Beneath Thuy's quiet nature and resolve is a wife, mom, and talented business owner behind Bay-Area based, award-winning Ha Design Studio. Her wide span of creative branding skills have allowed her the opportunity to work with various companies in different industries that include LunchBots, Pizza California, Three Sisters Flowers, and Holistic Legal Services.
But beyond her wide-array of accomplishments as a designer, the one thing that stands out to me the most is that she is supportive and a firm believer in being unafraid to step out, be creative, and be different. As a fellow small-business owner and woman, I learned that we shared a lot of the same hopes, aspirations, and challenges. During the chats/lunches we've had, I always remember feeling encouraged and hopeful, even daring to dream big once again. Whenever someone simply says to you "Why not?" as Thuy has said to me on more than one occasion, your mind can't help but start thinking about new ideas to try out and new paths to discover.
Thuy, thank you for trusting my camera and me to capture you in these photographs. Your quiet and encouraging nature is something I can't be grateful enough for. I look forward to more opportunities I can be a support to you the way you have been for me!
But beyond her wide-array of accomplishments as a designer, the one thing that stands out to me the most is that she is supportive and a firm believer in being unafraid to step out, be creative, and be different. As a fellow small-business owner and woman, I learned that we shared a lot of the same hopes, aspirations, and challenges. During the chats/lunches we've had, I always remember feeling encouraged and hopeful, even daring to dream big once again. Whenever someone simply says to you "Why not?" as Thuy has said to me on more than one occasion, your mind can't help but start thinking about new ideas to try out and new paths to discover.
Thuy, thank you for trusting my camera and me to capture you in these photographs. Your quiet and encouraging nature is something I can't be grateful enough for. I look forward to more opportunities I can be a support to you the way you have been for me!
"A truly beautiful woman is someone who is authentic and true to herself. She loves everything about herself and doesn't seek external validation.
Because of this, she radiates happiness and beams with joy. She is kind, daring, creative, intuitive, gentle, and strong all at the same time."
What is one thing you wish you could go back and tell yourself when you were 18 years old?
"You are perfect the way you are. There's nothing to prove.
Have fun and don't take life too seriously."
"[I want young girls to know] that self-confidence makes a woman more beautiful than all the makeup, clothing and jewelry in the world.
"When we put another woman down, we are putting ourselves down."
"Be kind to other women. Too often, young girls see other women as competition and try to cut each other down to feel better about themselves.
I want them to [instead] know that we are stronger when we come together."
"The thing I most appreciate about my life is my daughter. I'm watching her grow into this little human and it's so miraculous.
Seeing how much she looks up to me and mimics everything - I try to be the best person I can be."
"I want [my daughter] to know that she can have it all and have a blast while she's doing it!"
Many thanks to Kat Tinney for her beautiful work on Thuy's hair and makeup!