With alluring beauty that set the stage of Mrs. Universe, 2017 on fire, comes a mind that strives to do maximum for others. Tram Luu excels in everything she does and with her wondrous smile, she motivates hundreds with her art of giving. Apart from being the co-founder of OB Men as well as a winner of a beauty pageant, she also comes forth as a role model for many. Her vision of serving the Asian community seems to be closer everyday as she works hard every minute to achieve it.
Winning a beauty pageant, that too Mrs. Universe, is not an easy job. How was your journey of being crowned as the Mrs. Universe in 2017? Were you always into beauty and Fashion?
The journey was fun and exciting, though a lot of preparation, focus, and work went into it. I went with no expectations except to be myself and not try and be what others wanted me to be. As a kid, I was always captivated by fashion and arts. Early in my career, I worked hard to build my entrepreneurial pursuits and had little time to chase my passion. When that time came, I developed a beauty spa, explored fashion, modeling, and ultimately competed in pageants.
As a kid, I was always captivated by fashion and arts.
If you could change one thing about beauty pageants around the world, what would that be?
While pageants expose external beauty and achievements, I feel there should be an emphasis on a contestant’s spiritual makeup as well; what is important to them, what is their message to others, and how can they help others become more enlightened?
Would you like to walk us through the initiation process of OB Men and What led to its foundation?
I was introduced to my boyfriend, a physician, many years ago when I first opened a medical spa in Houston, Texas. We started the business with the idea of not only making women look beautiful, but also feel beautiful about themselves. We offered hormone optimization as well as regenerative procedures to enhance a woman’s sexual desire and function. Many of our female clients underwent such a change that they would bring their male counterparts for similar treatments. The spa would see several male clients for procedures ranging from Botox for wrinkle reduction to Vampire facelift (a regenerative procedure using one’s own natural cells called platelets to re-grow collagen and naturally lift structures). With more male clients making the effort to look good, it was a natural evolution of the clinic to include treatments geared toward making men feel more viral and performing with their partners as well. With that, the concept of OB Men was born. A clinic dedicated to mens unique issues.
While pageants expose external beauty and achievements, I feel there should be an emphasis on a contestants spiritual makeup as well
We heard that you studied the decreasing levels of testosterone in men. What do you think is the reason behind it. How does it affect men?
Through this process, my boyfriend and I discovered that every decade we are seeing men’s testosterone levels decrease from previously known levels. While no one knows why this is, one speculation is that increased cell phone usage, and the radiation that such devices emit may be damaging the testicular tissue where the male hormone is produced. Testosterone gives men their sex drive. Along with stronger libido, comes firmer erections. When a man’s testosterone level is low, he gains weight, experiences decreased energy, loses muscle mass, and has a loss of libido. Without a doubt, it can affect relationships.
What do OB Men have in store that could benefit men and help them to tackle this problem?
Until recently, the only solution to correct low testosterone (Low-T) was shots. The problem is that injectable testosterone is derived from horses, and is structurally different than the human version. Some studies suggest that horse-derived testosterone may be more likely to be converted into estrogen (the predominant female sex hormone), which can lead to men developing enlarged breasts called gynecomastia. Some men will feel the need to undergo breast reduction surgery to correct this. The shots are generally given deep in the muscle and last about a week. The benefits of the shot peak at about three days, then testosterone declines to suboptimal levels again. There are topical testosterone treatments, but they are messy, expensive, and can contaminate your female partner. There is a treatment called bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy which is available in the USA. Pellets about the size of a rice grain placed under the skin provide plant-based testosterone that is identical to what we make. The beauty of this delivery system is the testosterone which is released daily when we are more active. This mimics our bodys natural release pattern. It is a quick in-office procedure and can last up to 5 months at a time.
Testosterone gives men their sex drive. Along with stronger libido, comes firmer erections.
You say The next decade may be called the age of peptides? Would you like to elaborate on that?
Peptides are small sequences of amino acids found in our bodies in abundance. They are smaller than a protein, and they may offer very specific benefits, depending on the peptide. In the near future, you can expect to hear how some peptides can cause effective weight loss. Peptide like the PT-141 can give lasting erections to men, without many of the side effects known with traditional oral agents. PT-141 works in the brain to enhance sexuality, and is even approved in the US to treat women who suffer from Sexual Arousal Disorder. Some peptides appear to enhance metabolism without exercising, while others promote the release of growth hormone, which declines with age and have many benefits when optimized. We are on the cutting edge as many new and wonderful peptides are being investigated to enhance our lives and, potentially, help us live longer in the process.
What has been your biggest inspiration for all your endeavors in life?
When I was young and inexperienced, my focus was on working hard every day to become financially independent and successful. As I have matured, there has been a great shift from that to making a positive impact on as many people as possible. Whether through philanthropy, impacting a client in the spa, or giving positive advice to a person in need. Without being too simple, I am motivated by the art of giving.
When I was young and inexperienced, my focus was on working hard every day to become financially independent and successful
We noticed you are not on any social media. What are your views on creating a social media presence and should we expect you to be on Instagram in the near future?
Well, there is a story behind that. At one point, I had tens and thousands of followers on Facebook. Then a couple of years ago, my Facebook account was hacked. The perpetrators did this to several Facebook accounts, where people had large followings. I was never able to recover my account, despite the perpetrator ultimately being caught. Because my focus is on the development of OB Men and some other projects in the beauty industry, most of my activity will be focused on the company and less on me as an individual.
You’ve surely accomplished so much with your talent and hard work till now. What do you plan on doing next?
I have many projects that I am currently working on. My boyfriend and I are looking at bringing some amazing treatments to the Asian market. We are also hoping to bring a little more Asia to the US market. With regard to the latter, we are developing a plastic surgery center in Houston, utilizing South Korean trained and American board-certified surgeons, to serve the overwhelmingly large Asian community here.
My boyfriend and I are looking at bringing some amazing treatments to the Asian market.
How was your interviewing experience with L’Officiel India?
Wonderful! As I mentioned earlier, having a platform to share positive developments, even if it helps just one person in this world, is an honor. I thank L’Officiel India for this opportunity.
