Jeannie Mai
Jeannie Mai | |
|---|---|
 Jeannie Mai attending "Susan G. Komen's 8th Annual Fashion For The Cure" event - Hollywood, CA on
Sept. 24, 2009 | |
| Born | January 4, 1980 San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Education | Communications |
| Alma mater | De Anza College |
| Occupation | TV Personality |
| Years active | 2005-Present |
| Spouse | Freddy Harteis(Aug 11 2007-) |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2012) |
Jeannie Mai (born January 4, 1980) is an American makeup artist, fashion expert, actress, and TV personality. She is most known for her work as the host of Style Network's How Do I Look?,[1] and USA's "Character Fantasy".[2] As a fashion expert, she is frequently featured on numerous television programs such as NBC's Today Show on the "Fashion Tips Today" segment,[3][4] Extra TV, and E!'s The Daily 10 as well as NBC's co-owned pageant Miss Universe.
Early life
Mai was born in San Jose, California to a Chinese father and Vietnamese mother.[5] She has two younger brothers, Dennis and Daniel.[6] As a child, Mai began experimenting with her mother's toys and would frequently "interview" one of the 16 family members living in her three bedroom house. On her official website, she explained that she gave her relatives makeovers when they first arrived from Vietnam. Mai attended Milpitas High School, but graduated at age 16 and entered De Anza College, majoring in Communications.[7]
Career
1996–2003: Early career
At 18, Mai launched her career as a makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics while still living in San Jose. As a trainer, she worked her way from face to face until she was eventually traveling the world to work for celebrities such as Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and Rosario Dawson. She has served as a celebrity makeup stylist for MTV’s Total Request Live, KCAL Los Angeles, and Good Morning Sacramento.
In 2003, Mai began auditioning for local television networks with self-written scripts to demonstrate her unique hosting talents. She landed a gig co-hosting the Emmy-nominated Asian American Magazine-Style show Stir, on International Channel Networks. Soon after, the San Francisco local music channel, California Music Channel, invited her to host her own music countdown. After gaining attention for her spunky personality and knack for style, Mai became an entertainment reporter and producer of the WB’s The Daily Mixx.[8]
2005–present: Television personality
In 2005, Mai landed her first primetime hosting role on Character Fantasy on the USA Network, where she inspired guests each week to live their fantasies. Following this, she appeared on MTV’s Granted alongside Frankie Muniz and hosted various segments related to fashion and entertainment news on networks such as E!, Lifetime, TLC, and NBC.
On August 11, 2007, Mai married Freddy Harteis[9], host of The Hollywood Hunter airing on The Sportsman Channel.
In 2008, Mai took part in TV history’s first ever attempt to revamp Miss America’s 52 hopefuls on TLC’s Miss America Reality Check.[10] She also starred in Dude, Where’s Your Style a style special turning men from cute to couture, and toured the world as the official spokesperson of Never Accept Ordinary, a line of cosmetics that promotes individuality through color.
In 2009, Mai took over as the host of the Style Network’s popular and Emmy-nominated show How Do I Look?. More than just a “makeover show,” Jeannie empowers women to discover their true beauty, overcome their insecurities, and employ fashion to achieve their career goals. She also served as a correspondent and weekend host on NBC’s Extra TV with Mario Lopez.
Mai has become recognised for her trademark dark, blue hair. She has also become known as the "Fashion Wearapist", and also for her constant "so" in every sentence that she uses. [11]
In 2012, she appeared as a guest judge on Asia's Next Top Model, Cycle 1.
Philanthropy
Mai takes annual mission trips to Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. While abroad she works with Heartbeat Vietnam, a nonprofit devoted to improving health care for impoverished children, and NightLight International, an organization committed to rescuing women and children from sex trafficking and prostitution rings by providing employment and vocational opportunities.
Mai is also deeply committed to supporting females who face obstacles in their careers. She is a supporter of Seven Bar, Dress for Success, Sister To Sister, P.A.T.H, Respect RX, and The Good Shepherd. As a popular stylist and fashionista, Mai also uses her recognition as a platform to promote fledgling female designers and entrepreneurs from around the world by wearing their designs on the red carpet and How Do I Look.
Wearapy
Jeannie Mai is popularly known as the Wearapist. This term comes from her psychology of style she has calls "Wearapy". This is her belief of turning wardrobe style into life therapy; specifically choosing colors and textures to empower your mood, and influence your environment. Rather than focusing on trends or labels, Jeannie teaches how color and textures in personal wardrobe choices can dramatically enhance a woman's self-confidence and mood, while transforming the environment of situations around her.**
Jeannie believes that the simple swaps out of your everyday choices can have a longer lasting effect on your mood and situations, like when dealing with depression, wearing crisp shades of white to refresh energy and restart life.
As a Wearapist, Jeannie also teach women that life's scenarios call for specific Wearapy tactics to improve the outcome. Examples wearing emerald green to job interviews to convey financial strength and empowering change, purple for large group events for a feel of royalty and creativity, and textures of velvet or cashmere for romantic nights out.
"Colors, textures and the way we reveal our body shape can enhance, reflect and affect our every mood, emotion and thought. Fashion has the power to fuel our souls and create a specific audience of energy in our lives. Welcome to my psychology of style, this is wearapy." - Jeannie Mai[12]
References
- ^ "Style Network's How Do I Look?".
- ^ "USA Networks's Character Fantasy".
- ^ Weisman, Jon (August 5, 2009). "'Today' to give lifestyle tips". Variety.
- ^ Weprin, Alex (August 5, 2009). "Style Network Repurposing Segments From NBC's 'Today'". Broadcasting & Cable.
- ^ iheartjeanniemai.com/about/
- ^ "AA Rising's Interview with Jeannie Mai"
- ^ "Jeannie Mai's bio on her official website".
- ^ Jeannie Mai at IMDb
- ^ http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/personality-jeannie-mai-and-husband-freddie-attend-the-news-photo/132198016
- ^ "How Do I Look? Cast bios".
- ^ http://bellapetite.com/fashion-wearapist-jeannie-mai-host-style.network-how-do-i-look.html
- ^ http://www.stylebistro.com/How+Do+I+Look+-+Jeannie+Mai+Dissects+10+Celebrity+Styles
Further reading
- "Jeannie Mai: 'Empowering women. I want young women here to do whatever it is that they dream to do.'", The Other Asians, April 21, 2011. Interview with Jeannie Mai.