Welcome to tracynguyen.us

Growing up in Southeast Asia, my father was an artist, and my mother owned a textile company. I would often play with leftover fabrics from my mom’s work, making clothes for dolls and dreaming of a future in fashion. As a shy girl, shaped by the reserved nature of Asian culture, I wasn’t as outgoing as American kids. But when I turned 15, my brother, who was in college, took me to fashion shows at his school. I would tag along, quietly imagining myself walking the runway.

Three days before one of the shows, a model dropped out, and they needed someone to fill in. To my surprise, they asked me to step in. I was over the moon and thrilled to walk the runway. That experience boosted my confidence, and when I turned 17, I decided to compete in the Miss Vietnam beauty pageant in the Vietnamese community in California. I wanted to challenge myself and push beyond my comfort zone. I ended up winning first runner-up in 1998, and again in 2000.

These experiences opened doors for me—leading to community work, charity events, and helping me feel more comfortable in front of crowds. By the time I turned 18, I wanted to attend fashion school, but my parents encouraged me to pursue a more stable career path. I ultimately majored in Management Information Systems, but my passion for fashion never faded. I continued attending modeling auditions, despite facing rejections. Some agencies told me I was too short for runway modeling but recommended beauty and hair modeling instead. My persistence paid off when I landed my first paid modeling job a year later for a documentary book.

After graduating in 2000, I became busy with my real estate job, but fashion remained close to my heart. In 2007, I seized the opportunity to launch my own clothing brand, Savee Couture. I thought, "If they won’t hire me to model, I’ll model my own clothes." In the first year, I modeled all my designs, and a year later, the business took off. By 2022, my brand was acquired by Baccio Couture.

After spending 18 years in the fashion industry, I’ve seen it transform from handcrafted, high-quality pieces to the fast-paced world of disposable fashion. I believe Millennials are the last generation that truly experienced fashion before the rise of fast trends. Now, I’m dedicating the rest of my career to promoting sustainable fashion—recycling, mindful consumption, and making conscious choices to buy less and choose better.

In addition to sustainability, I’m equally passionate about showcasing real and authentic content as an influencer. From thoughtful fashion finds to everyday moments, I believe in sharing with intention—not perfection. Social media has become my platform to express creativity, build community, and inspire others to live stylishly and sustainably, with heart and purpose.