Read Stephanie’s full story, as featured by SBS Cantonese, through this link.

*Having once lacked confidence because of her body, skin and appearance, Stephanie turned her own experience into a career, hoping to help more people regain their confidence and smile.* Source: Supplied

In this episode of Portraits, we meet Stephanie. At 24, she arrived in Australia with one suitcase and AUD $3,000. From working in a food factory to founding her own beauty brand, how did she carve out such an unexpected path in life?

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Published 28 July 2026 9:30am

Updated 29 July 2026 10:11am

By Peggy Tsoi

Presented by Peggy Tsoi

Source: SBS

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At 24, Stephanie Lam arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa, carrying one large suitcase and AUD $3,000. She had no detailed plan and no clear goal. She simply wanted to see the world and find a new possibility for herself.

15 years later, she now runs her own beauty brand, Mandala Aesthetics & Holistic Wellness, in Melbourne. She is a beauty therapist, educator and business founder. Yet, she admits that she never imagined she would one day start a business—let alone work in the beauty industry.

Her journey began in food science, but through her own search for confidence, it led her down a completely different path in life.

*Stephanie: “You can be brave, but you must be rational; you can take risks, but don’t be impulsive.”* Source: SBS

One suitcase and a working holiday visa.

Stephanie is originally from Hong Kong. At 24, she came to Australia on a working holiday visa. She recalls arriving with just one large suitcase and AUD $3,000, beginning a whole new chapter in her life.

After arriving, she first lived in Perth, then moved between Queensland and New South Wales. She worked in places such as farms while experiencing life across different parts of Australia.

*At 24, Stephanie came to Australia on a working holiday visa.* Source: Supplied

“Although it may sound a little cliché, I really did fall in love with Melbourne at first sight—and I’ve been here for 15 years now.”
— Stephanie

Stephanie recalls, “That year, I met friends from all over the world and experienced different cultures. Most importantly, I had time to slow down and think about the kind of person I truly wanted to become.”

Later, she came to Melbourne. “It may sound a little cliché, but I really did fall in love with Melbourne at first sight,” she says with a smile.

Because she loved the city, she decided to stay to further her studies and build her career—and has now called it home for 15 years.

*At 24, Stephanie arrived in Australia with one large suitcase and AUD $3,000.* Source: Supplied

From Food Science to the Food Factory.

Many people know Stephanie through her beauty business, but beauty was not what she originally studied. Her background was in Food Science.

After graduating, she worked in a meat-processing factory for four years, where she was responsible for quality control and food safety. The products she worked with included processed foods commonly found in supermarkets, such as sausages, meatballs and burger patties.

*Stephanie worked in a meat-processing factory for four years, where she was responsible for quality control and food safety testing.* Source: Supplied

“I’ve always cared a lot about my appearance and felt that I wasn’t good enough. When I was younger, I was bigger, had poor skin, and was quite introverted. For a long time, I lacked confidence.”
—Stephanie

Growing up without confidence.

Stephanie admits that she did not enter the beauty industry simply because she loved beauty. What truly led her there was a long journey of self-discovery.

She shares that, when she was younger, she was bigger and struggled with her skin. Being naturally introverted also meant she lacked confidence for a long time. Stephanie says, “I was always very conscious of my appearance and felt that I wasn’t good enough.”

Source: Supplied / *Stephanie as a child (far right).*

She tried different ways to change herself, including training intensely in Muay Thai and even competing, hoping to become slimmer, prettier and more stylish.

But she later realised that the issue had never been her appearance.

“The real change is not forcing yourself to become someone else, but learning to accept and appreciate yourself.”

It was through this journey that she began exploring skincare, holistic wellbeing and yoga. Gradually, she built her confidence and found the direction for her future career.

*Stephanie as a child (far left). /* Source: Supplied

*From a home-based studio to creating a Melbourne beauty brand, Stephanie shares the challenges and perseverance behind her entrepreneurial journey.* Source: Supplied

“The beauty industry often feels divided into two extremes.”
—Stephanie

Before the pandemic, she began running her own home-based beauty studio. After the pandemic, she officially opened her salon in Preston, Melbourne.

Her original values in starting the business has never changed. “I have always wanted to provide genuine service at reasonable prices, so more people can access high-quality beauty treatments,” Stephanie says.

The first client who gave her a sense of purpose.

When speaking about her early days in business, Stephanie still clearly remembers her very first client.

She was a young woman. “I saw my younger self in her—the version of me who lacked confidence,” Stephanie says.

When the client trusted her enough to place her face in her care, Stephanie was deeply moved by that trust. After the treatment, the client was very happy with the result.

Stephanie says that moment was the first time she truly felt that this was more than just a job—it was a calling. “I want to help others find the confidence that I once spent so long searching for.”

“That was the first moment I truly felt that this was more than just a job—it was a calling.”
—Stephanie

*Melbourne beauty brand founder Stephanie shares her entrepreneurship journey and life story.* Source: Supplied

Staying True on Her Beauty Entrepreneurship Journey.

In recent years, beauty technology has advanced rapidly, with new devices and treatments constantly emerging. But Stephanie believes that equipment has never been the most important part of the beauty industry.

Stephanie says, “In reality, many clinics use very similar devices. The real difference lies in the practitioner—and whether clients trust your professional judgement.”

She explains that even when clients specifically request higher-priced treatments, she will be honest if she does not believe they are suitable. “I would rather not make the sale than recommend a treatment that is not right for the client,” she says.

Because of this, her clients come from all across Victoria, with some even flying in from interstate specifically for their treatments.

She believes that a brand’s most valuable asset is not its equipment or marketing, but the trust built over many years.

*Stephanie shares the challenges and perseverance behind her entrepreneurial journey, and how she sees her clients’ trust as her most valuable asset.* Source: Supplied

True beauty is being comfortable in your own skin.

As a beauty professional, Stephanie works with “beauty” every day.

But after years of life experience, her definition of beauty has become very different from when she was younger.

“I don’t believe in perfection.”

She believes that being 20, 40 or 60 each comes with its own unique kind of beauty. True beauty is not about becoming someone else—it is about learning to appreciate yourself.

Stephanie says, “Beauty has never been about becoming someone else. It’s about feeling comfortable being yourself.”

“I don’t believe in perfection. True beauty isn’t becoming someone else—it’s learning to appreciate yourself.”
—Stephanie

“You can be brave, but you must be rational; you can take risks, but don’t be impulsive.”
—Stephanie

For young people from Hong Kong who have just arrived in Australia and are still finding their direction in life, Stephanie advises not to rush into deciding what the future should look like.

She believes, “First, build a stable life and financial foundation, then take one step at a time towards your dreams.”

Drawing from her own experience, she encourages others that even if they are not yet able to pursue their dreams full-time, they can start with a side hustle and continue learning and building experience outside of work.

Stephanie says, “You can be brave, but you must be rational; you can take risks, but don’t be impulsive.”

She also believes that, no matter what work you do, the most important thing is to treat people with sincerity: “Kindness, honesty and thoughtfulness are what people will truly remember.”

Listen to the full Cantonese interview with Peggy Tsoi from SBS below.

Arrived in Australia at 24 with $3,000: Stephanie’s Beauty Entrepreneurship Journey — What Has She Been in Love with for 15 Years?

Mandala Aesthetics & Holistic Wellness