Backstage at top fashion week shows, there are a few names, aside from the designer, that stay with the audience. Chief among them is Jin Soon Choi, celebrity manicurist and founder of the Jinsoon nail polish line and luxury spas. The Korean immigrant, who moved to New York City in the ’90s, has become a staple behind the scenes for designers like Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, and Prada. But her path into fashion’s inner circle—and into entrepreneurship—didn’t start with much fanfare. Choi said she arrived in New York with no money and no English. “That was my biggest challenge, and like many Korean immigrants, because I didn’t speak English, I decided to follow their footsteps,” Choi told Retail Brew. She worked odd jobs at grocery stores, nail salons, and Korean spas, but the rushed pace never felt right. “I could not keep up, because I’m more meticulous,” she said. “I’m very detail-oriented. I knew right away that was not for me.” Choi eventually built early client connections, visiting people’s homes for nail services—earning the nickname “Bicycle Jin” after riding to appointments on a gifted bike with a backpack. A few years later, she booked magazine photo shoots with top photographers. With help from her then-boyfriend (now husband) and a nonprofit executive supporting minority women in business, she opened her now-defunct East Village salon. Today, the beauty veteran—now synonymous with luxury nail art—owns multiple spas across the city. Choi spoke with Retail Brew and reflected on her journey, the biases manicurists face, and her advice for young women of color pursuing careers in beauty. Keep reading here.—JS | 
