Medical Aesthetician Jessica Suchanek took the road less travelled on her way to a rewarding career. She now works her magic under Jessica Maria Aesthetics and is based out of the stunning JUN Studios, where she specialises in medical-grade facials, advanced skincare treatments, lash lifts, brow laminations, and brow waxing.
Founded by four visionary sisters, Rita, Vivian, Ada, and Barbara, JUN is built on sisterhood and creativity. Rita, the principle owner, left her 13-year nursing career, including a leadership role at Vancouver General Hospital, to pursue her passion for beauty. Together, the sisters have built a thriving self-care sanctuary. “I really love where I work—the people, the environment, everything,” Jessica says with a smile. “It’s a really good vibe and a great location.”
Raised in Mission, BC, but a city girl at heart, Jessica knew she’d want to return to live and work in Vancouver, where she was born. “Right out of high school, I thought I was going to be a psychologist and began a degree in psychology,” she explains. “During my studies, I realized I also wanted to pursue hairstyling. I had an opportunity to apprentice at a salon, where I worked, practising and learning cutting and styling on mannequins. Then the pandemic started about a year and a half into my degree.”
“I came out of the Global Esthetics Program with an umbrella of different services I could offer. It's given me a lot of confidence. You’re given a practical working template, which I still use every time I interact with my clients. That really helped me build trusting client relationships.”
During that time, Jessica took a break from her studies. Taking advantage of her half-German heritage and passport, she travelled to Europe to test her hairstyling skills in Spain. Continuing to cut and style hair, she also began exploring aesthetics and entrepreneurship, producing and selling a small, homemade skincare line at the salon where she worked.
This hands-on experience solidified her passion for the beauty industry. “I love the satisfaction that comes from providing a service for someone,” she smiles. “Interacting with clients and seeing them become more confident and happy is really gratifying.”
Upon returning to Vancouver, Jessica pivoted her studies towards beauty. “I chose to study at Blanche Macdonald because it is a well-established school which has been around for a long time, with a reputation as the number one beauty school in Canada. Also, I already knew a few successful graduates.”
Although boosting her clients’ confidence through hair services had been her primary focus in Spain, Jessica chose the Global Medical Esthetics Program, which was more in line with her goals and interests.
“I was interested in other services, like facials, and nails…you never know until you try it! All of these were offered in the Global Esthetics Program, so it was perfect for me. I also loved the global emphasis of the program. I thought, hey, I could always go back to Spain or travel around Europe again, taking this new skillset with me.”
“When I graduated, I found that advanced courses in microneedling and dermaplaning were super accessible and easy to understand because I already knew what I was doing.”
The curriculum matched Jessica’s expectations. “It’s given me a lot of confidence. The program covers everything you need to know about beauty and the client experience. We would role-play to learn how to make clients comfortable. You’re given a practical working template, which I still use every time I interact with my clients. That really helped me build trusting client relationships.”
Her diploma in Global Medical Esthetics has formed a solid foundation upon which she confidently layers further advanced qualifications. “I came out of the program with an umbrella of different services I could offer. I really liked the skincare and facial classes. When I graduated, I found that advanced courses in microneedling and dermaplaning were super accessible and easy to understand because I already knew what I was doing. Without it, I wouldn’t have understood the skin or anatomy well enough to make me effective at micro-needling or dermaplaning.”
“I really love where I work; the people, the environment, everything. It’s a really good vibe and a great location. I started at JUN and a year later, I have regular clients. I feel so grateful to be able to retain clients, and to have a steady income that allows me to live in Downtown Vancouver.”
For aspiring aestheticians and students, her advice is simple: “Celebrate your small accomplishments; they are achievements. Whether it’s having one client, or creating a business card…these are all worth celebrating. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Realize it takes time to get what you want. Be consistent, save your money, and just trust the process.”
Jessica’s most cherished career milestones have brought her full circle. “I wanted to live in Downtown Vancouver for a long time and it took me two years to get here. I was living out in Surrey, taking transit into town every day because I couldn’t afford a car. Now, at 22, I am able to work and live on my own in Downtown Vancouver. Also, I started at JUN and a year later, I have regular clients. I feel so grateful to be able to retain clients, and to have a steady income that allows me to live in Downtown Vancouver.”
