katina

on a warm day in february zach and i met with katina at Turner & co, her bright and lovely salon in biltmore village.

katina and i actually came up with the idea for interviewing locals last year while we were working together. we wrote many of the questions in tandem and talked a lot about asheville's changes. as the idea evolved and katina became busier, i ended up spearheading the idea without her - with her juju definitely still in the mix. 

i first met katina when i began to babysit her daughter eleanor six years ago in new york city. it was clear from the start that katina and her husband brian, separately and together, were wonderful & the absolute coolest. They spoke to their kid sarcastically, even when she was four. they would often invite me to join them for a glass of wine after a night out. when i was stuck, they set me up with my first power job in the city. helping others seems to be in both of their natures, even if katina is slow to admit it. originally a new yorker, she refuses to give up her "black heart" and edge, but the south has definitely brought out her softer side. 

the two met while working at mtv in its prime. brian produced jackass & the mtv music awards. he has a moon man on his mantle. katina used to run "House of style" the legendary fashion focused show hosted by cindy crawford. He now is a democratic politician for district 116 in the house of representatives. she now focuses all her energy on southern hair and spends her days in her chic beauty lounge. 

scroll through photos of the interview in katina's beauty lounge  / listen to full interview + yacht rock audio above / read the edited interview beloW

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ok, so are we ready? 

if you're ready i'm ready

what is your story and relation to asheville?

i met my husband in new york where we were working together - he is from asheville. we both got sick of doing what we were doing at mtv...his family owns a business down here called mills manufacturing. they started by making bra straps and they ended up making military parachutes. it still exists, but at this time his dad was getting ready to retire. so brian's like, "what if we move to asheville and i'll run the company and we will retire and have a nice little country life?" and i was like...YES. so that's what we did. and then i said NO. so i went back to new york. and then i said YES again and came back. 

that's kinda the brief version of how we got here. and now he is a politician and we're not going anywhere. except dc baby! or raleigh. but i'm not going anywhere.

how would you describe your family? 

intense...intense. and when i say my family i guess i'm referring to brian and eleanor first. my extended family, my upbringing, was intense in a different way. my mom is here in asheville now which is awesome, and she has such a good relationship with eleanor which is heartening. eleanor loves her to death, and i love her too. she drives me crazy but i love her. so our relationship is ok. my mom and i are ok, my brother and i are ok. brian's family - we're good. everything is good. 

and your mom was an immigrant right? 

yes, she moved here in the early 60's i guess, when she was 21, from brazil. didn't speak the language. she picked up, the only one of her family to come and do it, and she worked at hamburger heaven in manhattan. and that's where she met my dad! he worked at saks across the street and he would go to hamburger heaven for lunch. 

what was your favorite experience in your life? a job or a time...

oh my god. seriously? there's so many different favorites for different reasons. 

so, the one that stands out the most is when i was growing up my brother and i used to watch mtv, the early days of mtv. and we were OBSESSED. we both loved music, my dad loved music, we were obsessed with mtv. and watched all the videos. i remember one night, it was the tubes "she's a beauty." that was the video. it was a little bit inappropriate i would say. and my dad came down and saw my brother and i watching it and he said, "NO. there is no more mtv, you may not watch it." and you know in those days, you couldn't parent control your television, so we were good kids and we did not watch mtv anymore. but i was like - someday i wanna do something like this. 

so then as i got a little older i started watching this show called "house of style" when i was in college, and i was like - i want to work there. that is what i want to do. so, i did. i made it happen. that was a good experience. i crawled my way to the top. 

the second one was that i was the only, at the time which was a long time ago, the only female reality show director out there. so that was pretty cool, i was like... a fucking badass. i was really proud of that.

and then, i'm proud of this (the salon). i'm really proud of this. it's so different than anything i've ever done. i'm super challenged in every way every day in different ways than i was for television production, because now i'm more of a...i'm a boss. i don't have bosses, i am the boss. it's not easy. television production is not easy for a number of reasons, this is a hair salon or a spa and you look around and you're like, what's so hard about this? but it's challenging. 

and, throwing up my daughter. i was pretty proud of that. because my stomach muscles were so strong that i barfed, and she came out. so i was pretty proud of that. the doctor wasn't even ready, didn't have his gloves on. i threw up because you can't eat all day, and i was there forever so i had popsicles and sprite and all this sugary stuff and then as you start pushing, you know - you get ill. so i barfed. i threw up a baby. 

what's one surprising thing that you carry with you? in your wallet or car? 

i carry with me, and it's funny i've never done this, but one time brian and i went to st lucia and we went to this hotel and they had this non alcoholic drink that they served at breakfast. and he LOVED it, he was obsessed with it. i asked them to write down the recipe so i could make it at home. i have never made it, and it's still in my wallet. i don't carry it around for any reason other than it's still in my wallet. i just can't get rid of it. i also can't make it either. so...yeah. 

and then i have two pictures of my dead dogs. 

whats' your drink of choice? 

cava. cava, not prosecco. or real champagne. 

