Power Rangers star describes switch from villain to 'hero' in huge career change

28 August 2023 , 16:23

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Jennifer Yen opened up on her big career decision (Image: Kate Morgan)

Not every superhero tale ends with the bad guys turning good, but that's exactly what has happened for one Power Rangers villain.

While the switch happened off-screen, it's safe to say Jennifer Yen has firmly left her "baddie" persona behind her as she gets stuck into tackling a brand new tough opponent - skin care. The former actress-turned-entrepreneur has been battling for the good of the public's complexion for a number of years now, but is ready to take on the UK market with her Yensa brand.

To mark National Power Rangers Day today (August 28) Jennifer, who portrayed the role of Vypra in the hit movie in 2000, opened up on why she made such a big shift in her career, explaining to the Mirror that while she is thankful for her acting past, she is "really happy I'm not doing it" anymore.

Jennifer Yen played the role of Vypra on Power Rangers (Fox Kids)

Jennifer candidly admitted the tough scheduling and long hours with full makeup on movie sets saw her break out in adult acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and a whole host of conditions. "It really takes a toll on your confidence as a young woman," she confessed of the issues. "It was really upsetting and I didn't know what to do. Because I had these skin problems, it really almost forced me to find a solution and that's when I thought back into when I was growing up how my grandmother would have these remedies."

Now, thanks to her family traditions, her original brand Purlisse as well as newer company Yensa are attracting the attention of a worldwide audience and receiving rave reviews from A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cardi B. And she believes that it is such traditions and rituals that helps set the brand apart from others, gushing that she has been able to rediscover her Asian rituals thanks to her business; she admits she had diminished these in her youth. "Everything that you are, like everything that I am, I brought it into my brand and that's what sets us apart," she gushed with pride.

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Despite the huge success in recent years, she confessed the initial switch from acting to the entrepreneurial world was a lot harder than some would expect. "Nobody would take me seriously at first," she revealed. "When I was trying to get help, people would say 'you're an actress from Power Rangers'. So I would actually just sort of diminish that.

Jennifer's Yensa products are attracting star attention (Kate Morgan)

Jennifer has gone from 'fighting Power Rangers to fighting wrinkles' (Kate Morgan)

"It wasn't until we became more established and people would tell me I had to tell my story, saying I'd just become another skincare brand. When I would tell people, that became my hook - I used to fight Power Rangers and now I'm fighting wrinkles."

Jennifer defiantly said that if people don't take her seriously now she just ignores them and moves on to those who find "the beauty, truth and authenticity" of what it is she is doing.

Speaking about the inspiration behind her brand's name, Jennifer said it was formed from her surname and the Chinese word for colour and face. The brand's logo also sees eight number eights wrapped up with the number representing good luck, prosperity and infinite possibilities in Chinese culture. Following on the combination, each product in the Yensa line uses eight superfoods within, often including her three favourites - black sesame oil, black rice and black seaweed.

"Our products are very unique in the sense that we are truly a superfood skincare first and we're taking care of your skin and then next is following up with the makeup coverage."

Jamie Roberts