Jeannie Mai

Jeannie Camtu Mai (/maɪ/; born January 4, 1979) is an American hostess, fashion expert, executive producer and TV personality. She is most known for How Do I Look?,^[1] and USA's Character Fantasy.^[2] As a fashion expert, she is frequently featured on numerous television programs and networks such as NBC's Today Show on the "Fashion Tips Today" segment,^[3][4] Extra TV, Entertainment Tonight, Insider and E! Entertainment as well as NBC's co-owned pageant Miss Universe.

She is currently one of the hosts on The Real talk show along with Tamera Mowry-Housley, Loni Love, and Adrienne Bailon, which premiered on July 15, 2013.^[5]

Mai also coined the term wearapy, which she defines as how one can manipulate his/her mood from the outside in through style.^[6]

Early life

Jeannie Camtu Mai was born on January 4, 1979 in San Jose, California, to a Vietnamese mother and Chinese father. She attended Milpitas High School.^[7] She has two younger brothers, Dennis and Daniel.^[8] She attended De Anza College, majoring in Communications.

Career

1998–2004: Early career

At age 18, Mai launched her career as a makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics while still living in San Jose, California. 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, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Osborne and Rosario Dawson. She also served as a celebrity makeup stylist for MTV's Total Request Live, KCAL Los Angeles, and Good Day 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 the 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.^[9]

2005–2012: 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 moved to Los Angeles permanently to appear 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. She also started appearing as a member of the beauty squad on TLC's 10 Years Younger.

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. 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 fashion makeover show How Do I Look?. She also served as a correspondent and weekend host on NBC’s Extra TV with Mario Lopez.

Mai has become recognized 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.^[10]

In 2011, Jeannie began hosting Miss Universe and was the resident fashion expert on the NBC hit series The Biggest Loser.

In 2012, she appeared as a guest judge on Asia's Next Top Model, Cycle 1.

2013–present

In 2013, Mai was the host of a live weekly series titled Style Pop on the Style Network.^[11]

In 2013, Jeannie Mai became co-host of the Fox talk show titled The Real alongside of Tamera Mowry, Loni Love, Adrienne Bailon, and Tamar Braxton.

In 2014, The Real was picked up again for a second season, credited to the fantastic chemistry of Herself, Tamera, Adrienne, Loni and Tamar. The season premiered on September 15, 2014.

In 2015, Mai was the host of the reality competition series titled Steampunk'd on GSN. She also was a fashion correspondent on Entertainment Tonight.

In 2016, she brought her show How Do I Look? to Asia. It airs on the leading women's network in Asia, Diva (Asia TV channel). Jeannie and The Real were nominated for a Daytime Emmy award in the category of Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host and Co-Presenter: Outstanding Game Show

Jeannie Mai is a frequent fashion expert for the Today Show, Wendy Williams and E! News.

Mai attended as a dining room guest in the Season 16 episode Hell's Kitchen.

Non-television activities

Jeannie Mai has been a brand ambassador for numerous companies including: Macy’s, Colgate, Yoplait, The Limited, Microsoft, Biogen, David’s Bridal, Ford, Avon, Splenda and Woolite.

In the digital realm, Jeannie was the resident contributor to Perez Hilton’s fashion site Cocoperez.com. She has also hosted the first-ever stylist competition on YouTube in Maker Studios' “The Next Style Star” and was the digital correspondent for NBC's “Fashion Star.”

Her popularity on television and social media paved the way for Jeannie to become a frequent live event emcee for BeautyCon, America’s largest global beauty experience for millennials and digital content creators.

Jeannie Mai has made it her mission to inspire, educate, and empower women. She received rave reviews as a speaker at events such as Maria Shriver’s The Women’s Conference on the main stage alongside Jane Fonda, Jessica Simpson and Donna Karan. Recently, Jeannie was honored by Ciroc, Variety and WWD Magazine as one of their 2016 Women of Empowerment.

Jeannie’s passion to revolutionize women from the outside in stems from her psychology of style otherwise known as “Wearapy.” She defines Wearapy as her philosophy that personal style and wardrobe can have a transforming and healing effect on a woman’s confidence and mood. Rather than focusing on trends or labels, Jeannie teaches how this practice can lead to a more productive day and in turn a more fulfilling, purposeful life. This passion for empowerment has given her the title of “Wearapist”.

Deeply committed to charities that advance women’s interests, Jeannie serves as a board member for organizations, such as Dress for Success and Same Sky, to build the business potential for women.

As a first generation daughter to immigrant Vietnamese and Chinese parents, Jeannie frequently travels to Asia to volunteer her time with inspiring organizations dedicated to helping those who are less fortunate. For the past five years, she has served as an advocate to fight human trafficking. Currently, Jeannie is an ambassador for the Pacific Links Foundation, an organization committed to rescuing women and children from sex trafficking and modern-day slavery by providing employment and vocational opportunities. She is also an ambassador for Step Up whose mission is to propel girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women. Before that, she served as a missionary and ambassador to organizations such as Nightlight International, Not For Sale and Heartbeat Vietnam.

Personal life

Mai turned to Christianity from Buddhism.^[12] Because of the change on her religion, Mai started a Prayer Box on a hiking trail, Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles.

On August 11, 2007, Mai married Freddy Harteis, host of The Hollywood Hunter airing on The Sportsman Channel.^[13]

Mai has a YouTube channel called The Mai Tube and a blog, The Jeannie Mai which contains articles and videos on topics such as social causes, personal style, family, faith and life.

References

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.

External links

• Official Jeannie Mai Website
• Jeannie Mai at the Internet Movie Database