Life & Work with Yvonne Thųy Trương of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Thųy Trương.

Hi Yvonne Thųy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Long before I ever picked up a makeup brush or stepped in front of a camera, my understanding of storytelling was shaped by the people who raised me. My name is Yvonne Thụy Trương. I’m a Vietnamese American makeup artist and actor, born and raised in Northern California. To truly understand my creative journey, you have to understand my family’s story.
 
My parents came to the United States as refugees from Vietnam in 1975, arriving with very little after a heartbreaking war. I was named after my great-aunt, Yvonne Thụy Trương, who helped bring my father and five of my uncles to the U.S. while raising her own family as a single mother in a foreign country. While some kids grow up looking up to famous superheroes, mine was my “bà cô” (great-aunt). Watching her and my parents navigate a new world taught me the absolute essence of character: resilience, adaptability, and the sheer will to create beauty out of hardship.
 
Many members of my family went on to become successful engineers, professionals, and business leaders, but it was their deliberate outlook on life that left the deepest mark on me. Growing up with immigrant parents, we didn’t have the resources for formal art classes or acting programs. Instead, my upbringing was a masterclass in imagination. My siblings, cousins, and I were immersed in different cultures, foods, music, and travel. Rather than letting the trauma of their past define them, my family intentionally built a life filled with love, community, and relentless curiosity. That choice—to seek out joy and embrace the unknown—was my first real training in art. It taught me to look at the world, and the people in it, with deep empathy.
 
As I got older, my parents encouraged me to explore life beyond what was familiar. Studying abroad in Japan and London opened my eyes to a world of new possibilities. I will never forget watching Les Misérables in London and feeling an undeniable gut reaction: This is exactly what I want to do. For the first time, I could vividly imagine a creative career. I became fascinated not just with the performance, but with everything required to bring a character to life—from the emotional storytelling of the actor to the transformative power of hair, makeup, and wardrobe.
 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Pursuing a creative career hasn’t always been easy, especially growing up in an era where Asian American representation was painfully limited and roles were often built on stereotypes rather than fully developed humanity. The resilience I inherited from my family sustained me through the rejection and uncertainty of the industry. Whenever I questioned if I should pursue a more traditional path, my deep-rooted love for art and storytelling kept me grounded. Makeup artistry provided another canvas—teaching me the business of freelancing, allowing me to build something entirely my own, and proving how beautifully these two careers complement one another.
 
As my life has evolved, so has my definition of success. Becoming a wife and a mother to my beautiful daughter brought me into a season of choosing to slow down professionally, and to be present for the everyday moments and important milestones. I genuinely love being a mom; it is my greatest pride and joy. Motherhood has taught me that I don’t have to choose between devotion to my family and dedication to my craft. Both are vital, enriching parts of who I am.
 
These days, I am finding a beautiful new harmony between motherhood, makeup, and acting. I am exploring new opportunities and embracing this chapter with more confidence and far less pressure to have everything perfectly figured out.
 
If there is one thing my family’s journey has taught me, it’s that life—much like a creative career—rarely follows a straight line. Sometimes you pause, change direction, reinvent yourself, or simply begin again. I’ve come to understand that there isn’t one “right” timeline. Often, it’s the unexpected detours that give us the most profound stories to tell.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I began my dual career in the Bay Area before eventually signing with an agency in Los Angeles. Today, I work as a professional makeup artist specializing in natural beauty, camera-ready looks, and bridal and editorial makeup. I love enhancing someone’s natural features and helping them feel unconditionally confident in their own skin. At the same time, my background in acting gives me a unique perspective behind the chair; I understand intimately how hair and makeup serve as essential tools to build a character and tell a story.
 
Two acting projects that hold a particularly special place in my heart are the Vietnamese American independent film All About Dad, directed by Mark Tran, and my work with the Vietnamese voiceover loop group led by Elyse Dinh for HBO’s The Sympathizer. Both experiences were profoundly meaningful because they allowed me to bring to life the very stories, I grew up hearing. While I never personally experienced the hardships of my parents’ generation, these projects gave me a beautiful opportunity to honor their sacrifices and contribute to Vietnamese representation on screen.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can follow along with my journey on my personal Instagram, where I share life, acting, and everything in between, as well as explore my professional makeup artistry work\!

Personal Instagram: @yvonne_truong
Makeup Artistry: @naturalbeautybyvon
Email: Helloyvonnetruong@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Website: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2692273/
• Instagram: MAKE-UP INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/naturalbeautybyvon?psln=amhraG5tcjdsa3Nz&utm_source=qr
• Other: Personal INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/yvonne_truong?cplk=Zm12YndicDdiNTZ4&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Photographer:

Dana Patrick: danapatrickphoto.com

Marc Cartwright: marccarightheadshots.com

Vivy Sachs Instagram: @vivysachs

Veanne Cao: Veanne.com