IN CONVERSATION WITH ANGIE KATSANEVAS

interview by JANA LETONJA

Angie Katsanevas has mastered the art of turning an entrance into an era. After joining The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City as an outsider, she has become one of the franchise’s defining personalities, bringing fearless fashion, unforgettable one-liners and a willingness to put everything on the table. But behind the reality-TV spectacle is an entrepreneur who understands longevity. She built Lunatic Fringe Salon from a single Salt Lake City location into a multi-state beauty business, long before Bravo came calling. With RHOSLC having returned for its seventh season this September, Angie finds herself at an interesting intersection of television, fashion, beauty and business, and increasingly comfortable defining the narrative on her own terms.

photography by KOURY ANGELO BRAVO

You entered The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City as something of an outsider and have since become central to the show. What has surprised you most about that evolution?
I never expected to join this cast and learn so much about myself. While trying to find my place amongst the group, I had to have a really strong sense of self, a lot of confidence, stand on my own, and be relentless. I have to say, it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done.

As a new cast member, it was harder to join an established cast than to have been there from the beginning. I was not really considered an equal, so I just had to believe that I deserved to be there and had what it takes. Watching key funny moments become memes and my comments become quotable, I realized I was an important asset to the cast. I knew I was one of one and brought something unique to the show.

What feels different about the Angie in Season 7 compared with the woman audiences first met?
When you first come onto the show, your friendships aren't as strong. I didn't have a friend that I knew would have my back if I made a mistake or didn't handle myself in the best way possible. 

Over time, the friendships develop, they become stronger, trust is built, and I believe you build more confidence. I gained confidence going into Season 7, knowing that I add value to the show, that I am a good, loyal friend, and that I'm not alone anymore.

Now I feel like I have deeper roots, stronger friendships, and a sisterhood with the women. It allows you to be yourself and know that if you do misstep, the cast knows you and understand your intentions more. They also understand your humor, so I feel that I've forgotten that cameras are there, and I've just been able to be more authentically myself and more comfortable sharing what I'm going through and being vulnerable. I think it all takes time to build.

Without giving too much away for those who haven’t seen then new season yet, what three words would you use to describe the energy of the new season?
I would say vulnerable, emotional, and real. The cast has really been together for so long that you're just seeing more of their true selves.

Salt Lake City has developed a reputation for delivering some of the most unpredictable television in theHousewives universe. Why do you think this particular group works so well?
Each of the women is very strong and funny in their own way. Sometimes when you get a group of strong women in the same room, they can be intimidated by each other. However, I feel that there's a mutual respect that has developed amongst the group. While we have our ups and downs, there is a level of respect. Each woman is just as strong as the next.

“I do franchise” ultimately became an Arby’s campaign, which is a wonderfully unexpected crossover. What was your reaction when a spontaneous Housewives moment became an actual brand partnership?
The response to this line made me realize that my one-liners have become a part of my identity and personality on the show. The light bulb went on. I realized I have something different to offer this cast that stands out in pop culture and resonates with the viewers. My one liners have landed me brand deals and have also sent me all the way to Congress to testify on behalf of franchises. I would never have imagined, in a million years, having either of those opportunities. 

I think it's become a huge part of my identity and it's really incredible to be paid to be the funny person that I've always been my whole life. I realized that it's not normal to just be able to come up with these crazy, witty one-liners in real time, and maybe it's a little gift that I didn't really know that I had. Getting a brand deal with someone like Arby's just confirmed that it is a gift, and I guess I should be proud of it.

photography by JAKE THOMPSON

The line is especially fitting because you really do understand franchising. You built Lunatic Fringe Salon from one location into a multi-state business. What did entrepreneurship teach you about yourself before television entered the picture?
I learned in order to have a great story you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You must be relentless in the process and never get comfortable. You have to continue to give everything you're doing 150 percent, which is what I've done with my business. I knew that to create something amazing, I had to have an extremely strong work ethic and confidence in who I was and what I wanted in order to achieve greatness.

Beauty has been your professional world for decades. How has your definition of beauty changed since opening your first salon in 1999?
I think my style has evolved, and as you become older and wiser through every decade of your life, your fashion should evolve with you. I don't want to dress like my daughter. I've had my moment in the sun. I still want to take risks in fashion, and feel beautiful and sexy. It becomes more about finding ways to make those fashion choices feel elevated and age appropriate.

 I've definitely taken more risks. I've gotten away from wearing all black, which is very common in the beauty industry. We have a dress code in our salon. I've become more experimental with color and with fashion in general, while always keeping it age-appropriate, taking risks, and keeping it timeless.

Reality stars now exist at the intersection of television, fashion, social media and branding. How intentional are you about building a world around Angie beyond the show?
I think it's very important for me to grow my own brand. The person my fans are invested in is me. I built a brand, Lunatic Fringe Salons with my husband, and now I'm in a new season of life where I want to focus on the Angie K brand. I have the platform to do it and love all things in fashion and beauty. I'm passionate about the beauty industry. Since I was a little girl, I loved all things beauty. I've built a brand, and I know what it takes. I have the energy to continue to focus on Angie K as a standalone brand. 

