Born and raised in San Francisco, Mei Shen was the daughter of Chinese immigrants who came to the United States in the 1970s. Her father built a successful business after arriving in America, and Mei credited him with teaching her the value of hard work, and entrepreneurship. Her own passion, however, was always music. She began studying piano and voice as a child and later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston.

After graduating, Mei headed to Los Angeles, spending several years making a name for herself as a solo singer and pianist. She became a familiar presence in clubs, hotel lounges, and small venues around the city, before joining The Truyouthers in 2008.

Outside the studio, Mei was devoted to yoga and wellness, practices she often credited with helping her navigate the pressures of life in the public eye. She became especially outspoken about body image and the unrealistic expectations placed on women, encouraging fans to think about beauty in terms of confidence, health, and self-respect rather than perfection.

Mei also inherited her father’s entrepreneurial streak and took an big interest in the business side of TruYouth. She became a popular speaker at TruYouth conventions and leadership events, where she loved sharing the stage with Beauty Ambassadors and speaking about confidence, ambition, and entrepreneurship. Drawing on her own experiences and the lessons she learned from her father, Mei encouraged women to see TruYouth as an opportunity to build something of their own and take greater control of their financial futures.

Mei was diagnosed with a rare illness during the TruYouthers’ final year, forcing her to step away from performing and public appearances. Sadly, her condition progressed rapidly, and she was never able to return to the music she loved.

She passed away in 2016 at just 28 years old.