Meet Nancy Nguyen

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nancy Nguyen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nancy, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I don’t think I will ever overcome imposter syndrome because I feel like I will forever be in the process of learning and growing. I think the best way to combat it is to do it scared. Feel the fear, insecurity, doubt, and do it anyway. The only way to get rid of your fears is to do. If you don’t, you never will. If you wait for the perfect timing, that time may never come. Do it today.

Write your story. Post on social media. Go on stage. Stream that video game. Create your art. Sing that song.
Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be perfect. All that matters is that you start.

Lay your foundation now so that you can build and grow from there.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an Actor, VTuber, Licensed Nail Technician & Artist, and Content Creator.

As an actor, I have experience in theatre, voiceover, and film. Most recently in theatre, I was the assistant stage manager and understudy for all the female roles in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon at Synchronicity Theatre. For voiceover, I have booked radio & corporate gigs, but still try to audition for independent projects. For film, I produced, wrote, and starred in my Senior Capstone Film, which is a musical narrative documentary about my journey into acting, the struggles of balancing family approval, chasing my dreams, and hopes for more mindful Asian & Asian-American representation in the entertainment industry. It has been a childhood dream of mine to become an actor and voice actor, so I am very thankful to be able to pursue it in my adulthood.

For those who do not know, a VTuber is a live streamer that provides virtual entertainment while using an avatar with an anime-like aesthetic. I chose the path of VTubing because it almost feels like I’m a superhero with a secret identity. VTubing allows me to protect my privacy for my own personal comfort & safety while having an avatar with my own lore or backstory, which allows both mine and my viewers’ imaginations to run free. I am extremely thankful for the growth I’ve experienced in streaming because I have very helpful Moderators who I see as close friends and a supportive community that is there for me, my personality, my energy, and not just for the video games I play or stream. I can’t count how many times I’ve cried because I was overwhelmed by people around the world showing their love, support, and generosity.

I am also a licensed nail technician & artist. I love being able to do my own self-care and helping make anyone who sits in my chair feel beautiful and pampered. I am very lucky and grateful for one of the nail sets I created from inspiration go viral on Tik Tok – now I’m getting PR & Brand Deals from nail companies that I first started with in nail school! It all feels very full circle and I still can’t believe it’s happening.

In all of these creative endeavors, I am my own boss. It is not easy because sometimes I feel really alone. I have multiple social media pages and pursuits, and while it is challenging to balance them all, I love what I do and hope to continue doing them all for as long as I can.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The most impactful qualities I think one should have in their journey is flexibility, consistency, and kindness.

After graduating college, it felt like I was getting hit by brick wall after brick wall with rejection, unpredictability, and my own insecurity and doubts. As a fledgling graduate, I accidentally put all of my eggs into one basket. Things didn’t go as planned due to COVID, so I decided to work full time, continued taking acting classes, and had some close calls with auditions. Then I reached one of the lowest points of my life while working full time, depressed, losing motivation for my passions, and my sense of self.

After quitting my job, doing reflection and self-discovery, I remembered there were dreams I left behind when I was putting my all into acting during college. But I remembered back in school, that my one of my professors, Derrick Vanmeter, mentioning that actors (artists and anyone really) should have other pursuits or hobbies to balance with their careers.

In high school, I remembered being bullied and refused to speak to anyone about it. I turned to YouTubers & content creators as a source of comfort and dreamt that one day I could be both entertaining and a safe space for all. In 2016, I first attempted being a Gaming, Beauty, & Fitness YouTuber in my freshman year of college but got self-conscious about it and stopped. It wasn’t until December 2022 that I re-attempted those dreams by streaming games on Twitch. I didn’t have much luck starting out but in May 2024, I continued my journey as a VTuber and streamed a game I’d always wanted to play in my childhood: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. After setting a schedule for myself and doing what I always wanted to do, my community started to grow and support me in my passions.

In terms of nails, I had always wanted to try it but avoided it because I knew how cutthroat the industry was based on my family’s experiences. After graduating nail school, I expected to work in a salon but was let go multiple times because I was told I wasn’t skilled or fast enough. My family saw nail salons as the only source of success for nail technicians, but instead, I found my own way with social media and content creation.

I mention all of this because it all incorporates into the qualities I mentioned: flexibility, consistency, and kindness.

When all of these things didn’t work out immediately, I had to be flexible enough to pursue other endeavors that would support each dream. I also had to create a schedule for myself, stick to it, and continue doing what I said I’d do. It’s not easy and it’s difficult to gather the motivation, but the longer you wait, the longer you put your dreams on hold. And while doing all these things: always be kind, value each connection, and nurture your newfound connections. I’m so thankful for all the new friends I’ve been able to meet in every industry. My heart is full because of the impact of those who have stuck by me, worked with me, and believed in me when I stopped believing in myself.

For those who are early in their journey, never give up. You don’t know where you’ll be tomorrow, next month, or next year. And if you’re feeling like you’ve hit rock bottom, remember that the only way back is up.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one obstacle or challenge that I currently face is my own self. I struggle a lot with procrastination, time management, multi-tasking, confidence, and gathering up the motivation to complete my tasks, especially when I have too much on my plate and start to feel overwhelmed by everything.

Because I chose multiple pursuits and each one has its own timing, I have had to create To Do Lists with deadlines and determine which task has more priority. I also have to remember that I am only one human and to not beat myself up too hard for not being able to do everything. It also helps having a good support system: family, friends, and loved ones you can go to when you need help.

My good friend, Crystal Lo told me something inspiring recently: sometimes, you need procrastination to rest, grow, and become a better artist. But as with everything, it should all be in moderation.

Imposter syndrome is constantly in my head but I still have to all these things, scared and imperfectly because I will always have room for growth. What motivates me to this day is asking myself after quitting my job, is “Why should I build someone else’s dream when I can be building my own?”

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