She arrives with no entourage, no makeup, and no trace of the heightened energy we have come to associate with reality TV — just oversized pink Gucci sunglasses and a cosy knitted jumper emblazoned with the Greek flag. “I’ve been filming, and this is the only day off that I get,” Angie Katsanevas explains as she settles into her chair. “So I love to let my skin breathe and not wear makeup. I just put some glasses on.”
It’s a rare moment of pause in the middle of a life that rarely slows down. For a woman who has built a ten-salon hair empire, emerged as the breakout star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – the most-watched franchise in the global Housewives universe – and remained fiercely rooted in her Greek heritage, Angie is, remarkably, just as grounded as she is glamorous.
“This was something on my list that I wanted to do,” she says of our interview. “I’m so happy we were able to set this up.” There’s something earnest in the way she says it — as though gratitude still sits at the heart of everything she touches, no matter how bright the lights have become.
Seven Siblings, One Steadfast Father
From her upbringing as one of seven children raised in Salt Lake City by a widowed Greek father, to co-founding Lunatic Fringe in 1999 — now a thriving salon brand with ten locations — Angie’s journey is stitched together with hard work, heartache, deep loyalty, and unreserved pride in her heritage. Her identity is so entwined with her roots that in the RHOSLC Season 4 opening credits, her tagline is unapologetically bold: “You might be in a sorority, but I’m Greek for life, baby!”
“I was born, baptised and married in the Greek Orthodox Church right here in Salt Lake,” she says. “My parents were both from Chania, Crete, and they met here. At that time, a lot of Greeks from their village were immigrating together, following each other for jobs in the mines.”
Angie’s story is rooted in generational grit. Her father, Louis Katsanevas, who emigrated from Crete with nothing but his work ethic, raised all seven of his children alone after Angie’s mother, Georgia, passed away when Angie was just eight years old.
Up until that time, Angie’s childhood was profoundly affected by her mother’s struggle with alcoholism, which limited her presence in the family. Reflecting on this period, Angie has shared, “She went through … a lot of struggles and self-medicated. And so my childhood was not perfect. Thank God my dad was solid.”
“My dad came here to this country not knowing anyone, just his family. He didn’t speak English… he had no job, no friends.”
It’s a childhood that could have left her hardened, but instead, it made her empathetic, driven, and remarkably down to earth.
“Dad lived through World War II, and their home in Chania had no running water, no electricity. He had no shoes until he was 11, sometimes, no food. He raised us to be humble, to be grateful. The things we had – heat, shoes, food, even toilet paper! – were luxuries to him. He worked hard, we had a nice home, a garden, fruit trees.”
“Because food was so huge to him as a child and he was deprived of it, he made sure that we had a beautiful home-cooked meal and real food from the earth,” she explains. “We didn’t grow up eating processed food or fast food. He was cooking meals and putting them out for us as a family — teaching us to eat together and bringing our family together through food and sitting at the table. That was his love language.”
“Those things influenced me,” she reflects. “Sharing food, and keeping the family together.”
While most kids in her neighbourhood were raised in Mormon households, Angie and her siblings were immersed in Greek tradition — from language school to dance classes to Sunday church.
“Even though we were the only Greek family for miles, my dad made sure we stayed immersed in our culture. He never let us forget where we came from. Even though he was now in America he knew how much value it added to continue the traditions.”
Her mother’s passing left a void that Angie’s father tried to fill with unconditional love and structure. She credits him for everything — not only the values he passed down but the example he set.
“No matter what happened, he never felt sorry for himself. He always had a smile. That was his strength — he just kept going. He taught me to keep my head up, always.”
I think as life goes on, you want to still be able to manage to keep your children humble and ensure they have gratitude for the things they have because other people had to work so hard for them to have those opportunities today.
“My dad, he is quiet,” she says. “So a lot of the lessons and values that I learned were just by watching him. Every single thing I learned from him was a valuable life lesson.”
A reserved figure, he led by example — never with loud declarations, but with steadfast consistency.
“That’s something I’m trying to create and pass down for my daughter,” Angie adds.
