Muse of the Month of September: Janice Miye Kim
- The Muse Hotel
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 16

Our muse this month is Janice Miye Kim, founder of Hotgirlsauce, a flavor-forward brand rooted in Korean heritage, storytelling, and the kind of heat that lingers long after the last bite. With a background in fashion and beauty, she brings a sharp eye for aesthetic and a deep sense of purpose to everything she creates.
We talked with her about food, identity, civic engagement, and the surprising joy of collecting chips and ramen from around the world. This is one of those conversations that stays with you.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your career and what inspires you? As a daughter of Korean immigrants, my heritage and family are at the core of Hotgirlsauce, intrinsic to its being. My earliest memories of food are with my 할머니 (halmoni), my grandmother, whose home was my first. I think of the tenderness and love with which her hands prepared me food, a Korean sentiment called Son Mat. The kitchen is the first place I found a connection to my heritage, and that is Hotgirlsauce at its best — the sharing of culture and community through food.
Before this, I was lucky to have a fifteen-year buying and merchandising career in fashion and beauty, that I absolutely loved. I’ve worked for both Fortune 500 and high-growth startups alike, and experienced every vertical and channel of retail and ecommerce. The backbone of Hotgirlsauce is infused with this experience and my love for storytelling, brand aesthetic, and chasing consumer trends.
What are your top three passions outside of work? The first and likely most obvious answer is food. Whether it’s finding solace in the kitchen, discovering new restaurants, or simply sharing a good meal and conversation, food is my simplest vessel for connection, comfort, and joy.
I also love music. I’ve played the piano since I was five years old, and there is little I enjoy more than a live show — something I’m lucky to experience often in my city (Los Angeles).
The last I’ll mention is community and civic engagement. I stay closely involved with local and national policy and organizing and have assembled a voting guide for every election the past 7 years.

What’s one quirky or unexpected thing about you that most people don’t know?
My favorite ‘souvenir’ while traveling are the various chips and instant noodles from different countries. I really will pack fragile bags of chips and ramen into my suitcase and hope for the best when I land. (Hasn’t failed me yet.)

If you could design a themed room for our hotel, what theme would you choose and why?
At the risk of sounding cliché, the young girl inside of me would be enamored with an Audrey Hepburn themed room. It would be so classic. However, I would be remiss to not choose a hot sauce theme. Fiery pink with chili peppers adorned across the room — what could be better?

How can our readers get in touch with you? Follow us at @thehotgirlsauce, check out our website, or say hi at hello@thehotgirlsauce.com.
There’s something grounding about the way Janice moves through the world. Thoughtfully. With conviction. With warmth. Her story reminds us that the things we grow up with can shape what we give back, and that comfort can be as much about spice as it is about softness.
As we lean into the new season, let this be a reminder to make space for what nourishes you. To create from the heart. And to stay connected to the parts of yourself that feel like home.
We’ll see you next month.
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