Brian Jeffrey
Turning Passion into a Career
After failing the university entrance exams twice, Minh chose to follow his true passion: drawing. Coming from a low-income family, he learned art online during 2014-2015 and started teaching drawing classes at home to support himself.
Within a year, he opened a small tattoo parlor in Cu Chi district. Later, he received an invitation to Go Vap to teach painting to manicurists seeking to enhance their skills.
“Back then, the nail industry was still quite undeveloped,” he remembered.
A Shift in Career
While he was teaching art, Phat was encouraged to become a manicurist. Initially, he wasn’t passionate about the job, but he accepted it since it allowed him to continue pursuing his love for painting while earning a living.
With his artistic abilities, Phat quickly adapted to this new role and eventually grew to enjoy it.
“The biggest barrier I faced was not just the technical aspect but also societal prejudice regarding my sexuality. This perception lingered, even after I got married,” Phat shared. Additionally, at that time, working as a manicurist was viewed as a low-status profession.
Phat attributes his progression to a genuine love for his work and an unwavering commitment to learning.
Overcoming Challenges
Alongside overcoming gender biases, Phat also had to tackle financial hardships during his early career.
While his peers focused solely on refining their skills, Phat had to deal with various challenges, including a lack of funds for tools. He often practiced nail art on paper, using colored pencils meant for kids.
“People only see my current achievements without knowing the struggles I’ve faced,” Phat explained.
A Rewarding Career Today
Now, Phat is a dedicated instructor with a busy schedule from Monday to Saturday. He also hosts online classes for students overseas in the evenings.
He believes that capturing emotions is the most challenging aspect of portrait art. Yet, he insists that mastering technique is essential for effectively conveying emotions, stating, “Strong technique is critical to expressing feelings.”
His favorite nail style is artistic nails, which he believes highlight the artistic potential of the nail industry. The piece he is most proud of is a hand-painted design he created for the Nailympia Vietnam 2024 competition.
