For Dr. Jacqueline Younesi, Corona del Mar isn’t just where she lives and works—it’s where her story began. She grew up in Newport Beach, attending Lincoln Elementary School before heading to Corona del Mar High School, and spent much of her childhood at her grandparents’ home in CdM. Her earliest memories include days at Temple Bat Yahm preschool, afternoons by the beach, and a deep sense of belonging that only a tight-knit coastal community can offer.

 

Family has always been at the center of Jacqueline’s life. Her husband, Dr. Moji Ghalambor, whom she met ten years ago while both were in dental school at USC, is her partner in every sense of the word. Their connection was immediate—“love at first sight,” she says—and today he’s not only her best friend but also a fellow dental professional, working as an endodontist specializing in tooth pain, disease, and infection, including root canals.

 

Jacqueline’s extended family is equally close: her parents, Shirley and John Younesi; her brother, Sam Younesi; and her beloved grandparents, Marvin and Marjorie Shmagin, who moved to Corona del Mar 36 years ago. Her aunt, Jan Zanellato and her two kids, Vivienne and Monroe, and her uncle, Jon Shmagin and his two kids, Adelaide and Josephine, are also nearby. It’s a family whose roots run deep and whose presence is felt throughout the community.

 

Many neighbors also know Jacqueline’s family from their entrepreneurial spirit. From the original Johnny’s Real New York Pizza, which opened in CdM in 2011, to a long-standing family-owned jewelry store and other local businesses, the family has long been woven into the fabric of the community.

 

Jacqueline and Moji love spending time together in simple, meaningful ways. Beach days, backyard BBQs, and evenings filled with card games are staples of family life. Backgammon and cards, especially Kalooki and double solitaire, have been traditions since Jacqueline was little, passed down from her grandparents. Sometimes the games get ambitious, even turning solitaire into a four-player event. What matters most is the time together, the laughter, and the sense of connection.

 

This spring brings a new chapter: the couple is expecting their first baby in April 2026. It’s a season filled with excitement, gratitude, and reflection, especially as Jacqueline looks ahead to raising a child in the same community that shaped her.

 

Jacqueline’s path to dentistry was set early—she knew she wanted to be a dentist by the age of six. Unlike many children, she loved going to the dentist, didn’t experience her first cavity until she was 18, and remembers those early visits as positive and reassuring. As she moved through college, her perspective deepened. She began to see how dentistry could truly change lives and noticed gaps in access to care, even close to home.

 

Today, she’s a general, family, and cosmetic dentist and the owner of Jacqueline Younesi Dentistry in Corona del Mar, which she opened three and a half years ago. What she values most isn’t just the clinical work—it’s the relationships. Jacqueline sees her practice as an extension of her family, a place where patients are known, heard, and cared for. She loves educating patients about oral health, helping people regain confidence in their smiles, and especially working with children, knowing those early experiences shape a lifetime of dental health and trust.

 

Outside the office, Jacqueline and Moji find joy in life’s quieter pleasures—morning walks through CdM, getting lost in a good book, or settling in for a favorite movie or TV show. They love discovering new food, whether dining out or experimenting together in the kitchen. Staycations with family, relaxed evenings, and lingering dinners with a glass of red wine are among their favorite ways to recharge.

 

Their perfect day is quintessentially local: a morning walk through the neighborhood, a breakfast burrito from Rose’s Café, reading in the sun by the beach, and dinner at Bandera to close out the day.

 

When it comes to neighborhood favorites, Jacqueline and Moji have plenty. Hot bagels with cream cheese from Bruegger’s, sushi at Sugarfish, Taco Tuesday at Avila’s El Ranchito, and Golden Spoon topped with extra Oreo cookies all make the list, along with beloved spots like CDM Restaurant, Bamboo Bistro, and the Hillstone restaurants.

 

After spending time in Los Angeles, returning to Corona del Mar felt inevitable. Jacqueline had always dreamed of opening a dental practice here, and making that dream a reality felt like coming full circle. With their entire family nearby, a strong sense of community, and a place that feels both intimate and welcoming, CdM is exactly where Jacqueline and Moji want to put down roots.

 

What they’re most grateful for is simple and profound: family —the unwavering support, constant encouragement, and the blessing of having parents and grandparents still by their side as they build their life, their careers, and now their own growing family.