EXCLUSIVE: Kari Ann Peniche Talks About Catfish, Family, And Her Exciting New Projects!
Kari Ann Peniche was in the headlines years before being name-dropped on MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show.
The 29-year-old former beauty queen was on the front pages of the likes of TMZ.com and Fox News as she dated the Carters, Nick and Aaron, she was the third person in the infamous Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart tape, and she’s already been on several reality shows herself including Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew, Celebrity Rehab, and Sober House. Because of the nature of those headlines, fans have been left with a very specific impression of the young mother. And anyone who hadn’t heard about the model learned a little about her when she was featured in name and image on Catfish’s episode with Joe Sumeriski and his friend Rose.
On the Sunday before her episode aired, Kari Ann wrote: “MTV Catfish 1/7/13 @ 11/9c Joe & ????Me?????”
After the episode aired, Kari Ann issued this statement: “I am sorry to anyone that may have been a victim of the fake profile that was featured on MTV catfish or any other fake profile of me that is out there… After seeing the catfish episode I feel kind of bad for that Rose girl who feels she needs to use other peoples image hiding behind their identity she said that she is addicted to it or something on the episode obviously there are some much deeper issues there and I can only wish her well and I hope she takes down the profile now! I’ve been advised that Rose has removed the fake site! Thank you!!! Kari Ann”
Kari Ann was kind enough to grant us an interview. And she tells Hollywoodite.com EXCLUSIVELY how the show really impacted her life, how her fans reacted, and what her fans can expect to see from her in the future.
What’s the most exciting opportunity to come your way thanks to being name-dropped on MTV’s Catfish?
The whole Catfish thing was weird. When I first found out about the fake profile I was like “What? Someone is pretending to be me and there are people believing that they are chatting with me! What is this person doing or saying and why me?” I was concerned about how this person was treating fans and what this person’s purpose was for having a fake profile of me, since it was clear that a lot of time and energy was put into pretending to be me which was also sort of scary.
I had found out about the fake profile and Rose about 6 months before the show aired but I just had my son so I was enjoying my time with my baby and caught up with being a new mom that I really didn’t take much time to do anything about the fake profile.
I did speak with a couple attorneys but the whole process to do something about it seemed really complicated, time consuming and expensive. I did report the profile to Facebook and so did my managers and a few of my family and friends but I didn’t follow up on it and just kept putting it off telling myself I would take care of it later.
So I would probably say that the most exciting thing that came from the Catfish show was that the show took care of all the work for me in a way by letting everyone know that there was this fake profile that someone else was behind and that they weren’t really chatting with me saving me the trouble of having to do everything involved to get the same results in a much more complicated way.
How did you feel when you first heard you would be mentioned on Catfish?
I was really happy that the word would be out in such a public way letting people know the truth that may have thought they were talking to me on Facebook.
How have your fans reacted to the episode?
My fans are the best and they have really stuck up for me and had my back over the years which I appreciate so much! It was a little frustrating when when some thought my page was the fake one which is why I did a couple videos to prove that my page was the real me.
What projects are you working on now?
I’m most proud of the project I call “being Mom” these days. I have an incredible son, Preston, who is 19 months old and he brings so much joy to my life. He is so funny and the sweetest little guy ever.
I am just beginning to get back into things again and what I love doing is helping people and anything artistic and creative. I recently picked up where I left off on my book a few years ago and one day it will be done seriously, I have been working on this book trying to finish it for years. It has always been top on my list of things to do but also the first thing that gets put on the back burner.
I also painted for the first time in almost 3 years just last week and it reminded me how much I love painting. I am working on redesigning my art website www.dopeworks.com and for the first time I will start making pieces available.
What projects can fans expect from you in the future?
My book and Art!
How do you balance it all, as a working mother?
I live in the now and really try to be present and enjoy every moment and when I am I find things balance themselves out for you in a way.
What is something the media has gotten really wrong about you?
Something? There are so many things that are wrong that I just have to laugh rather than get frustrated by it. Anyone that doesn’t like me because of who they believe I am from the media has every right to not like me, I wouldn’t like that person either. But the biggest thing for me I think is that the media really has portrayed me to be this messed up drug addict and the truth is, drugs don’t define me. I went through a period in my early 20′s of being caught up and living a bit on the edge and yes I was doing drugs all the time but those days are over and behind me. I am happy in my life and I don’t have any desire to go back and revisit the drug days anymore. I hope that through my book and my art that eventually people and the media will start to get to know me and who I am and what I am about.
Fans can like Kari Ann’s real official Facebook HERE or follow her official Twitter HERE.
You can also check out Kari Ann’s artwork HERE.