Rising Stars: Meet Brittany Nguyen of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Nguyen

Hi Brittany, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I got my start doing nails for fellow students out of my dorm as a freshman at UCLA. After gaining more students’ trust and attention, I wanted to build a portfolio and establish brittsnailss as a nail art hub. I continued doing nails for myself and others, and posting them on Instagram until the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. During the pandemic, I really started to focus on creating content on myself, which is how I got the attention of many of the brands I love.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Monetizing my hobby definitely leaves me feeling burnt out from time to time. It can be really discouraging when you put your all into your work only to have the algorithm work against you. I’m also no stranger to comparison—questioning my skills, not feeling creative or unique enough, or wondering why my follower count has plateaued. Whenever I start to feel burdened, I try to remember why I started in the first place: I just love doing my nails. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but there really is no better feeling than taking a step back and feeling proud of my work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For the past six years, my account has been dedicated to nail art. My style ranges from easy at-home manicures to creating Met Gala-inspired looks. I mainly work with nail lacquer and gel polish, but I also experiment with other mediums like dip powder and polygel. More recently, I’ve been trying to branch out and create beauty content. I also love makeup and skincare, so I have really been enjoying filming Get Ready with Me videos and allowing my audience to get to know me better.

Looking back, I’d say I’m most proud of my growth. Not only have my skills improved, but my willingness to embrace new opportunities has opened many doors for me. I used to dread filming reels and tutorials and would put off editing for as long as I can, but now I love exploring ways to make my content better. I used to be terrified of reaching out to brands and asking to be compensated, but now I know the value of my time and output and can negotiate for my best interest while working with brands I love.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve found that just reaching out to people has worked best for me! Some of the best conversations I’ve had and friends I’ve made were just through replying to someone’s story. Whether I strike up a conversation about how much I also love watching New Girl or how I relate to their lived experience, just reaching out has been the best way for me to expand my circle with genuine people.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittsnailss/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@brittsnailss?_t=8pbtB7myszC&_r=1

Image Credits
Brittany Nguyen (@brittsnailss)