i douce it with water a lot. because it's lower calorie and i feel like i'm hydrating and dehydrating at the same time. and i like it really cold. which is probably not the way that you're supposed to drink it but i don't give a shit. that's the way i like it. 

if you could switch with anyone for 24 hours, alive or dead, who would it be? 

oh god....melania trump. . 

i wonder if you would feel everything she feels, like you would have her personality through it. or you'd just be having her day. just like a swap, like freaky friday. 

i think either way would be interesting. different levels of interesting. 

you might have to sleep with him. 

no no no. they don't sleep together, what are you kidding me? they don't even have the same bedroom.

would you? ugh disgust. 

what is the best part of YOUR day? 

the best part of my day...i think getting in here (her office). when i am here, and everything is good downstairs and the place is busy and i can hear it and i can sit up here and work, that's like: YES! that's my happy place. 

what's one thing that without fail can ruin your day? 

i have so many answers to this. 

an unhappy customer would RUIN my day. an unhappy stylist would ruin my day. um, and if i'm out of champagne that would really ruin my day. 

what's something that can turn around your day? 

it can turn around my day when someone's like: chill out. just a comment. and first, i'm so mad. and then, right ok i can relax. it's a hair salon. it's ok, we're not curing cancer. nobody's dying.

so i guess maybe someone to check me can turn around my day. does that make sense? 

who is your living hero? 

i guess my mom. i guess my mom? i wish i were more like her because she is tough as balls that woman. god, she's tough. but i'm not like her. so i wish i could be like her, but yeah. she would be, i mean i know it's trite but it's true. 

what trait do you dislike in yourself? 

um, i mean the list goes on. i don't know! my lack of focus i guess. is that a trait? is focus a trait? the lack of it? 

what trait do you dislike in others? 

not being honest. liars. or withholders...i don't know. sneaky people. i don't like sneaky people. i'd rather you just...out with it. 

what phrases do you overuse? 

fuck. 

what are you learning or working on right now? 

how to run a business? that's what i'm always working on.

hair loss, i'm learning about hair loss. it's so boring.

i'm working on focusing. on...being a better mom. that's what i'm kindof working on. yeah. 

what is asheville to you? 

it's home. it's friends and family and community and...it is so many things. it is republican and democrat, it's liberal and conservative. it's hippies and really uptight girls. it's beautiful and fun and i feel like if you come here you get it. you love it. it's a good place to be. 

what do you think the direction of asheville is? 

oh my god, growth. up. huge. i know that locals get so frustrated with all the hotels going up, and the traffic and duh duh duh, but as a business owner - i think it's great. i think it's fantastic. i'm so jazzed. and there are new people from different places coming, not just to visit but to move here. the problem is we need to get better jobs. more high paying jobs. our service jobs? we've got a million. a million, but we don't have any industry. we don't have banking, we don't have manufacturing anymore. 

so what's asheville missing is kindof what we are answering right now but...

yeah i think asheville is missing industry. jobs. it's missing jobs. 

do you think that's going to happen? 

yeah, i do. but you know it takes a lot of work and compromise from city council, county commissioners, democrats and republicans in the house. i mean, don't get me started, but you know it also means people have to vote. so if you live here you HAVE TO TAKE an interest. because if you don't, then you're not going to get what you want, you can't complain.  just knowing who your people are, and where they stand on things like growth and industry and rights and all of that kind of stuff.  you just have to know whose out there and what they're doing for you or not doing for you. 

what is your favorite place in town? your go to haunt? 

um, like food? hangout? ichiban. the ichiban bar for sure. 

sitting on the terrace of the club. THAT'S amazing. in the evening with a drink and it's phenomenal. i can't believe this is where i get to be. but that's so gross. sitting on the terrace of the country club. i hate me. 

what is your go to outfit? 

anything black. black jeans, black boots, black shirt, black jacket. 

what's your power outfit or item? 

heels. 

when i have to do shit in here, like when i'm mad at somebody...when i have to talk to somebody i HAVE to put on some heels. 

what is one small thing that is abnormally special to you? 

like an item? oh i remember you came up with this question. i don't know rhea! i have to think about that. 

i mean i could say...there's a picture of eleanor when she's a baby, yeah that's special. of course it's special.

i have a piece of art, i guess you could call it art, from house of style that todd oldham made. he used to do this segment called "todd time" and he made this resin giant thing, it's called a bumper, for the opening phrase segment and they filmed it and it looked really cool. and then it just went into storage at mtv, it was gone forever. then this woman called me and she was like, "i have this todd time thing we were cleaning out a closet, do you want it?" and i was like "YES, of course i want it." and it just reminds me of being young and working with the most creative coolest interesting people and doing crazy stuff. interesting stuff, ballsy stuff. 

ok! do you have a motto or words that you live by. 

where there's a will there is a way. 

what traits do you rate highest in others? 

honesty. i'm trying to do that myself also. i keep it right there (points to a card on the wall). um, honesty...

intelligence. is that a trait? and i don't mean books smarts, i mean just an interest. an awareness, talking to different people, learning, open mindedness. 

who was or is your greatest mentor? 

