Racing With Style: Jenny Wu
A leading voice on the style scene, Los Angeles fashion lawyer-turned-fashion blogger Jenny Wu ’03 is known among her devotees for cutting an elegant figure in the alluring designer outfits she dons on her blog Good, Bad, and Fab. The wider American public, however, may now remember her in a much less glamorous pose — dripping from head to toe with glutinous, brown gunk.
As a contestant on the 26th season of CBS Television’s The Amazing Race in February, Wu was obliged to plunge into a giant man-made pool of mud and wade through it as fast as she could. As the cameras attested, she wore it well, showing that being a good sport can transform brown into the new black.
“It was a shock,” she said of the experience, “but I think it was the best way to prepare us for the race.”
The muddy endeavor “quickly put me into race mentality,” she added.
Wu, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from USC Dornsife, went on to take second place on the popular Emmy-winning reality show. She credits her education at USC with propelling her toward victory.
“It was a stressful, intense and competitive environment on the show, so having a strong sense of discipline, focus and drive to succeed helped me block out distractions,” she explained. “USC taught me to be meticulous in everything I do, and there were many challenges where being detail-oriented helped us pull ahead. And because USC taught me giving up is not an option, whether I was confronted with cutting down a long row of sugar canes in Peru or getting thrown from a horse, I simply kept going.”
Wu was at a 2014 Independence Day barbecue when she decided to try out for The Amazing Race with a friend. After submitting a video showcasing why the pair thought they would be a good fit for the show, Wu received an invitation to audition — without her friend. Instead of the usual format in which contestants race in self-made pairs, the season took a new turn. Five of the show’s 11 race teams were to be created at the show’s start.
It took many additional rounds of interviews, videos and phone calls, but Wu eventually got the call letting her know she had been selected as a contestant.
The Amazing Race requires contestants to perform various physical and mental challenges including deducing clues, navigating though foreign lands, interacting with locals, and vying for airplane, boat, taxi and other public transportation options on a limited budget. Teams are eliminated progressively until the winners take home the grand prize — $1 million.
Jenny Wu credits her education at USC with propelling her toward victory.
For Wu, it was never about seeking fame or fortune. It was about pushing herself, finding — and exceeding — the boundaries of her courage and learning from the experience.
“I went on The Amazing Race not because I wanted to be on TV or become a reality star but because I wanted to challenge myself,” Wu said. “This was an opportunity to stand on my own two feet and do something for myself, and let go of any fears that were holding me back from achieving my dreams. I also saw it as an opportunity to make a symbolic journey and apply the life lessons I learned along the way to the rest of my life.”
Wu said she believes the diversity she experienced as a student at USC helped prepare her for the challenges of interacting with so many different cultures as she raced around the world on the show.
“USC taught me to respect others and engage with people in a kind, generous manner, and that definitely helped because I knew I needed to get along with my teammate, the rest of the cast and all the strangers we might meet along the way.”
The fact that she had gained an understanding of different governments, cultures and countries as a political science major also helped her compete, Wu said.
“Before going on The Amazing Race, I hoped to learn more about myself, what I’m capable of, my strengths, my weaknesses,” she said, adding that the experience put her to the test. “I learned I’m a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. Now when I’m confronted with a stressful situation, I will trust myself more to go with my gut instinct.”
After earning her law degree from USC Gould School of Law in 2007, Wu worked as in-house counsel for an L.A. fashion company. Her love of fashion drove her to start blogging about her passion. What began as a hobby
grew into a career opportunity. After fashion brands began approaching her to work with them, she decided to quit her day job as a lawyer two years ago to become a full-time blogger.
Wu credits her education at USC Dornsife with teaching her to be a versatile writer.
“As a political science major, my classes involved a lot of writing and reading, which definitely helps with my blog because I am writing content every single day,” she said. The added writing demands of a Thematic Option course in which she enrolled also helped hone her skills. Now she is turning those learned abilities into a successful, sustainable career.
“Not only am I a writer, creating content, I’m also a businesswoman,” said Wu. “Exercising both sides of my brain as I manage the creative and the business side of running my own business is a challenge. I’m learning every single day. It’s been such a great experience and I love it.”
Wu is also developing a book loosely based on her life and a travel show that seeks to empower and engage strong women.
“Now that the show has ended, I hope others can draw inspiration from my story. After all, I’m this ordinary girl who, through optimism, drive, passion for life and a fabulous undergrad education at USC Dornsife, was able to achieve and live out extraordinary dreams. And if I can do it, so can all fellow Trojans.”
Read more stories from USC Dornsife Magazine‘s Fall 2015-Winter 2016 issue >>