[3][4] Kern Lima was the first member of her family to attend college and went to Washington State University, where she graduated valedictorian.

[citation needed] In 2006, she left KNDU and moved to Portland, Oregon to work as a news anchor and reporter for KPTV.

[citation needed] In 2008, Kern Lima co-founded IT Cosmetics after having difficulties with makeup products due to rosacea and hyperpigmentation.

Kern Lima was featured on a 10-minute QVC segment in which she wiped her makeup off, revealing her bare face to illustrate the use of IT Cosmetics concealers.

[2] Kern Lima remained with IT Cosmetics upon its acquisition by L'Oréal brand in 2016 until August 2019, when she announced she would be leaving the company.