CBS travel show calls Bay Area salon a “Destination’

Vacaville businesswoman Sophia Evon said it’s been an ever-evolving journey in finding her professional niche as an esthetician.

So imagine her delight that her salon — Sophia Evon Dayspa — has recently been named a destination. That is, for the TV show “Destination: SF,” with an episode set to air in the near future.

The CBS travel show, which highlights hot attractions, dining options and more in select cities, hit upon Evon’s salon through extensive research. The producer reportedly liked Evon’s proximity to San Francisco as well her numerous five-star service ratings. Filming is slated to occur in June.

Evon, an esthetician of 13 years with seven at her current location at 530 Merchant St., said beauty and wellness have always been part of her life.

“I was about 6 or 7 years old and I had a fascination with combs and brushes,” the Richmond native recalled, relaxing in her workspace, a haven with a Middle Eastern flair. “Everywhere we’d go, I’d be brushing hair.”

Later, Evon became enamored of makeup and clothes.

Her sisters would pay her for organizing their closets and she’s use the money to buy Glamour magazines and Charles of the Ritz perfume, which was popular at the time.

She’d also do makeup for friends and family as a teen, later branching out and doing makeup for models in a rock video, a film and more. Her highlight, she said, was doing the wedding makeup for Mia Tyler, daughter of Aerosmith musician Steven Tyler.

Evon would branch out again, doing nail art in Walnut Creek for decades.

Meanwhile, she raised a family.

Married at 18, she had four children by the time she was 27. Life wasn’t always easy, she said, but she always persevered and was determined to make things happen. Her family, she added, is her life, her reason for being.

And, people are her passion.

Later in life, she was able to pursue schooling as an esthetician. A believer in wellness in all aspects, she’d found her calling.

“Thirteen years later, here I am,” Evon declared.

These days, her specialty lies in facials. With sensitive skin of her own, she advised, only the highest-quality products are used.