Expression through Passion

For many, being an undergraduate is stressful enough. Find out how Shuen juggles her studies and passions, among which, nail artistry.

Story by: Cynthia Marie Lawrence | Photos by: Lau Wei Shuen

Lau Wei Shuen comes across as an ordinary 22 year-old student. Her life story is far from it. 

At the tender age of two, she faced a traumatic family crisis and her world crumbled. Her mother fell into a labour-induced coma due to complications during childbirth. She has been uncommunicable since then. Her newborn sister, having suffered brain damage, died at the young age of 12. 

These experiences have moulded her to become the strong independent woman she is today and given her the motivation to find her true passion and pursue it. “Dance really helped me to express a lot of the things I couldn't express as a kid. Movement was my form of expression when I couldn't phrase the words I wanted to say.” 

Shuen is currently doing cheer and dance in National University SIngapore, specialising in contemporary dance and also dabbling in jazz. What started as an avocation, turned into her voice. “It’s my passion, because it’s my language.”

Not satisfied to rest on her laurels, she embarked on another craft.

The 17 year-old Shuen worked at Petite Fleur, a floristry. With little to no experience, she was taken under their wing and was taught everything she needed to know about floristry. 

Tapping on her newfound experience, she started her own floristry business, S.floristry. Her whimsical flower arrangements reflect her free-spirited personality. “I'm just a very messy person in general, so it matches my personality.”

Loving all things beautiful, she ventured into the nail art industry.

While on a trip to Japan, Shuen found what was soon to be her calling. Little did she know that picking up random gel starter kits was going to be the start of her nail technician life. 

She never expected her interest in nail art to incur such hefty prices. In order to fund her addiction, she would offer cheap manicure services to her friends. Eventually, it progressed into a startup business, Frisky Nails, which she established when she was just 19 years-old.  

She finds inspiration for her quirky designs from photos and prints. The art of extracting elements from a photo and transforming it into nail art is something her clients find alluring.

This multi-talented artist takes the challenges of running two start up businesses while juggling university life as a business undergraduate in her stride. 

The support from her friends, family and clients, was what gave her the motivation to better herself and launch her business. “If you want to do it, if your heart’s in it, you can make it happen. I feel that the only thing holding a lot of people back is themselves.” 

So take that leap of faith. Go the extra mile. Push your boundaries. “Your products and you are only worth as much as you think they are worth.”