With seven children and no wife, Angie’s father modelled both parental roles. But the family never lacked in warmth, thanks to the surrounding aunts, uncles and cousins who formed the backbone of Angie’s support system.
“My dad had ten siblings, most of whom had moved to Utah. We were raised with our cousins. Without a mum, I learned how to be a mother from my aunts and grandmothers. They passed down so much — the cooking, the strength, the spirit of Greek women.”
One photo on Angie’s Instagram page shows her doing her now all-grown-up cousin’s hair on her wedding day — the same cousin whose hair Angie styled 25 years earlier when she was the flower girl at Angie’s own wedding.
“We’re all still close. I think we’re now up to 100 second cousins. A lot of us are in business together — that closeness, especially among immigrants, is rare. But we managed to keep it.”
From Lip Gloss Dreams to a Salon Empire – Not Just “The Owner’s Wife”
It’s not hard to trace Angie’s entrepreneurial drive back to her roots. With a deep work ethic and sharp instincts, she started working at 15.
“I learned at a young age if I wanted anything I had to work for it. And not having a woman in the house after my mother passed, I didn’t have access to hairspray, make-up lip gloss, nail polish – all those things – so I think that’s why I wound up in the beauty industry.
“It was all the things that I loved that I never had access to. I knew if I wanted this extra stuff, I had to work for it. And being surrounded by Greek friends with immigrant parents, we all worked. Diners, restaurants, jobs — it was normal.”
She met her husband Shawn Trujillo while working as a hairdresser. In 1999, they opened the first Lunatic Fringe salon — now one of ten locations they own together.
“I saw my family open businesses. It gave me confidence. I told Shawn, ‘Let’s open a salon.’ I never doubted we’d succeed. We just worked hard, and built a culture of family.”
“I never questioned that it wouldn’t succeed. It’s like ignorance is bliss! I didn’t know that a lot of small businesses don’t succeed. All I knew was that my family had a great work ethic and if they were willing to put in the work, they succeeded.”
Lunatic Fringe is more than just a chain of salons currently operating in Utah, Idaho, Ohio, and Tennessee — it’s an extension of Angie’s values.
“Anyone who walks through the door is treated like family. That’s Greek culture,” she says.
Being raised Greek, hospitality is huge. The way I was raised, you would see people, women and men, putting food out. You’d walk into the home of a Greek and you’re going to be offered food. And it’s like we get offended if you don’t take us up on the offer of food.
“All those same values that I have in my home, we’ve trickled those down to our team in our salon and this has taken it from one location to ten. You walk into our salon, you’re offered a drink, a snack. We make you feel at home.”
Though confident in her vision, Angie wasn’t immune to the assumptions often made about women in business — especially those working alongside their husbands.
“When my husband and I first opened our salon, people would come in and refer to me as ‘the owner’s wife’ — that was a really hard time for me,” she admits. “I was trying to establish myself as a businesswoman and a co-founder of Lunatic Fringe salons, not just his wife. I was a hairdresser and an owner.”
Raised by her father, Angie had always been taught to work. But it wasn’t just work ethic that helped her carve her own reputation — it was confidence, manners, and an instinct for connection.
“I think something Greeks really instil in their kids is eye contact, a handshake — manners. That helped me. I had great social skills, and I was never afraid of rejection. I just put myself out there.”
“I probably had more confidence than I should have,” she says, laughing. “But maybe that was the secret. My dad was in sales his whole life — I saw how he loved his customers. He loved people. I always put people first, and when you do that, you build relationships.”
Those relationships became the foundation of her brand.
“If you build trust, keep your reputation strong, people want to support you. They want to be a part of what you’ve created.”
She also credits networking and community service as central to her success — something she and Shawn embraced from the beginning. Even today, philanthropy remains embedded in her work.
“Even before we had money, we gave back through service – especially to the Greek community and the community here in Salt Lake City. Now we donate products, time, send out stylists to help people rebuilding their lives. Giving back has always been at the heart of our business.”
“And I never doubted I could do something if I put my mind to it. Believing in yourself is everything.”
Angie brings that same confidence and warmth into the spotlight — though it hasn’t always been easy.
