I’ve always wanted to be a “fashionista”, yet I somehow ended up becoming a beauty queen. And, apart from being a modern day career woman, I'm a wife and a mother to my two year-old daughter, Shyme.  So people always ask me “How do you do it all?” My answer is that I’m passionate in all that I do and the satisfaction I get is so rewarding that it makes juggling it all worthwhile.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong until the age of 12, before relocating to the United States to further my education. Upon graduating, I had always dreamt of working in an established, luxury fashion house. Unfortunately, fate had another plan for me and I ended up in the beauty industry.  

My first job was at Guerlain. Two years later, I moved to Joyce coincidentally at a time when they were about to introduce Joyce Beauty. Yet again, I found myself in the beauty department.  I opened the first Joyce Beauty boutique in Russell Street, Causeway Bay and it was the first multi-skin care beauty store that carried an extensive list of brands from all over the world including Aesop, Caudalie, Chantecaille, Nars, Laura Mercier, Penhaligons... you name it, we had it! 

Helen Ma with her husband, Yohan Simonian

It was very successful and quickly expanded, and before I knew it I was looking after 40 brands. Three years and three stores later, I found myself as the President of EviDenS de Beauté, having been appointed as their Brand Ambassador. In hindsight, I believe that this is not just a coincidence. It seems that I’m destined to be in the world of beauty and skincare after all.

I’ve just returned to Hong Kong after two weeks abroad, and I’m proud to announce that I will be bringing EviDens de Beauté to the United States, naturally starting in Los Angeles. I’m thrilled to be writing for Hong Kong Tatler so I can share my beauty findings as I continue my work for EviDens de Beauté along with developing my own line of products. Although this wasn’t what I had planned, I’ve embraced my ‘destiny’ and what life has given me. At the end of the day, I just want to be great in all that I do, whether it’s promoting or creating a line of products that empowers woman to be comfortable in their own skin, or being a great wife and mother, and creating a legacy for my daughter to takeover, should that be in her destiny too.