jenny to create an Instagram profile.

“And then Yandy Smith tells me, ‘why don't you do Instagram?’ I say, what is Instagram? You know, I don't know. And then she helped me to set it up. That's why I got followers and stuff like that. They see my name. Because you know, like before, I don't have Instagram. Only the Harlem community knows me, because I'm really good,” said Jenny. 

Jenny eventually expanded her business and opened a second location, which also attracted larger than life celebrities. To date, Jenny has 1.3 million Instagram followers. And that’s because even before Cardi B. exploded onto the rap scene and spread the word about Jenny’s nails, high-class customers knew her name, loved her brand, and wanted her nails.

Spreading Nail Software as an Educator

When it comes to the subject of her success, Jenny earned everything herself. This industry pioneer accomplished so much by creating some of the most beautifully crafted nail designs the world has ever seen. More recently, this business savvy entrepreneur and nail software ambassador who attracts clients from around the globe has been working as an educator.

Whether it's virtual or in person, Jenny has been dedicating more time to sharing industry secrets and helping others learn some of the fundamental keys to her success. Already, Jenny has inspired thousands upon thousands of nail techs to be the best version of themselves both inside the salon and while marketing themselves online.

Just a few months ago, Jenny co-hosted Stay Polished, a virtual networking event created by Booksy and Nailcon. As a Booksy Ambassador, Jenny was able to promote nail software throughout the full day schedule. She also shared nail design techniques, discussed business strategies, and freely encouraged networking between her colleagues.

According to Jenny, the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly tough on nail techs. Her clients have spent less time in the salon than ever before. That’s part of the reason that she decided to devote more time than ever to educate while promoting nail software. Right now, her continued goal is to help other small business owners stay afloat during this tough time. 

“Business right now is no good—because of quarantine. Before, I had almost 30 workers. And now, it's only like six or seven,” Jenny said. She added that nail salon software apps like Booksy are a great way for nail techs to continue to market their services while attracting more clients, despite the harsh reality that business is still much slower than usual. 

Promoting Nail Software to Inspire Others

When it comes to helping nail techs succeed in today’s industry, promoting Booksy’s nail software has been a big part of the responsibilities that Jenny continues to juggle. More nail techs than ever before are turning to her for advice because of the pandemic. And she’s the perfect business owner to share her story and inspire others.

“A lot of nail techs—like a lot of new nail techs, before they read my story, they want to give up. I tell them don't give up, you know, keep going. And a lot of people are thankful to me. They say, without you, I don't have today, because I wanted to give up. And some people tell me, because I had such a hard time that I understand them,” said Jenny. 

In addition to sharing her story, Jenny also promotes the business advantages to using nail software. In particular, she describes the scheduling features for business owners, staffers, and independent contractors. Booksy helps Jenny better run her business and manage clients. Her staffers schedule appointments 24/7 without any hassle, which has been a dream come true.

Additionally, Booksy offers No-Show Protection features. And that means service providers can charge clients a percentage of a service upfront or apply a cancellation fee in case there’s a no-show or last-minute cancellation. Although this tool may seem simple, it’s a valuable resource for eliminating cancellations and reducing no-shows.

Another feature that Jenny raves about is the Booksy Marketplace. It helps industry experts better market themselves and showcase their expertise. Booksy providers simply need to follow the Profile Completeness process to better establish their businesses on Booksy. It’s easy for business owners to follow the steps to unlock different rewards and access new opportunities to make sure they’re taking full advantage of Booksy.