Last week, I took one of my bi-annual trips to North Carolina. I love all of my North Carolina clients, and have a girl crush on one… Katina Turner, founder and CEO of the beautiful Asheville-based boutique Turner & Scott. She is as much tough New Yorker (and still often wears all black) as she is laid back Ashevillian (is that a word?). She is part Greek (as you can tell by her maiden name, Masouras), which is enough for me to be fascinated. She worked at MTV. She loves Eminem. She is passionate about beauty. Enough said…
AP: What city were you born in? KT: Brooklyn, NY. Yes, it’s a city.
AP: What city to do you live in? KT: Asheville, NC.
AP: What is your middle name? KT: I don’t have one because my name was so long when I was born (Katina Masouras) my parents didn’t feel like they needed more.
AP: What is your astrological sign? KT: Gemini.
AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? KT: If you don’t know then I don’t want you to know.
AP: What is your most prized possession? KT: I would say my children and husband, except they are not a possession. My pictures. They are everything.
AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? KT: I would love to have a sit down with my father (now deceased) So many questions…..
AP: Describe your fashion style in three words maximum. KT: Casual, easy, black.
AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? KT: Yes, usually a Rolex Datejust.
AP: Diamonds or pearls? KT: Diamonds.
AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? KT: Always wash your face before you go to bed.
AP: What fragrance do you wear? KT: I just found a great new fragrance, Gorse by Laboratory Perfumes.
AP: Botox or not? KT: Yes. No question.
AP: Hair color: natural or not? KT: Not.
AP: What are your special diet tips, if any? KT: Own a Hurom super juicer and use it every day.
AP: What do you do for exercise? KT: I run after my daughter. I flirt with Pure Barre and Pilates but can never commit.
AP: What are three things that you always have in your fridge? KT: Beer, wine, milk. Don’t ask.
AP: What is your cocktail of choice? KT: White wine, preferably pinot grigio.
AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? KT: I am still trying to figure that out… Family and life first.
AP: How many miles do you fly per year on average? KT: I don’t travel that much.
AP: What are your three top tips for travel? KT: Noise canceling headphones, a full ipad of movies and books, and Yosi Samra flats to run around in the airports without falling.
AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. KT: Justin Timberlake “Take back the Night” and “Murder,” and Eminem “Berzerk.”
AP: What book are you reading right now? KT: In in a middle of many, which makes it hard to read and finish just one. I start many and rarely finish. On the half read list a book about elections Winning Your Election the Wellstone Way. My husband is considering a run for state office. Also, Parenting with Love & Logic because I have the love part down the the logic escapes me. And Take the Lead, I’m trying to be a better boss…it’s not working.
AP: Quote to live by. KT: I don’t have one.
AP: What is your worst pet peeve? KT: People who chew with their mouth open. Yuck.
AP: What time do you usually wake up in the morning, and how many hours of sleep do you usually get? KT: I wake up at 6:30 and try to get 7.5 hours.
AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? KT: All the committed, excited people trying to improve other people’s lives through beauty.
AP: Least favorite thing. KT: I can’t say yes to everyone. I hate having to say no to beautiful lines I can’t carry in my boutique. There are so many good lines out there, I just can’t carry them all.
AP: Who is your mentor? KT: My former boss, Elisa Bellatini. She was my boss at MTV and she taught me how to be tough and how to work harder than anybody else.
AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. KT: You have to work hard. You have to work harder than anybody else. And you have to be working hard at something that interests you and makes you happy, otherwise you will be miserable.
