May is officially Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), a month celebrating Asians and Pacific Islanders in America. With all that is going on in the world today, I find it all the more important to celebrate and share the diverse stories about Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to increase awareness, representation, and community.
Which is why during APAHM, I’m excited to highlight Asian Americans creatives to shed more light on the community and to inspire younger generations.
Meet June Farahan, a green beauty entrepreneur and founder of the leading, LA-based wellness and beauty event, Love Beauty Wellness Festival.
Tell us a bit about your background and how you bring aspects of your cultural background in your life.
Although Korean by ethnicity, having been surrounded with friends from many different cultural backgrounds and traveling to many places I truly value these experiences and place importance on having an open mind. An open mind leads to new ways of thinking and gives us perspective on what is important.
What inspired you to start the Love Beauty Wellness Festival?
I have always had a great interest in wellness and after having numerous health issues, decided to place more emphasis and research on holistic healing therapies, re-evaluating my lifestyle, what I cook and eat, what I put on my skin and who I bring into my circle of friends.
Sharing whatever I do learn is part of what makes me happy and thus I decided to utilize my experience in business and my love of learning about wellness and clean beauty to create the Love Beauty Wellness Festival.
Were there any challenges you experienced when creating the Love Beauty Festival, and how do you overcome them?
Yes definitely! Starting any new venture is challenging but embracing the process, being creative and finding solutions is everything!
What is the main mission of the Love Beauty Festival?
To provide a platform for clean beauty and wellness leaders and brands and to create a wellness community inspired to share and connect.
Do you see a lack of Asian American influence or exposure in the beauty/wellness industry?
Yes– there are too few Asian Americans in all industries, not just beauty and wellness. Perhaps too many of us are naturally and culturally averse to rocking the boat and speaking up. We need to express our views more vocally and speak up and not be afraid to put ourselves out there.
Tell us what a typical day in your life looks like.
Starting the day with gratitude for what I do have and whom I have in my life prepares me mentally for my day. Drinking warm water with lemon followed by a warm tonic and a walk with my dog is my meditation and movement.
What do you do to stay inspired and encourage creativity?
Getting out in nature is precious to me and allows my mind to come up with new ideas. I also love meeting friends for a catch-up to exchange experiences and information. I also allow my mind and body to rest when tired versus trying to burn the midnight oil. We make better decisions and become more inspired when we are well-rested.
If you weren’t an entrepreneur, what would you be doing?
Tending to a farm and adopting lots of dogs.
What are your favorite green beauty or wellness products that you like to use?
I actually make a lot of my own products and some of my favorite ingredients for my skin are shea butter, jojoba oil and sea buckthorn oil. I drink a lot of different tonics and consider the food I eat a big part of my wellness protocol.
Who is a notable Asian American (alive or deceased) that you admire most?
Ann Curry for her grace as a reporter and her time of adversity when leaving NBC, Lisa Ling for her unique views as a presenter and a journalist.
Favorite words to live by?
“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground” ~ Rumi
Thank you for sharing your story with us, June!
Find out more about the Love Beauty Wellness Festival here.
Stay tuned for more stories from leading Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) creatives!
Photos courtesy of June and Love Beauty Wellness Festival.
