In Conversation with Hannayuri

Her journey from Myanmar to Seoul is a brave and honest story of loss, hope, and rebuilding her life from nothing. She found her strength through lonely days, quiet healing, and trusting herself again.

This interview takes you into her world as she grows, discovers who she is, and becomes whole again.

 

 

Hanna Yuri

 

Can you share a little about your journey from Myanmar to Seoul and how it shaped who you are today?

I grew up in Myanmar with big dreams but very limited opportunities. Moving to Seoul wasn’t part of a long term plan, it was an act of courage, a decision I made during one of the most uncertain times of my life. I came to Korea alone, with no family here, and for a long time, I couldn’t return home.

Starting over in a new country forced me to grow quickly. I learned resilience the hard way through loneliness, fear, and the pressure of survival. Korea challenged me in every possible way: a new language, a different culture, and the feeling of having no safety net. But I’ve always believed in standing for what is right, for democracy, fairness, and the hope of a better future.

That belief kept me strong. Living between two countries and not fully belonging to either taught me independence and emotional strength. Seoul didn’t just change my life , it shaped the woman I became: brave, adaptable, and able to build a life from zero.

 

What first sparked your love for beauty and storytelling through content creation?

Beauty was always my language, long before Korea. I studied beauty makeup, special effects, SFX prosthetics, and body painting, and even worked as a main artist in film. Makeup gave me confidence when I felt lost, and storytelling helped me connect with people when words felt difficult.

As I grew, I realized beauty wasn’t just about outer transformation it was a way to express truth without speaking. Every look I create, every video I film holds a piece of my journey: courage, culture, identity, healing. Content creation became the bridge between who I was, who I am, and the women watching me.

It’s not just content, it’s communication, connection, and a way of saying, “you’re not alone.”

 

 

Starting over in a new country is never easy. What was the hardest part of finding your place in Korea’s creative scene?

For me, the hardest part was feeling invisible at the beginning. I had to prove myself again and again as a foreign woman, a model, a creator, and someone building a career without any background support.

On top of that, I had to learn Korean, understand the culture, adjust my behavior, and constantly navigate every new situation by myself. I often felt like I was living between two worlds, belonging to neither.

But these challenges taught me perseverance. I gave my best even when brands collaborated with me only once. I focused on long-term relationships, not money. Every opportunity, every follower, every new project was proof that I was slowly earning my place here.

 

Your content feels honest and comforting. How do you make beauty feel real and relatable, not just perfect on the outside?

I share beauty the way I live it: with emotions, flaws, vulnerability, and real moments. I show my bare skin, my tired days, my healing process, and my growth. I speak to women who feel unseen because I’ve been there too.

My goal is not perfection, it’s connection. I want my content to feel like a friend sitting next to you, not a perfect influencer far away from reality.

 

 

You often talk about self-reinvention. What does that word mean to you personally?

Self-reinvention means giving yourself permission to begin again at any age, after any heartbreak, after any failure or loss. I’ve hit rock bottom before, the kind of place where you question your worth, your future, and your direction. But every time, I chose to stand up again.

For me, reinvention isn’t about becoming a new person. It’s about peeling away everything that dimmed your light and returning to the woman you were always meant to be.

It is choosing yourself even when life, or people, don’t choose you back.

Reinvention is quite courageous. It’s rebuilding your world with your own hands and believing that your story can still become something beautiful.

 

Beauty, identity, and healing are strong themes in your work. How do these connect in your own life?

For me, beauty is a part of identity, and identity is shaped through healing. My journey wasn’t just about makeup, it was about rebuilding myself, learning self-worth, and healing the wounds I carried from my past. Every video I create has a little bit of that healing inside it.I hope women watching feel seen and less alone on their own journey.

 

 

You’ve been open about betrayal and emotional recovery. What helped you rebuild your confidence and peace?

Healing didn’t happen in one big moment it came in many quiet, honest, painful moments with myself. Betrayal makes you question everything: your value, your judgement, your ability to trust. I went through nights when I felt empty and days when I wondered if something was wrong with me.

But over time, I realized something important: I didn’t lose anything, I gained clarity, strength, and a deeper connection with myself. Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” I started asking, “What is this teaching me?”

Every painful experience showed me parts of myself I had abandoned:

my dreams, my boundaries, my needs, my peace.

I learned not to build my life on another person, because people can change at any time. The only foundation we truly own is our self-worth. I rebuilt myself by choosing myself every day through my work, my health, my passions, my faith, and the people who genuinely care. Recovery taught me this: heartbreak doesn’t destroy you; it reveals the woman you were meant to become.

Now, I stand stronger, softer, and more peaceful not because life became easier, but because I finally learned to stand on my own heart.

 

 

Many women struggle to start again after pain. What would you tell someone who feels lost right now?

You don’t need to heal perfectly, you just need to keep going. Pain doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means you’re human. Starting over doesn’t require confidence just a small amount of courage. Even tiny steps count. One day, you’ll look back and realize you survived something that once felt impossible.

 

Your audience spans cultures and languages. How do you stay true to yourself while speaking to women from different worlds?

I stay honest. I share my real experiences, my fears, my growth, my healing, my culture. I don’t try to fit into one identity or one country, I simply show who I am. Women may live in different places, but our emotions are universal.

 

When life gets heavy, what small things help you breathe, reset, or just feel calm again?

Small routines save me: warm showers, skincare, journaling, exercising, cleaning my space, quiet walks, good food, and soft music. Calm doesn’t come from escaping life, it comes from choosing small moments of care.

 

You also give back through charity work. What does community mean to you on a personal level?

Community has always been a part of who I am, long before I came to Korea. Back in Myanmar, I regularly visited orphanages and IDP refugee camps, bringing food, medicine, and spending time with the children there.

My country’s people have gone through so much in civil wars, and many families were forced to rebuild their lives with almost nothing. Even after moving to Korea alone, with no family and starting from zero, I continued supporting them in whatever small ways I could sending money for food, medicine, and school supplies from my own modest earnings.

In Myanmar, people knew me and supported my work, but in Korea, I had to rebuild everything from the beginning. Still, I never stopped giving. Even if I didn’t have much, I knew there were people who had even less. For me, kindness is never about how much you have it’s about how much heart you’re willing to share.

Community means belonging, something I searched for deeply in my early years here. Giving back reminds me that my journey isn’t only about personal success. It’s about staying connected to my roots, remembering where I came from, and lifting others whenever I can. Helping people who are struggling keeps me grounded, humble, and grateful. It reminds me that even in a world filled with hardship, we always have the power to be a small light in someone else’s darkness.

 

If you could leave every woman reading this with one thought, what would it be?

You are allowed to rewrite your life as many times as you need. Begin again whenever your soul asks for it even if you feel tired, even if you feel afraid.

Never shrink yourself to fit into someone else’s comfort. Never apologize for being sensitive, ambitious, or different those are the qualities that make you extraordinary.

People may walk away, situations may shift, but your value is unshakable.

Build a life where you choose yourself, where your peace is protected, and where your dreams have room to breathe. A life that feels like home, not one where you fight to be accepted.

And when things fall apart, remember this: Sometimes life isn’t ending, it’s quietly rearranging itself to bring you somewhere better.You are worthy. You are growing. And you don’t need to reach any destination quickly. Just keep walking with courage the future you’re hoping for is already moving toward you.

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