Jeannie Mai Jenkins
- Actress
- Producer
Jeannie Mai is an American makeup artist, fashion expert, actress, and
TV personality. She is most known for her work as the host of
How Do I Look? (2004) on the
Style Network and
Character Fantasy (2006) on
the USA Network. As a fashion expert, she is frequently featured on
numerous television programs, such as The
Today (1952) Show, NBC's
Extra (1994) TV and E!'s
The Daily 10 (2006).
Mai grew up in San Jose, CA, the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant
father and Chinese mother. Taking after her mother, a local celebrity,
Jeannie began entertaining at an early age, using her mother's makeup
to glitter herself up before leaping out to "interview" one of the 16
family members living in her three-bedroom home.
Mai started out on Disney's "Suite Life of Zach and Cody". At 18, Mai launched her career as a makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics,
while still living in San Jose. As a trainer, she worked her way from
face to face until she was eventually traveling the world to dress the
face of celebrities, such as
Christina Aguilera,
Alicia Keys and
Rosario Dawson. She has served as a
celebrity makeup stylist for MTV's TRL, KCL-Los Angeles and Good
Morning 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 TV (2004),
on International Channel Networks. Soon after, the San Francisco local
music channel, CMC, invited her to become the first female VJ 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 "Daily Mixx".
In 2005, Mai landed her first primetime hosting role on
Character Fantasy (2006) on
the USA Network, where she inspired guests each week to live their
fantasies. Following this, she appeared 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.
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 (2008).
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 show,
How Do I Look? (2004). More
than just a "makeover show", Jeannie empowers women to discover their
true beauty, overcome their insecurities, and employ fashion to achieve
their career goals. She also serves as a correspondent and weekend host
on NBC's Extra (1994), with
Mario Lopez.
Mai frequently takes annual mission trips to Africa, Thailand and
Vietnam. While abroad, she works with "Heartbeat Vietnam", a nonprofit
devoted to improving health care for impoverished children, and
"NightLight International", an organization committed to rescuing women
and children from sex trafficking and prostitution rings by providing
employment and vocational opportunities.
Mai is also deeply committed to supporting females who face obstacles
in their careers. She is a supporter of "Seven Bar", "Dress for
Success", "Sister To Sister", "P.A.T.H", "Respect RX" and "The Good
Shepherd". As a popular stylist and fashionista, Jeannie also uses her
recognition as a platform to promote fledgling female designers and
entrepreneurs from around the world by wearing their designs on the red
carpet and
How Do I Look? (2004).
On August 11, 2007, Mai married
Freddy Harteis, host of
The Hollywood Hunter (2011),
airing on The Sportsman Channel.
In 2010 Jeannie created a Prayer Box that she placed on Runyon Canyon,
a popular hiking spot in Los Angees. Hikers are asked to leave a
personal prayer and take another that has been left in the box. Using
the term "pray it forward", the box encourages visitors to open their
eyes to the prayers of others and share their own, displaying the power
of faith in action. The box has received much attention and has become
a popular destination for residents of the city as well as tourists.
Mai currently live in Los Angeles.
TV personality. She is most known for her work as the host of
How Do I Look? (2004) on the
Style Network and
Character Fantasy (2006) on
the USA Network. As a fashion expert, she is frequently featured on
numerous television programs, such as The
Today (1952) Show, NBC's
Extra (1994) TV and E!'s
The Daily 10 (2006).
Mai grew up in San Jose, CA, the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant
father and Chinese mother. Taking after her mother, a local celebrity,
Jeannie began entertaining at an early age, using her mother's makeup
to glitter herself up before leaping out to "interview" one of the 16
family members living in her three-bedroom home.
Mai started out on Disney's "Suite Life of Zach and Cody". At 18, Mai launched her career as a makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics,
while still living in San Jose. As a trainer, she worked her way from
face to face until she was eventually traveling the world to dress the
face of celebrities, such as
Christina Aguilera,
Alicia Keys and
Rosario Dawson. She has served as a
celebrity makeup stylist for MTV's TRL, KCL-Los Angeles and Good
Morning 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 TV (2004),
on International Channel Networks. Soon after, the San Francisco local
music channel, CMC, invited her to become the first female VJ 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 "Daily Mixx".
In 2005, Mai landed her first primetime hosting role on
Character Fantasy (2006) on
the USA Network, where she inspired guests each week to live their
fantasies. Following this, she appeared 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.
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 (2008).
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 show,
How Do I Look? (2004). More
than just a "makeover show", Jeannie empowers women to discover their
true beauty, overcome their insecurities, and employ fashion to achieve
their career goals. She also serves as a correspondent and weekend host
on NBC's Extra (1994), with
Mario Lopez.
Mai frequently takes annual mission trips to Africa, Thailand and
Vietnam. While abroad, she works with "Heartbeat Vietnam", a nonprofit
devoted to improving health care for impoverished children, and
"NightLight International", an organization committed to rescuing women
and children from sex trafficking and prostitution rings by providing
employment and vocational opportunities.
Mai is also deeply committed to supporting females who face obstacles
in their careers. She is a supporter of "Seven Bar", "Dress for
Success", "Sister To Sister", "P.A.T.H", "Respect RX" and "The Good
Shepherd". As a popular stylist and fashionista, Jeannie also uses her
recognition as a platform to promote fledgling female designers and
entrepreneurs from around the world by wearing their designs on the red
carpet and
How Do I Look? (2004).
On August 11, 2007, Mai married
Freddy Harteis, host of
The Hollywood Hunter (2011),
airing on The Sportsman Channel.
In 2010 Jeannie created a Prayer Box that she placed on Runyon Canyon,
a popular hiking spot in Los Angees. Hikers are asked to leave a
personal prayer and take another that has been left in the box. Using
the term "pray it forward", the box encourages visitors to open their
eyes to the prayers of others and share their own, displaying the power
of faith in action. The box has received much attention and has become
a popular destination for residents of the city as well as tourists.
Mai currently live in Los Angeles.