1. What was the moment, life event or inspiration behind starting your brand?

I moved to the U.S. to study and post college, I pursued a career on Wall Street. Soon after, my health started to take a back seat. The pressure to stay fit and perform well led me into a cycle of unhealthy habits—years of yo-yo dieting, bouncing between obsessive calorie-counting and fast food binges. The impact was almost immediate: constant bloating, breakouts, and overwhelming fatigue. Things hit a new low when I started working at a hedge fund in NYC—long nights, endless stress, and a daily routine fueled by energy drinks.

By the time I turned 25, my body was giving up on me. That wake-up call pushed me to shift my focus inward. I returned to the Eastern wellness practices I grew up with—and the transformation was life-changing. That’s what inspired me to start @glowwithava, as a way to share everything that helped me heal from the inside out.

2. How has your AAPI heritage and culture shaped and informed your brand?

I was born in Korea and raised in China, where I grew up on my mother’s home-cooked meals and traditional elixirs—recipes passed down through generations. Every ingredient served a purpose, whether it was to boost immunity, improve digestion, or balance the body. But when I moved to the U.S., I suddenly lost access to the ancient herbs, antioxidant-rich teas, and Eastern superfoods that were once part of my everyday life. That contrast made me realize how powerful and underrated these practices were—and it inspired me to reintroduce them in a way that felt modern, accessible, and approachable for a Western audience.

3. Is there a specific TCM ingredient (or practice) that you use in your products that you are most excited about right now, and why?

Absolutely—jujubes, hands down! They’re one of my favorite superfoods that's popular in both Korean and Chinese beauty food recipes. Jujubes are incredibly ich in antioxidants. Just two a day have great health benefits beyond just boosting skin elasticity. It can help balance cholesterol levels, support heart health, and aid in weight management. They're a true beauty-from-within ingredient that’s been part of Eastern wellness for centuries.

Another practice I’m deeply passionate about is daily gua sha. It’s my go-to ritual for lymphatic drainage, helping to reduce puffiness, improve circulation, and detoxify the skin. I don’t just use it on my face—I incorporate it into full-body rituals to enhance circulation and support overall well-being.

4. Your story to building byAva begins with your own internal healing from stress and burnout—what role did ancient TCM practices play in your inner transformation?

TCM played a huge role in my healing journey—it helped me understand that true wellness starts from within. One of the core principles of TCM is the belief that everything in the body is interconnected, and that imbalances—whether physical, emotional, or environmental—can manifest in how we look and feel. Returning to these roots gave me the space to slow down, listen to my body, and rebuild healthy habits that supported long-term balance.

It was a mindset shift—realizing that even small daily choices, like choosing a warm latte over an iced one to support digestion and circulation, could make a big impact. These little rituals, rooted in ancient wisdom, became the foundation for my inner transformation—and ultimately inspired the philosophy behind byAVA.