56 JVN Quotes from Famous Media Person, Author, and Grooming Expert

Jonathan Van Ness, or JVN to his fans, is a hairdresser turned television personality and an all-around ray of sunshine. The grooming expert on "Queer Eye" uniquely sums up a situation without ever coming across as mean-spirited, which makes for beautiful and inspiring quotes.

The former high school cheerleader is a hairdresser by trade. He dipped his toes into the entertainment industry when a spontaneous hair styling session for his friend before a "Game of Thrones" recap channel sparked the concept for "Gay of Thrones" on Funny or Die.

The web series was nominated for three Emmy Awards. The hairdresser also has a long-running podcast, "Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness," which has spun off into a Netflix show.

The non-binary and HIV+ advocate became known to a broader audience when he joined Netflix's "Queer Eye" reboot in 2018.

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "I don't want to waste any of my life not being who I am." | Image: AmoDays

Jonathan Van Ness Quotes with an Inspiring Message

"Self-care isn't really shallow. Showing up for yourself, putting on a little moisturizer, can inspire so many different parts of your life." — Jonathan Van Ness

"When people say 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks it's not true, because you can reinvent yourself and learn new things whenever you want." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I wanna show straight and gay men alike that self-care and grooming isn't mutually exclusive with femininity or masculinity." — Jonathan Van Ness

"We are all a beautiful jumble of layers, parts, and mixtures of experiences, but my most important part, and in my opinion everyone's most valuable part, is the one that chooses self-love instead of self-harm in the grand sweeping ways but also the little ways every single day." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I don't want to waste any of my life not being who I am." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "Being normal is being completely unique because nobody's the same. Normal, honey? Who is she, anyway?" | Image: AmoDays

"There's a lot of people that we just don't talk to because we think that they disagree, and maybe they do, but let's be fearless in those conversations." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Imperfection is beautiful. To anyone who has ever felt broken beyond repair, this is for you. If you've ever been excluded or told you were not enough, know that you are enough and beautifully complete." — Jonathan Van Ness

"You have to create little pockets of joy in your life to take care of yourself." — Jonathan Van Ness

"To my younger self, I would say unless you're literally in danger, ask forgiveness instead of asking permission.” — Jonathan Van Ness

"Being normal is being completely unique because nobody's the same. Normal, honey? Who is she, anyway?" — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "Whether I fail or succeed, it's the going for it." | Image: AmoDays

"I want people to fall in love with themselves and to be really proud and full of joy for the space they take up. If someone else appreciates the space you take up, then that's icing on the cake." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Whether I fail or succeed, it's the going for it." — Jonathan Van Ness

"You're strong, you're a Kelly Clarkson song, you got this." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness Quotes That Can Be Useful for All of Us

"Self-care is non-negotiable. That's the thing that you have to do. And beauty is the thing that can be the benefit of self-care. Beauty is not the point. Beauty is just a cute side-effect of self-care." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I never want people to feel like they aren't gay enough or straight enough. It's about what's in your heart. And what's in your heart is like." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "How you take care of yourself is how the world sees you. It's OK to have a relationship with yourself." | Image: AmoDays

"It's important for people to see themselves in entertainment. Will and Grace and Queer as Folk and Queer Eye, the first version, they were all indicators that there were a lot of possibilities for me." — Jonathan Van Ness

"In my world, everything that's romantic is topless." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Whenever I find it hard to concentrate, I come up with a reward system. Like for every 30 minutes of work that I do, I get a cookie." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I obviously love to do hair. And I love to do transformations sometimes. But I feel like my passion, and my role is more about accepting who we are and embracing who we are. I'm a lot of times more of, like, the anti-transformation beauty expert. I really want people to celebrate themselves, and that's always what I'm trying to do." — Jonathan Van Ness

"How you take care of yourself is how the world sees you. It's OK to have a relationship with yourself." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "You can't selectively numb feelings. So, if you try to numb the vulnerability, you also numb joy, happiness, connection." | Image: AmoDays

"I had to fight, a lot of years, to be really proud of the person I see in the mirror and really love this person." — Jonathan Van Ness

"What I've realized is that confidence is a daily journey. We always think that confidence is a destination we must reach, but it's a choice. I don't think it's something we ever really get to and stay at. And I think once you know that, it takes the pressure off." — Jonathan Van Ness

"We focus so much on our relationships with other people, and beauty, for me, is about facilitating your relationship with yourself." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Getting married is a good time to reevaluate all of your relationships. Have you had the same haircut since seventh grade? Have you found products that work for your skin? You need time to experiment." — Jonathan Van Ness

"You can't selectively numb feelings. So, if you try to numb the vulnerability, you also numb joy, happiness, connection." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "I'm telling my story—the whole story—to show that some masterpieces start off a mess." | Image: AmoDays

"You guys are a bunch of baby bros who need to have gorgeous hair, too." — Jonathan Van Ness

