Mimi Nguyen

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Pink Goddess Palace owner Mimi Nguyen always loved nail art. But it was not until she was 23 and lying in a hospital bed – hair gone and skin pale – that she believed it could become a career.

“While I was in the hospital, the nurses kept saying I needed to do nails for a living because my nails were beautiful even when in the hospital.”

In an ironic way, the cancer gave Nguyen a belief in her own iron will that wasn’t there before.

On June 25, 2022, Nguyen opened her salon on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola, fully funded without loans.

“I wanted to get back on my feet and live again,” she said. “After everything you go through with cancer, you become fearless. If you can beat death, what can you not do?”

For others coping with challenges, Nguyen has a message: “Where you are now doesn’t define where you will be heading.”

Creating a happy moment in women’s lives is Nguyen’s favorite aspect of the job.

“My inspiration is to see women smile – make them happy even if it’s just for a moment. Life is hard and full of obstacles, but if I can make them happy just for that nail appointment, I feel good.”

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