It’s important to believe that you can do something, even in this season of life, when I am a bit older, but wiser. It’s inspiring for other women and my daughter to say, “Hey, I can, as a woman, build a brand, be influential in a positive way, and inspire women of all ages in whatever I choose to do.”

Supporting causes, charities, and the different things that are important to me is something that I feel further strengthens my brand and defines who I am. Everything I've done has been with my husband for the last 30 years. So, it's important to me, having a daughter, to show her that as a woman, I can build something on my own that people want to be a part of.

You’ve become a fan favorite while also being someone who isn’t afraid of confrontation. How do you balance being entertaining with making sure you’re still being authentically yourself?
The biggest thing that I've learned is not to look at the comments or read people's opinions of yourself. In Season 5, Heather Gay said, “You're hilarious. You are the funniest person I know. You need to bring those thoughts external.” When I stopped overthinking and was just my authentic self, I would say the funny things out loud. If you read the comments and worry about what the world will say, you will never be a star.

The only person you can be is your authentic self. So be vulnerable. Say what you're thinking. Say what you're feeling. I've lived my whole life overthinking based on the faith and culture I was brought up in and being raised by strict immigrant parents. It's actually been liberating to be on a show where I can say whatever comes to my mind. I think that's what's made me lovable, relatable, and has made people laugh, and maybe cry. I have so many funny things going on in my head, and I have finally brought those thoughts external. 

Having an opinion can make people dislike you, but once you move past that, you're not swayed by what the world is thinking or saying. I believe that the biggest mistake a housewife could make is to read the comments, be friends with the people they think they should be friends with and do what they think they should do. That is the quickest way to lose yourself, and it can become someone’s downfall. All you can be is your greatest self. The minute I stopped worrying about what people would say about how I handle a situation, what I think, or how I feel, is the moment I think I really became a standout center snowflake holder on RHOSLC. 

Being on reality television means having strangers form strong opinions about you and your relationships. Have you developed a thicker skin, or do certain comments still get through?
I absolutely have developed thicker skin. I've realized that if you're nice and quiet, don't have an opinion, and don't take risks in hair and fashion, no one is talking about you. If it's hard for you to listen to people talking about you, you can't be on this show. Someone asked Dolly Parton about how she felt about people accusing her of affairs, and she said, "Well, that's how I sell records, honey." That has become my new motto. People can say whatever they want, but the reason we are on this show is because we are willing to be controversial, polarizing, create discord and say what we think. If I didn't do any of that, I wouldn't be on this show and I wouldn't be selling haircuts, honey.

I really took a risk in one of my confessionals, and I did a whole 90s vibe with a Janet Jackson feel, recreating an old perm and wearing contacts and a Ralph Lauren military jacket. The look before that was this elegant look, probably one of my most beautiful looks, a black dress with a beautiful blow-dry, the most gorgeous glam, very safe. I hardly heard a peep about that, but all anyone talked about on the internet was my 90s inspired look, and it made me giggle.

I could have stayed safe and had my hair straight or in the Utah curl. But I took a risk, and people love to talk about people when they take risks in fashion, hair, or by saying whatever they're thinking. I encourage my daughter to take risks too. She was kind of hesitant about that look with the contacts. I said, "Elektra, I could play it safe, but no one's talking about the person who's playing it safe." I’m in the beauty industry. It's my job to show versatility, create new looks, and be creative, and to inspire others to do the same. Playing it safe isn’t fun, and no one’s talking about the person who plays it safe.

I'm versatile, and I've taken risks in hair and fashion my whole life. I've had some crazy hairstyles over the years. I was the first girl in Salt Lake to have platforms. I was one of the first girls in Salt Lake to cut my hair short, and blonde chunks, and wear cheetah print. From a very early age, I was a trendsetter, so I'm okay with people not loving how I look. If I give them something to talk about, or I inspire someone to dare to take a risk, then I guess I've done my job as a housewife, a hairdresser, a beauty industry expert, a salon owner, all of it.

You’ve already built a successful business and become a major reality TV personality. What ambition do you have now that audiences might not expect from you?
One thing that I am very passionate about is bringing family and friends together through food, setting the table, and entertaining. I'm really looking at the possibility of doing a cookbook and sharing some family recipes and including some of my family history written in it.

I would love to do something with travel and food, where I could take television viewers on a tour of Greece, sharing its food, people, villages, and some of the unique islands that people may never see in their lives.

I also want to stay on brand with what's authentic, so that means staying in the beauty industry and continuing to pursue my existing business, Lunatic Fringe Salon, and working with Kérastase. So, I'll continue all those things, but I think the other two are things that people may never think about. As my daughter gets a little older, I’d love to collaborate with her on things that she's passionate about in the horse world. That's down the road, but I hope to work with her on a project in the industry that she loves. She's an equestrian and loves all things horses.