alisa bellettini. she was my first boss at mtv. i mean my first real boss, real job. she taught me everything about fashion, about television production, about music, about...being a badass. about everything. it is a shame that she isn't around anymore and it is a shame that nobody ever did a documentary on her. she was a trailblazer. she created house of style. she came up with the idea to have cindy host, which at the time was unheard of. cindy had just done playboy, and alisa understood that sexuality was important. she worked with her and made her a great host.

she taught me about...just everything. how to live your life, how to be on time, how to have respect, how to demand respect. i wish, again, i wish i was more like her, but...i'm working on it. 

there is a new two dollar bill whose face should be on it? 

barak's. 

how are you contributing? 

well, i am contributing to job growth in asheville.

i'm contributing to society by raising, hopefully, a decent kid.

i'm contributing financially by donating to charities i think are important. i'm contributing time to charities and organizations that i think are important. 

what organizations are you involved in? 

women's society, which is part of mission hospital. women for women which helps women and girls in western north carolina, with basic needs and also with bigger issues like sex trafficking and domestic abuse. i think i do my part. 

but, the only i am able to do this is because i was fortunate enough to marry into a family that has the means and the community mindedness that they do. i am so grateful for that. 

what is one thing that always makes you cringe? 

i have so many...

mouth noises. yawning to fill space. people do that a lot. it's obviously uncomfortable and insecure and i get it. but it makes me want to...punch somebody. 

when you're pushed to your limit how do you cope? 

i get really aggressive and i get nasty. i get really nasty. sorry, that's not coping.

um, how do i cope? i don't know. i cope. i don't think i do. i push it away. is that coping? that's not coping, that's the antithesis of coping. 

the ostrich method has served me well my whole life. so i employ it often.  i really feel like it's an effective method. for some people it may come back and smack em in the ass or in the face but...for me, i just don't put any energy into it. 

what's on your bedside table? 

lip balm, hand lotion, books i'll never read, and water. 

what do you find is the most beautiful part of your job? where is the magic and the beauty? 

seeing happy people. when the girls are proud of their work and people are really happy. and we get awesome comments - i dont care about the reviews - like "oh my god she's the best" "she changed my hair she made me look great" "i feel good" all that stuff...hearts hearts hearts. thankfully it happens a lot around here. 

how do you get your news?

huffington post and msnbc. msnbc is on ALL the time. at my house. 

is that brian's doing? 

no it's mine. he hates it. he HATES it. cuz he lives it, you know?

and i know i'm not so dumb that i don't realize that msnbc is not unopinionated. 

what are you consuming right now? 

right now, yacht rock. we are SO into yacht rock right now. god. 

but then today in the car i was listening to liz phair and garbage and elastica. veruca salt! 

...there are certain bands that i can't stand. like pussy rock. nickleback...any of that. matchbox 20. 

what mundane activity makes you uneasy?

it's funny we were just talking about this. you know when you have to pop those cans for the biscuits? having to put the spoon on there and waiting for it to pop? it's terrible. it's a terrible surprise. 

what mundane activity do you love? 

woof. um, wiping things down. i like wiping counters. 

what do you need around you? what brings you happiness? 

pretty things. pretty things make me happy. my stuff makes me happy. i love being in my hole because i've got my stuff. and sometimes i can just look around and be like, ok yeah i remember why i like that. let's get back to that. 

what does your ideal birthday look like? 

not a party. i can tell you what it doesn't look like. i don't like a party. i mean, i LOVE a party. but i don't want a party. 

contrary to popular belief i don't want to be the center of attention. i guess it's just dinner and hanging with the fam. me brian and eleanor, the three of us.

...and jewelry. 

what are you proud of? 

yuck. i'm proud of so many things.

i am proud of my husband. i think he is badass. he is the hardest worker. i got a good one, he works so damn hard. he is so good. i am really proud of him. i am proud of eleanor for being so...adaptable. she is such a cool kid. and she is kind and smart and she can hang. that girl can hang. i think that's going to serve her well. 

what do you dream about? 

the salon. i dream about sweeping hair. i dream about appointments. i dream about this place ALL the time it's driving me crazy. 

what do you daydream about? 

it's so work related. i dream about making this place exactly what i want it to be. i daydream about how i can make it better all the time. 

what are you scared of? 

the biscuit thing. i'm scared of the fucking biscuit thing.

alright, i don't know. getting sick. eh, i'm not really scared of that.

dying. i'm scared of dying. i don't want to die, i'm having SUCH a good time. SUCH a good time. i'm so scared to die. i don't want to die.

...and biscuits. 

what do you want to accomplish before you die? 

is this it? is this the last question? god damn rhea, what do i want to accomplish? i want to be all of the things i want to be?

i want to get out of my own way, and be personally successful and professionally successful and be a successful mother and wife.

i want to die going ok, i conquered this this this this. little things. little things and big things. speaking up, being honest with people. yeah. that's it. 

we're done! how do you feel? 

good! it's fun! it's really fun. 

you had really good answers. 

you gotta get in the right mindset but it's fun. i think it's awesome.