marlene karas/VIEWARCS stylist Vanya Angeloba, left, freshens up the hair of a fellow worker, April 10. Angeloba came to the United States five years ago from Bulgaria and spoke no English. She now speaks the language fluently and has become a successful hairstylist.
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Vanya Angeloba left Bulgaria with her baby boy when she was 24. She came to America with a dream, but little knowledge of the English language.
Now 29, she speaks English fluently and has fashioned herself a career as a high-end hairstylist at ARCS in Mandalay Place.
Angeloba decided to leave her hometown of Sliven to come to America "to get some opportunity, maybe for a change. America's like unlimited."
"You don't have to be scared, if you want something bad enough," she said. "When you go for stuff, you don't know what to expect. You just go. You have to take a risk."
She always wanted to style hair, but her mother told her "being a hairstylist is a low-class job," according to Angeloba. "I went to college to make them happy," she said.
Angeloba finished school with a degree in business management and administration, but felt that wasn't what she really wanted.
So, Angeloba made her way to Chicago. Her first job there was at a Jewel-Osco grocery store. "When I was first hired in Chicago, I did not know they (had already) hired me, because I didn't speak English," Angeloba related. When a supervisor called the young woman a couple weeks later and asked why she hadn't been in to work, Angeloba realized they had hired her.
"I learned English by myself," Angeloba said. "My first job, I was around all Americans. I always ask, 'What is this?' They'd explain it to me and I'd train myself to listen. Also, I have British books."
After working at the grocery store for about three months, she moved on to work at a day-care. "When I didn't know English, I worked with babies and 3-year-olds. They teach me English! I was just an assistant."
She then went to school for hair in Chicago, and while studying worked as a shampoo girl in an Italian salon. "By the time I graduated I was a floor colorist," Angeloba said. "We went to a Midwest beauty show and I saw Paul Mitchell talking about Robert Cromeans and Las Vegas. I really like the way they do hair. I came on vacation for three days and I said, 'I want to live there.' "
For the past three years, Angeloba has worked for the Robert Cromeans salons in Mandalay Bay and Mandalay Place, cutting, styling and coloring hair. "I do hair for Q Vegas. I did for Zumanity, Crazy Horse and last month for male models from a famous agency," Angeloba said. "I'm going to go into Germany and Switzerland to teach classes at the salons."
"While still very young in the hair industry, Vanya is quickly making her impression on Las Vegas, especially in the Bulgarian community," said Tom O'Connor, art director for the salons. "Being able to speak multiple languages, as well as traveling the world quite regularly, gives Vanya a truly unique approach to style and fashion."
Angeloba plans to return to school to study marketing. "I'm proud of my job. (There are) not many people who can work here at Mandalay Bay," she said. "People from all over the world look for me. People will fly back for a haircut. It's nice to have those relationships."
"I was very impressed this year at our annual Paul Mitchell Signature Gathering to hear Vanya teaching a friend of ours from Germany how to speak English, and it's not even her first language," O'Connor said.
Although the hairstylist loves Las Vegas, she does admit to missing friends and family back home. Her mother comes and stays with her for long periods of time, and Angeloba travels back to Europe when she can.
"I always pictured myself in a city with lights, glamorous, you know? My vision came true," Angeloba said.
"If Vanya dedicates herself to the salon over the next few years, she has the potential to shine bright in a town full of stars," O'Connor said.
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