Interview with Jennifer Chan

Jennifer Chan is a fashion and beauty editor, style expert and on-air host who has worked for such publications as InStyle.com, The Daily, typeF.com, JustLuxe, ELLE.com, BET.com, Real Simple Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), Jaguar/ Range Rover Cars, BCBGMAXAZRIA, VIVID Magazine and more.

Passionate about celebrity style, fabulous beauty products and head-turning fashion trends, Jennifer knew from an early age she was destined for the fashion world and plunged into the industry as a teen model growing up in Houston, TX. A graduate of Pepperdine University, Jennifer holds degrees in Journalism and Public Relations, and also completed an intensive publishing program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.

Currently based in Los Angeles, Jennifer steps out in style every night covering a flurry of fashion and beauty events and parties for The Daily and regularly mingles with celebrities, industry insiders, socialites and VIPs. Jennifer is also the Senior Fashion and Beauty Correspondent for JustLuxe and the Style and Beauty Correspondent for typeF.com, where she hosts the site’s popular ‘Style on the Street’ fashion video series.

An exuberant, charismatic personality with a discerning creative eye, Jennifer loves to inspire women of all shapes, colors and sizes to feel fabulous and beautiful from the inside out; and hopes to increase the exposure of Asian-Americans in the media.

Asiance: Jennifer, How did you get started in Fashion?

Jennifer: I always knew I wanted to work in fashion. I was that little girl who played fashion show for hours on end, changed outfits 10 times a day and owned way too many Barbies. I actually started modeling in high school for a well-known department store in Houston, and started learning the ropes of what goes on behind-the-scenes.

While I was still in high school, I started interning downtown in their PR and Special Events department and experienced everything from styling catalog shoots, booking models, coordinating event details, filling goodie bags, assisting with stylist pulls and more. I loved every minute of it and knew I had found my calling.

I wanted to increase the exposure of Asians in this industry. I didn’t see a lot of diversity anywhere and wanted to change that. This led to additional internships in the editorial world, and I lucked out and got published before I had even started college. I double-majored in Journalism and Public Relations at Pepperdine and served as the fashion editor of the campus paper. I kept interning for every fabulous company I could think of and soaked up every experience like a sponge. I moved to New York right after graduation, landed a full-time styling job at a major magazine and never looked back!

Asiance: You have interviewed quite a number of celebrities. Who were you most excited to meet?

Jennifer: I actually never get star struck, but when David Beckham touched my arm and chatted me up with his adorable accent during an interview at Posh’s birthday party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, my heart stopped beating for just a second.

Asiance: You are currently working on Tyra Banks’ typeF.com site. How has that been?

Jennifer: It’s been great! It’s such a rewarding site to work for because it’s built on this important concept that I feel really passionately about. We embrace all body shapes, colors, ethnicities, everything. typeF.com is all about real women, real beauty and finding solutions that work for you. I also host a fun new fashion video series for the site called “Style on the Street”, where I travel around to different neighborhoods and interview real girls about their personal style. I’m heading to New York next month for Fashion Week to shoot new fall videos, which is really exciting. I hope to do more on-air work soon.

Asiance: You seem to have so much energy. What do you attribute that to?

Jennifer: Everyone says that! I think I genuinely have an earnest passion and dedication to this industry. I can’t imagine not working creatively in fashion in some way, and it’s something I’ve been working towards for many years, so it’s rewarding every step of the way. It’s a labor of love that drives me every day.

Asiance: Any advice for those women out there that might want to follow in your footsteps?

Jennifer: Intern as much as you can, absorb the environment and find a fabulous mentor. If you’re an assistant, try to think two steps ahead of your boss, work hard and become good at what you do—no matter what it is. The fashion industry is filled with passionate, creative, dynamic people. Find your place in it and don’t be afraid to ask for a nudge of category_idance from those you admire.

Asiance: Love your smile, Jennifer. Care to let us in on some of the beauty products you personally use?

Jennifer: Why thank you! My signature lip color is always a cheerful hot pink color. As for products, I love MAC lip glass, Smashbox gel eyeliner, LORAC liquid liner, Bare Minerals Matte foundation, Dolce & Gabbana eye shadow, Colorescience corrector palette and Lancôme mascara. I always set everything with Skindinavia finishing spray for great lasting power on long days.

Asiance: Where do you see yourself doing in five years?

Jennifer: In short, pursuing my passions and dreams.