"So often, grooming is meant to make you feel better about yourself, and a lot of times, we use it to make ourselves feel worse." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you do that and see people for more than their surface value is, say, you're reading something in the news: the gender pay gap, or gay adoption, anything that involves a group of people being marginalized." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I'm telling my story—the whole story—to show that some masterpieces start off a mess." — Jonathan Van Ness

"And, like, whatever role you are, whether it's like moon or sun. Moon being more feminine energy, and sun being more masculine. I think there is gorgeous strength to be held in both." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "Spray, delay, and walk away." | Image: AmoDays

"I'm not into creating things for the sake of creating them. I want to move a conversation forward." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness Quotes with an Inspiring Message

"Every time we go this far out of Atlanta, I remember the nervousness I felt on Election Night 2016. Like this level of discomfort. Like, where are we going?" — Jonathan Van Ness

"Spray, delay, and walk away." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I've worn a 100% polyester cheerleading outfit in stadiums full of people – it is pretty hard to embarrass me." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I'm a big proponent of all love winning and love just being fab." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "Please don't compare the nature and authenticity of 'Queer Eye' to 'The Bachelor.'" | Image: AmoDays

"I do think that, in general, we are quick to congratulate ourselves for having this sense of representation, but having two shows that we can name off the top of our head that have a queer POV is not enough — no tea, no shade, no pink lemonade to you or anyone else. But we have a huge number of LGBTQ people whose stories do not get told. With all due respect, there should be so many more queer shows." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I'm obsessed with gymnastics. It's like my football. And I like to watch women's gymnastics a little bit more than men's because I live for balance beam." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I love changing hair color. I love doing hair shape. I love the social aspect of salons. I love clients, and because of doing hair, I've heard so many life stories." — Jonathan Van Ness

"The only time I've ever liked Reno was at the end of Sister Act when all the ladies had to go save Whoopi from those evil mob sharks. That was fierce. But other than that, Reno does not have a place in my heart.." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Please don't compare the nature and authenticity of 'Queer Eye' to 'The Bachelor.'" — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "It wasn't an option for me to be closeted or to keep it to myself. Sky's blue, grass is green. Can't fight it." | Image: AmoDays

"I can't use my platform and lift other people and educate and amplify and do all the things I want to do to help make things better if I'm so burnt out and under so much pressure that everything's not coming across. You have to have enough gas in your tank to be able to do the work." — Jonathan Van Ness

"When you've been on Instagram and Twitter long enough, you know how mean people can be." — Jonathan Van Ness

"It wasn't an option for me to be closeted or to keep it to myself. Sky's blue, grass is green. Can't fight it." — Jonathan Van Ness

"I hate saying no. I love my friends. I get FOMO. But I have to prioritize self-care. Because if I don't, then my candle will burn out." — Jonathan Van Ness

"When your best look is fresh out of bed, Sasquatch, it is not inspiring for your lady. At all." — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "Neal's bathroom reminds me a lot of a skin tag. It's not hurting anything, but it doesn't look great." | Image: AmoDays

"Picture it, you click on Netflix, and you turn on that Bob Ross collection they have on there? So peaceful!" — Jonathan Van Ness

"When I moved to L.A. in my early twenties, I was growing my hair. Then, when I was 25, I cut it off and was like, 'Oh no, I think I'm a long hair person until I go bald!'" — Jonathan Van Ness

"I'm really about body positivity and self-love, and I will definitely push the boundary with a pink midriff-baring top." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Neal's bathroom reminds me a lot of a skin tag. It's not hurting anything, but it doesn't look great." — Jonathan Van Ness

"There is a diva in there, but all she needs is a little bit of a bold lip." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Johnny's loves pizza, yummers yummers yummers." — Jonathan Van Ness

“Can you handle the CON-FI-DONCE?” | Image: AmoDays

“Can you handle the CON-FI-DONCE?” — Jonathan Van Ness

"If my energy was fake, then I would feel pressured because I gotta, like, keep this up. I thank God it's just how I am. But I find myself wanting to work on being more comfortable in the silence with people." — Jonathan Van Ness

"From the extreme political polarization that is everywhere – there's so much suffering going on – so many people are really thirsty to feel good about something." — Jonathan Van Ness

"You're giving me strong man, 'I will change your tire, I will pay your bills, I will provide." — Jonathan Van Ness

"Jonathan Van Ness: So, the first ingredient in this is sodium lauryl sulfate, which is actually the same thing that cleans the car engine in a car.

Tom: But it says moisturizing!

Jonathan Van Ness: She's a liar!" — Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness’ quote: "You're giving me strong man, 'I will change your tire, I will pay your bills, I will provide." | Image: AmoDays

With a beloved fan base and celebrity fans like "Lucifer's" Tom Ellis, Van Ness and the rest of the Fab Five have subverted Netflix's habit of canceling shows after three seasons. "Queer Eye" released its seventh season in 2023.

JVN is good friends with another Netflix fan favorite, Nicola Coughlan, who stars as Penelope Featherington in "Bridgerton." Read on for 45 'Bridgerton' quotes season 2 for a taste of steamy regency romance.