Katrina Spagnoletti shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Katrina, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are everything to me. I’ve never been a true morning person, but there’s something calming about waking up around 5 or 6 a.m., when my husband is still asleep and the world feels quiet.
The first thing I do is feed my three dogs, then I start brewing my coffee. While it’s brewing, I head to the guest room and turn on meditation music, creating a little sanctuary just for myself. Once my coffee is ready, I take it into the room, sit by the window, and watch the sunrise in silence. Those moments ground me before the day begins.
This routine actually started years ago, when my children were still school-aged. I wanted them to wake up to peace instead of chaos. By creating a calm environment, mornings became easier and set a better tone for all of us.
Now, as someone who lives with depression, I’ve come to realize just how important that quiet time is. It allows me to center myself, breathe, and begin the day with gratitude instead of heaviness. For me, it’s more than just coffee and a sunrise—it’s a reset, a reminder that every new day offers a fresh chance to find peace.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Katrina Spagnoletti, and I recently celebrated my 61st chapter on this beautiful earth. I created my brand, “What Being 61 Has Taught Me,” because I believe every chapter of life has value, and every lesson—whether born from triumph or pain—has the power to shape us into stronger, wiser women.
At 53, I stepped into the world of pageantry, proving to myself that it’s never too late to chase a new dream. Three years later, at 56, I won my very first crown, competing against women three decades younger than me. By 57, I was crowned an International Queen, and today I proudly hold the title of Mrs. Florida Classic Universe USA. Pageantry taught me that success is not bound by age—it’s bound by courage.
But my journey didn’t stop there. At 55, I wrote my book What My Mother Never Knew, sharing my story of healing from childhood abuse so that other women could find hope in their own healing. At 58, I laced up roller skates and remembered what it feels like to be playful and fearless. At 60, I launched my skincare line, Je Suis Beauty LLC, to help women feel confident in their own skin. And now, at 61, I am training in ballroom dance, not just for joy, but to compete.
What I’ve learned is this: it’s never too late to rewrite your story. It’s never too late to heal, to try something new, to walk boldly into the dreams you thought had passed you by. Age is not a limit—it is proof of your resilience. And every woman deserves to know that her best chapters may still be unwritten.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I absolutely love that quote—it’s something I return to whenever life starts to feel too heavy. It reminds me to ground myself, to keep pushing forward, and to never lose sight of who I am becoming.
I truly believe that life begins in innocence. As children, we see the world with pure eyes and open hearts. But as we grow, society’s opinions and expectations start to chip away at that innocence. We’re told who we should be, how we should look, and what paths we should follow. Somewhere along the way, many of us forget that we were created with our own unique light.
For me, the journey has been about reclaiming that light—stripping away the weight of society’s opinions and rediscovering the woman I was always meant to be.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
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When I was 15 years old, my life reached a breaking point. I was being abused by my stepfather, and at that age, I didn’t understand that I had a voice or the right to use it. I felt trapped, powerless, and desperate to escape. In my young mind, the only way out seemed to be giving up on life altogether.
I remember that day vividly, as if it still plays on repeat like the movie Groundhog Day. I went into my mother’s medicine cabinet, took a bottle of pills, and swallowed them—thinking it would be a peaceful, almost “romantic” way to leave this world.
But the next morning, I woke up. And instead of peace, I felt like I had entered a kind of hell. I remember asking myself, why would the universe keep me alive in this abusive household? And then, in the midst of my pain, I had a vision. I saw myself standing on a stage, speaking in front of an audience. I didn’t know what I was saying, or why I was there—but in that moment, I understood something profound: my life had purpose. I wasn’t meant to give up. I was meant to rise.
From that day forward, I made a choice to live with faith, fearlessness, and purpose. It took me over 40 years to build the courage to share my truth, but I eventually wrote my book, What My Mother Never Knew, which tells my story of survival and triumph. Today, I continue to share my story with audiences around the world, hoping to give others the courage to find their own voice—and to begin their journey of healing.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, I absolutely am the woman you see in public. I don’t know how to be anyone else—and truthfully, I wouldn’t want to be. I am proud of the person I’ve built. Through everything I’ve endured, I’ve created a strong, resilient woman who is no longer afraid to live life to the fullest or try new adventures.
At my age, I often see people who have settled into comfort, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But for me, this season of life is not about slowing down—it’s about leaning in. This is the time to finally do the things you’ve always dreamed of: write that book, go back to school, start a business, travel the world.
Don’t wait for opportunities to come knocking on your door. Go and ring the doorbell. And if no one answers, come back the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that—until the door opens.
Because life is too precious to stop dreaming, and too short not to chase what sets your soul on fire.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I’ve learned that true confidence doesn’t come from praise—it comes from within. I can continue to give my very best, whether or not anyone acknowledges it, because my worth isn’t defined by recognition. That, to me, is what confidence truly looks like.
As a Buddhist, I’ve come to understand that what you give—whether to others or through your work—should come from the heart and the soul, not from the expectation of being praised. Too often, people give only to be noticed, or because they want something in return. And when that recognition doesn’t come, they suffer. In the process, they can even push away incredible people who were meant to be in their lives.
I’ve seen this play out time and time again, but I’ve also witnessed how those with good intentions can sometimes be mislabeled as selfish. That’s not always the truth. As the Dalai Lama once said, “Joy comes from giving to your community with no expectation of return.” I carry that with me every time I go out to support my community. Because the real reward isn’t the praise—it’s the joy, the connection, and the love that comes back in ways words could never fully capture.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://JeSuisBeauty.Shop
- Instagram: Katrina_Spagnoletti
- Facebook: Katrina Spagnoletti