Bravely Herself in the Bravoverse
“Being on RHOSLC is the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Angie says. “It’s not the vulnerability — I love connecting with fans. It’s navigating the conflict and some of the conversations that you have to have with the women. I’m not confrontational, but I am confident.”
In the world of Housewives, confrontation is currency. Angie, grounded in family and reputation, finds herself navigating stormy waters.
“I’ve always had a great reputation in my community. When people try to attack that or hurt your family or business, you have to stand strong. You have to speak your truth without losing yourself.”
She’s quick-witted, yet mindful. She knows how to argue smart — a skill honed not for drama, but for defence.
“There’s a fine line between being direct and offending people. I’m trying to be a good friend – because the show is about friends – while protecting what matters to me.”
Perhaps Ange’s most iconic Housewives moment came in one episode filmed at a Milwaukee Bucks game, when she appeared head-to-toe in blue and white, waving a giant Greek flag in honour of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I wanted to make sure he saw me! I had Matt, a local Greek friend who owns Presto Print, custom-print the Greek flag onto my Gucci shields and leggings. I ordered Antetokounmpo’s jersey and a giant Greek flag — the players were teasing me like, ‘Love your outfit!'”
It was a visual reminder of who Angie is: glamorous, proud, and deeply connected to her roots.
“Giannis inspires me — he’s humble, passionate, and proudly Greek. That moment felt like representation for Greeks everywhere.”
Angie’s humour and sharp eye as a salon owner sparked another memorable, now-viral moment on RHOSLC. In a heated exchange, Angie famously described fellow castmate Britani Bateman’s hairstyle as having “high body count” energy, implying that Britani’s look was more nightclub than housewife.
“It represented me as a hairdresser, being able to have kind of a comedic moment at the expense of someone’s hair in a way that only I could. Not everyone could deliver that line and have it go viral.”
That single comment became a moment of Bravo infamy — and a business opportunity. Angie has launched her ‘High Body Count Hair’ merch line, embracing the wit and relatability fans had come to love.
“People have loved it. I think it’s going to be a huge hit around BravoCon. Housewives is a comedy show about women, and I want to bring those funny, light-hearted moments to the camera.”
She also hinted that her upcoming drops will include nods to her Greek heritage.
“I think at BravoCon I’ll have some more Greek T-shirts and some additional things I’m working on that will be available soon.”
Raising the Next Generation, Greek First
At home, traditions run deep. Greek Easter, spent with the extended family, is a full spread of lamb, rice, potatoes, salad — and, of course, koulouria and red eggs.
“Everyone brings something. I’m one of seven, so it’s big now. Very traditional. My yiayia passed down her recipes and we still cook her sweets. That’s how she showed love.”
Angie’s daughter Elektra, now 13, is learning to carry the torch.
“I used to teach her one Greek word a day. Now, I make her order food in Greek when we’re in Greece.
I wanted to make sure my daughter saw the Acropolis, Athens and all the history. But I also want to make sure that every time I take her back that she visits my dad’s village near Chania. I think that’s really important and humbling for her. His school is still there. His church is still there. His old home is still there. I think it’s a great reminder and you see it out of new eyes every time you go.
“We’re going back this summer — Chania is still our home base, but we’re exploring Paros, Naxos, Rhodes.”
The Realest Housewife, The Greekest Heart
As the interview wraps, Angie thanks me again — gracious, warm, and still very much the woman who grew up valuing eye contact, service, and family.
Of what’s ahead she says, “”I want to stay grounded and light-hearted — even in the heavy moments. I hope I can use my platform to do positive things. And I think the biggest thing is to always remain the person I was when I started.
She’s also busy raising Elektra who’s part of the National Equestrian Show Circuit — a demanding schedule that takes the family across the country.
“There’s a lot of travel, and a lot of exciting growth for my daughter and her sport,” she says.
“I’ve also got some fun, exciting business ventures that I will be sharing this season and next, one of which is a sunglass line that I will be launching.”
“Whatever opportunities are next, I’m open to them,” says Angie.
“There’s a bright future ahead for Angie K. So I’m going to keep wearing my sunglasses.”
Read also: Mary Vitinaros: The Supermodel Next Door
