Up Close & Personal: Kristen Muranaga

A month doesn't go by without somebody out of the blue saying, "Damn, you're so lucky, you get to interview all the models that go on the cover." That response is usually followed by, "So what are they like?" These people don't read the interviews and just base the models' personalities on how well they're shot. Every once in a while you get the guy that believes what's said and done at the time the interview is written up. The interviews are exactly what they are, real conversation between the models and me. Holy cow, maybe I am lucky.

While attending one of the many import shows across our beautiful nation, I ran into Rowena Galam (October '99) and Natasha Yi (April '01), who happened to be staying in the same hotel as I was. We decided to make a dinner date in the hotel restaurant and reminisce about the days of the cover shoots. While Rowena laughed about calling cover photographer Jason Mulroney the "shoe boy," Natasha went on about how friendly the staff was. Then Rowena popped a question concerning another model, "How come you guys haven't used Kristen Muranaga?" I'd heard the name but I couldn't put a face to it until Rowena mentioned that Ms. Muranaga modeled for Golden Silk. For a few years now we have had their poster hanging in our office, given to us by Christine Victa, who also modeled for Golden Silk. When I got back to the office the 2NR staff examined the poster,which was shot in '99, and realized we had a winner sitting in our office for two years and never realized it until that day. Time has done nothing but improve Ms. Muranaga's beauty and now we are glad to show you what's been posted on our office wall.

2NR: I was talking to Rowena Galam and she mentioned your name. Have you guys ever worked with each other before?

KM: Yeah, at the last Hot Import Daze in San Mateo, Calif. We worked the Asian Laah. It's going to be an Asian hip hop video. I'm one of the girls in the video and they are going to try and get it on TV.

2NR: So, what was the first import show you worked?

KM: Wow, that was Import Showoff in '99. I worked for an online company called Golden Silk.

2NR: We have their poster in our office. You did that one with Christine Victa and Jasmine Fox right?

KM: Yeah. They called me a month before that show and asked if I was available. I got that job by submitting my picture on their website. That was the first time I have ever been to a car show, and I have to admit it was very overwhelming. I just couldn't believe how many people were there.

2NR: Yeah, there're also more guys than girls if you didn't notice. So do you have a boyfriend?

KM: I knew you were going to ask that. Yes I do. We've been together for about a year and a half and the funny thing is we actually met at one of the import shows.

2NR: Like I said, there're a lot of guys at these shows.

KM: I found one.

2NR: So are those 34D real or fake?

KM: They're fake, but I used to be a C cup.

2NR: Actually, I'm pretty good at guessing ccs. That probably means you had about 300-350cc each, right?

KM: Actually 400cc. Before you get a boob job you have to sign a waiver that says you allow the doctors to use their best judgement on how many cc to use. Well, the sacks they insert come in different sizes, and you don't necessarily have to fill the whole sack, but he ended up maxing out the cc on mine at 400, which is a lot. I really didn't want that much but I guess the waiver says the doctor can use his best judgement.

2NR: Oh, I think he made a good judgement. They look perfect.

KM: Thank you!

2NR: So why are you looking at a career in real estate?

KM: I used to be an executive assistant for a big company, and I was so tired of working a desk job that when I started my website I got used to making my own hours. Since most of my work is on the computer, I could schedule my work around what I want to do. That made me decide to find a career that has a pretty open schedule, and if I can get a broker position they have a pretty laid-back schedule. When I had the executive assistant job I had just started modeling and they caught me on the Internet a lot. I guess they started tracking how much the employees were on the Internet, and I'll admit I was on it a lot. For about a year now I've been just doing my website as my full-time job.

2NR: So can you track what regions you get your most hits from?

KM: No, but judging by the email I would have to say about 35 percent of the hits are from Hawaii.

2NR: If you go you have to check out the Import Showoff Hawaii has in August.

KM: That's the reason I might be going out there, to work that show.

2NR: Can you believe that show is a three-day event, and each day is packed? You wouldn't think that there would be so many import enthusiasts on such a small island, but it's just as crazy out there.

KM: Really, I didn't know it was that big out there! I just wanted to go just to visit Hawaii, but now I'm really gonna try and make it out there for the show. I've actually been out there a lot of times but I've never been out of Oahu. This will actually be the first time I go out there to work, too. I think I'm supposed to work for the company that's throwing the show.

2NR: Hope to see you out there. You know we have a tradition out there with our friends from Hyper Sport Racing. There's a cliff at North Shore you have to jump off of when we get there. You down to do it?

KM: I want to see it first, but I don't think it will be a problem.

2NR: Cool, any last words?

KM: Yeah, Golden Silk is now www.apartment107.com.

To think that we've had her Golden Silk poster for a few years now and finally had Ms. Muranaga grace the cover of 2NR sooner. Either we work too hard to admire the beauty that hangs on our walls, or we are not working hard enough to find you cover-worthy models. In any case, we believe we just work too damn hard, and although we discovered Kristen a little late we are glad to have her join the 2NR cover model cast of drop-dead gorgeous girls.