American Dream Comes True for CDM Businesswoman

Special to Patch from Carrie Luger Slayback

When Evelyne Huegi arrived in Newport Beach 20 years ago with a green card and $4,000 to her name, she dreamed of a bright future. Today she owns the first "green" spa in Corona del Mar.

“I love my country, but I belonged in America with its freedom to be whomever I wanted to be,” Huegi said.

Huegi, who immigrated to America from Switzerland in 1993, has worked hard to achieve her dreams. She was trained in Swiss foot reflexology, but because Huegi was unlicensed in the United States, she waited tables, washed cars, and later owned a car detailing business until she earned national certification for reflexology.

“People ask what is the American dream? Yes, it is the opportunity to be anything, but hard work makes the dream reality," Huegi says.

Just six years after her first waitressing job, Huegi opened Swiss Clinique in CDM. The green spa offers specialized diagnosis for skin peels, microdermabrasion, derma-filing, Oxy-Peel and acne treatments as well as foot and face reflexology. Huegi says she prides herself on testing every product before it touches a client.

“I will not use skin care products unless they are 100 percent natural and organic and I’ve tried them,” Huegi said.

Swiss Clinique features a calming atmosphere, was designed with renewable materials and offers clients individual attention, warm towels, ergonomic treatment beds and music tailored to request.

When she is not working at her CDM spa, Huegi is busy accepting invitations to teach reflexology around the world and staying youthful by indulging in outdoor sports. 

“When I reached half a century, I challenged myself, there’s no limit to age,” Huegi said.

She has competed in indoor rowing, tested her nerves with lessons on the aerial trapeze and started power hiking. She also recently won a 2nd place medal in her first 5K, completed her first triathlon, and this month finished the Surf City Half Marathon.  

But she still has more dreams to accomplish.

Huegi says she is looking forward to becoming an American Citizen in January 2014 to “offer thanks to this country of opportunity."