Jennifer Sebasigari, our most recent billboard bride, may have seemed predestined for the role, what with her sizable social media following and glamorous looks served in her stunning Venturas dress, but there is much more to her story.
Jennifer moved to Austin 25 years ago as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just 12 years old, but she was already hustling. In the refugee camp she would help her mother make money selling homemade chapati, a flatter and denser counterpart to what you may be more familiar with as naan. At 13 she worked her first job, illegally housekeeping for commercial companies to make ends meet. Later her family purchased a home in Leander. Her father had previously come to the United States in the 70s to get a master’s degree at the University of Michigan and later became a diplomat in Congo. Her mother looked after the home, but later acquired a career in government, working with the IRS.
Being a child was hard, but having children is harder. With 6 other sisters, Jennifer remarked, “Having kids in America is a bill”. While she wants children, she has yet to have any, instead working on her career. So far, she has lived in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Lubbock and Florida. She stated Florida has been her favorite; however she spent most of her time there working and developing her culinary skills. While working at Disney in Florida she worked every day for weeks at seven different restaurants interning and networking.
She has worked in the culinary industry her entire life. When asked with what she would tell her younger self now with the knowledge she’s gained, she said “Get a mentor”. She further commented that should she have had a mentor to help her she would’ve developed far further than she is now. Now she’s taken the initiative to be that presence to others and mentors many young girls, having them call her and encouraging them to succeed.
Jennifer originally wanted to be Michelin star chef but thought the field was too scientific, instead focusing on a more homestyle cooking, focusing on barbecue, popular in Congo, however Jennifer notes that while Texan barbecue is often spicy and slow cooked, she grew up with a style of cooking focused on spices and direct heat cooking. Despite her fondness for barbecue, Jennifer’s favorite food is crawfish!
Jen’s culinary career is further present in her passion for hunting and butchering which has been around her whole life. Before the war in Congo, Jennifer would visit family and help work on their farms in the summers, however she says she thinks she’s more suited for city living. Her ideal place to live would be New York or Chicago
Now Jennifer is a full time social media influencer creating content for herself and other culinary brands, as well as working as a client engagement specialist for businesses trying to expand, all while assisting her husband Zeta in his endeavors in the energy industry. You can follow her on Instagram @JenniferSebasigari. Her wedding this coming December will be at Chateau Nouveau!
