2017 Purple Eggplant Winner: BEST PRINCHAEL//2016 NPG AWARD WINNER : BEST DRAMA
"A tale of a pretty girl who gets what she wants, including two of the 80's most prominent figures."
Throughout music history, there's been speculation of rivalry bet...
After the success of moving corporate down to Minneapolis, JET Magazine called up the office and asked to have a sit down with 'the young founder' for an interview to discuss my notable achievements.
It was the greatest feeling in the world. This is a magazine that's been subscribed to my household my entire existence. So, to be featured as the main story was surreal.
Prince was proud but in a subtle way made it clear he didn't want our relationship to be flat out confirmed. "Just play with them. Tell them yes but then tell them no."
I sat down with a journalist named Al and we first discussed how I came into my business and I spoke about my many mentors along the way. Then my dreams for the future and such things.
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June, 1984
JET: Would you consider all of this an overnight success like everyone thinks?
KAT: Not at all. Before the line hit the stores, I was carrying it around with me in my makeup bag to all of my gigs, just networking and it took a couple of years to finally get real recognition so, no. It was definitely not an overnight success. Plus, I've been planning out this whole thing since I was eight years old. So, for me, it's been a long time coming.
JET: Where do you get inspiration from?
KAT: Well... (laughs)
JET: To keep pushing forward. You mentioned opening up a night club and event company.
KAT: Yeah. You know, I honestly have to say my mother. Growing up, all I wanted to do was to make her proud and I remember when she would let me do her hair and put makeup on her she would just light up and I thrived off of that satisfaction. I had to be successful for her and my younger sister who looks up to me. And I found so much inspiration in my father, also, because growing up, I saw that he was always such a smart business man.
JET: Your father, Romeo Desmond.
KAT: Yes. It was amazing. He invested with a rock n' roll performer to open up a concert venue in the heart of Minneapolis.
JET: And then came First Avenue.
KAT: Yeah, well, it went through a few name changes. But my father was definitely a huge inspiration when it comes to the business aspect of myself. And he would always tell me, 'you're young, you're black, and you're a girl. And none of that is going to stop you from achieving whatever it is you want to do in life.' So, I went for it. And started making plans at ten years old.
JET: So, it was more than just dreaming (laughs).
KAT: It was intense. I had this journal I would note all of my ideas in. Oh, and my sister, Pria, as well. She's the one who taught me how to put on makeup and stuff. I would always admire her. I wanted to be just like her and it's amazing that she's now right by my side with all of this. Ever since I appointed her CEO, everything has just run more smoothly. And now we're a multi-million-dollar company.
