Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Le.
Hi Kelsey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
It’s actually kind of funny when I’m asked this because I’ve never pictured myself being a nail technician as I was growing up although I spent a lot of my childhood in nail salons. My Vietnamese mother became a nail technician after immigrating here as a refugee. At that time, it was such a stereotype to be an Asian woman in the nail business.
I grew up hearing her tell me how hard the industry is and that she would never want me to do something that required so much backbreaking work. Literally. She would tell me that her back would hurt from doing pedicures. I would always go to work with my mom on weekends because she was strict and wanted my sister and me to be with her rather than at home alone.
I learned a lot through helping my mom around the salon but didn’t think much of it. When I graduated from high school, I was completely lost. I tried to go to a university and ended up dropping out after one quarter. I ended up in the beauty industry (mostly skincare and makeup) and fell back on an esthetician license. I never utilized it much until I was fired from a management position unexpectedly.
I began doing lash lifts and moved on to nails. It was liberating. It felt so amazing to find a creative outlet that I was actually good at. I realized that I am doing so well because of the foundations I’ve learned from my mother and the times she brought me to work with her all those years.
My page @selfmadekelsey on Instagram just turned three this March and I’ve been able to do tons of things I never thought possible, including this interview!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Why is this question making me so emotional?!
But no, it’s definitely been a hard journey for me. I would say that I have been my own worst enemy. I’ve held myself back due to self-doubt and lack of confidence before.
There were times I wanted the acceptance of people around me, but I grew out of it and let those meant to be in my life, come or come around. I stopped listening to all the noise and just focused on the voice in me.
Since then, maybe a year ago, things have been much smoother.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So I know that I have been speaking a lot on my nail journey, but I am also the founder of @lagoldinc on Instagram. I mention this because I’m equally as proud of that brand as I am @selfmadekelsey.
Los Angeles has been a huge part of my journey. I have so much pride in the city I come from. I created @lagoldinc because I wanted a way to wear that pride since I know so many of us to feel this way about LA.
Before I created the brand, I posted my nose hoop ring on Twitter along with samples of the LA nose hoop and it blew up. It became a business overnight. I had nonstop DM’s for three whole days and created a website for preorders right away.
Now, I do nails AND slang jewelry that I envision and make come to life. I’m most proud of being able to do both because they make me happy and I’ve always just dreamed of doing what I love.
What do you think about happiness?
Getting to do what I love. Every day. I wake up and I feel purpose.
I never knew what I would end up doing as a child, a teen, and even a young adult, but in my mid-20s, I finally feel like I’ve figured it out a bit more.
There’s a lot left to do, but it makes me happy that I’ve started some things that will follow me and soon become the foundation of who I become.
Contact Info:
- Website: lagoldinc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfmadekelsey/
- Other: Instagram.com/lagoldinc
