Meet Victoria O’Brien from Northern Ireland, who moved to Los Angeles two years ago to pursue a life in her beloved LA.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I fell in love with LA on a family holiday back when I was 17 years old. I was 39 when I finally moved here and started a business. In the years in between, I have lived in England, Sydney, Dubai and Qatar!
What do you miss most from home?
My family…and also Greggs steak bakes and sausage rolls
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since? If so why?
When I was 17 I fell in love with the excitement of it all, the climate, the movie buzz etc. As an adult I still love those things but it’s more than that now. I love the diversity, and the ‘anything is possible’ attitude. I’m used to living in transient cities like Dubai and Qatar and LA can be like that in many ways. I like that. It keeps life interesting!
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus any of the other cities you have made your home?
There are actually a lot of similarities between LA and the other cities I’ve lived like Dubai or Sydney. My heart lies here though.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
Yes, Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church is a hidden gem in that it’s super contemporary and not at all what you would expect from a Presbyterian church. My other secret gem is my gym, Happy Hour Gym, right on the corner of Santa Monica and Doheny Drive. It’s a bit of a celeb spot as it’s very discreet so if you can remain cool while working out next to someone famous then this gym is for you! Of course, another gem is my beautiful salon, Maud’s of Beverly Hills.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
If you are moving here with children and/or animals, call me LOL! I have ‘been there, done that’!
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I wasn’t given any and I was so gung-ho about moving that I probably wouldn’t have listened. My advice is, if you decide to move here or anywhere else in the US, do it all legally and not on a shoestring budget.
Lastly, how can we find out more about you?
I own a beautiful, boutique salon on North Doheny Drive, called Maud’s of Beverly Hills. You can find me there most days when I’m not on ‘mummy duty’ to my 3 children.
Find me on social media at www.maudsofbeverlyhills.com, on twitter @MaudsofBH or Instagram @maudsofbeverlyhills.
