July/September 2015

she shares, “I was very self-conscience for a long time, truthfully I
still am, but I have gained more confidence in myself over the years. I
preferred being behind the camera, and actually thought of being a full
time photographer. I never thought I would enjoy being in front of the
camera or that I could be brave enough to model” Karina has braved
that fear, modeling for many designers; including Tucson’s JL Edwards
and shares that she has worked with some very talented photographers.
She has acted in five music videos, some small films and commercials.
What’s next? Again, it’s kind of hush hush, what she will say is:“I have
more projects on the horizon that I am very excited about, I love acting
and I have been told I am a natural at it, and I am always looking to
improve my craft.”
Her talents don’t end there; she is also a volunteer DJ for the
independent online music radio station, iporadio.com, with her cohost
and talented DJ friend, Tommy Firestone. Their show is on every
Thursday night from 7-11pm. Karina calls herself a community activist
and gives back by donating her time to various charities including Pay it
Forward Tucson.
Let’s talk about another thing that she holds close to her heart, her
family. Karina would like to give out a huge thank you to those who
have loved her no matter what, especially her mom, Valarie Levine.
Karina says, “She is my hero, best friend and my biggest inspiration,
always and forever!” Her mom raised her and her younger brother alone
while attending school and says, “She (her mom) has always been super
supportive of me and my dreams. She has never given up on me, even
when I wanted to give up on myself, she wouldn’t let me, and in more
ways than one, she saved my life.” Karina is also inspired by her brother
and enjoys spending time with him and his wife Trinity, and their son,
Dillinger. Karina’s father Jim lives in Yuma, AZ, and she regrets not
seeing him as much as she would like, she calls her grandmother the
glue that holds her family together and says that her aunts always keep
her laughing.
Family is more than blood, Karina expresses, “My friends are my
family, I love them all very much, if I didn’t have the friendships I
have in my life, I would be not only lost, but very lonely. They all bring
something very special to my life and inspire me in many
ways.”She would like to bring up her best friend
Anna Marie Archuleta, who died tragically in
2005. Karina, “Always treat those you love
the way you want to be treated, don’t be
cruel, don’t hit them, don’t hurt them,
and if you are in a relationship
that gives you more pain than
happiness, get out. I miss you
my dear Anna, you may be
gone, but you live on in so
many hearts.”
Photo by Rick Bracht
considers herself a free spirit and believes in seizing the
day whenever possible, because frankly life is too short
not to. She enjoys reading, writing, going on outside
excursions, listening to music, working out, especially
dancing and doing yoga, attending concerts, spending
time with her animals and the love of her life, Dylan
Duff. She says with zeal, “He believes in me, all of me, and
I feel the same for him.”
In closure Karina says, “If I could give one piece of advice
to really anyone, but especially for those in this industry,
it would be to always be you, embrace who you are, the
good and the bad, be proud of your accomplishments,
along with your battles; everything in my life has made
me who I am today, I have skeletons, I have been
through some battles; some I have won and some
I have lost, but I have never fully given up on
being who I am, and I never will. I am myself,
it’s all I know how to be and frankly I love
me; all of me. Much love everyone!”
Karina says that she
Photos by Chris Reynolds
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