"I dropped out of high school when I was in 10th grade and I never looked back."
Growing up, it was always her dream to work at MAC Cosmetics. She'd beg her parents to take her to get her makeup done there any time she had a special occasion coming up. "That was the first time that I really saw true artistry, watching all the MAC girls at the mall," said Vo. Despite having no professional training, she managed to accomplish her goal and landed a job offer. "I dropped out of high school when I was in 10th grade and I never looked back."
After that decision, she worked for other makeup brands as well, like Shiseido, Laura Mercier, and NARS.
Simultaneously on the side she began doing makeup for weddings in the Bay Area. "It's what made me a strong artist," said Vo. Brides made up her solo clientele at the beginning, and she built up her reputation to the point where she was able to quit her job at the makeup counter and freelance full-time.
But Vo always had a dream of moving to New York City and she gave up the steady money she was making doing bridal makeup to make it happen. At the time, "I had just gotten dumped by my boyfriend," she said. "Everybody was trying to be a makeup artist, and it was really hard."
She knew she needed to get an agent but she had trouble getting a response to her emails. "It was terrifying because my portfolio was like, here's my pretty cousin," said Vo. "I'd walk into these agencies and there'd be magazine covers and celebrities everywhere. It was so intimidating."