KIANA'S LIFE AND TIMES ON ESPN - PART 1

What is the best, worse, funniest, different things that happened because of your fame?

Best: The ultimate complement: I have 98 new borns named after me: Kiana. I still am so flattered that moms and dads think so highly of me to name their baby girls after me. It gives me chills! Best: Being complemented, thanked, respected worldwide wherever I go: Alaska, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Florida, you name it. It has opened so many doors for me, I am so thankful. That and getting the nicest suites in the hotels we tape at-amazing! I am spoiled now for sure! Worst: Being under a microscope all of the time and the subject of gossip by those who have nothing better to talk about. It has caused problems with my personal life-the most recent I heard that I was married and had 3 kids--not true! Funny: I was doing an autograph signing at the popular Arnold Classic in Columbus Ohio for Balance BAr. People were waiting for 2 hours for a photo with me and signed poster. I had to take a rest room break. My 3 bodyguards walked me through this mob to the rest room where a women pushed her way in and actually handed me a photo under the stall and said, "I don't want to wait in line, can you sign this now?" I said no and when I exited, she took my photo as I was washing my hands at the sink. Scary to think that photo of me in a public rest room is hanging in someone's office or house.

How demanding is your present schedule? Are you still doing 65 shows a year? How many promotional tours and appearances have you done this year?

I feel retired at the moment. It was a nice break, i am in development for a new Kiana Fitness Show for a new network. I will not be resigning with ESPN. Change is good, it's motivating and challenging. I was traveling 2 weeks out of every month last year and attended all the trade shows, I took the entire year off, it's been great! I actually unpacked for the first time in 5 years! I have a few other projects coming out that I cannot disclose yet. It's going to be fabulous! I just returned from Manzanillo where I shot at a 10 million dollar circular home surrounded by a 360 degree pool that you could jump into from every bedroom in the house. It had a floating suspended bed too It was owned by the man who also owned the Polo Club and Team, there were beautiful horses running all around. Wow.

As an assistant to Cory Everson on Body Shaping, what were your original responsibilities? Was that your first job on television? Were your learning experiences like the Michelle Pfeiffer's character in "Up Close and Personal?"

To keep count of the reps, which at the time was hard for me to do since I was so nervous! they used to call me Squeaky because I was so nervous, every time I spoke, it sounded like a squeak. Then as time went on.... the nick name changed to mean "the squeaky wheel gets the oil," because I was the only one who ever spoke up and asked for things I needed. Now, they can't shut me up.........

You have stated that it took over three years to feel more than "hired talent" - could you elaborate on that?

That is not correct. I meant that I did not like to be hired talent. It's a growing process, I had a lot to offer creatively and felt that I was in touch with what the people wanted in regards to fitness. As hired Talent you aren't hired to think, just do your job. I wanted to think alot and have it used.

What prompted you to desire being more involved creatively and what directions were you suggesting - but never taken?

I felt things could have been done better more creatively such as: more visual, funnier, more entertaining-people will do things they enjoy. If you make things fun, more people will want to do it! Specifically, I remember wanting to include cross training into the shows in addition to weight training (all we did was lift weights.) I thought that there were so many people who liked a variety of sports that they would want to learn what exercises to do to improve their performance for their favorite. sport. I thought people would want to learn how to increase speed, agility, strength and win! I was right.

Was this a primary reason why you left Body Shaping to create a new one?

Kiana's  Website   Discover her clothing, fitness tips, etc. Visit her website at www.Kiana.Com. At her site, discover more b/g info her clothing line food supplements fitness tips latest news They were developed to meet the needs and requests of her many viewers.

ESPN offered me an incredible opportunity to host and co-produce my own show with my name on it----who wouldn't jump on that?

What is your concept of the "whole lifestyle aspect of fitness" and why do you think that it caught on in such a large way?

It's reality, it's real, it's life. Fitness is a lifestyle, it's not something you do only before a high school reunion or only at New Years Day. In order to be truly healthy and enjoy the benefits of a healthy body, you need to live it, eat it, breathe it.

How many shows are you doing now and what is on planned for the future?

I finished up my recent Kiana's Flex Appeal ESPN2 Taping at the beautiful Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, FL. It's airing at 5:30 and 7am PST M-F. I am in development for a new Kiana Fitness Show that will blow all other shows out of the water.

Click HERE for Part 2 and HERE for Part 3.