Karen B
by Tamara McHatton & Evan Scott
SUITE: You are something else lady…everywhere we look, there you are! So tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
Karen: I am a single mother and enjoy my freedom. It's important as a woman to set standards and values for yourself. A person can only get away with as much as you allow them to. My son is my heart. He is seven years old and LOVES basketball! He is the number one priority in my life. Everything and everyone else takes a backseat. I have a brother and a sister and a niece and nephew. In my spare time I... oh that's right, I don't have any spare time, I work, I go home, I sleep. Pretty boring if you ask me.
SUITE: We disagree…being a radio DJ and a single mother sounds like it's very stimulating and lively! What's it like being a female DJ? And how did you get started in this field?
Karen: Not easy, this is a man's world. Females in radio who aren't a size 2 have to be really on their game to get opportunities. But it makes you work that much harder. I started out at 19 as a temp answering the switchboard in Jacksonville, then I moved to Orlando for 4 years and worked with an urban station there, moved back to Jacksonville and worked for 97.9 KISS FM, now I am in Melbourne as Marketing and Promotions director as well as an on-air jock.
SUITE: I think any female that's not a size 2 has to be on their game…sigh. Do you get to choose which promotions you do?
Karen: Sometimes…being the only girl has its upside…
SUITE: How often do you get hit on because of your job?
Karen: NONE… can we do something about that please? That stuff usually goes right over my head so if a guy were interested he would have to be really obvious about it… I am usually focused on two things at a time and never see it coming.
SUITE: Ever had a stalker?
Karen: Yes, twice. The stalker was back in Jacksonville when I was at another radio station. He was semi-harmless…roses on my car when I left the club, letters handed to me by waitresses when I was out. He would go up to guys who would talk to me and tell them he was my boyfriend and so on…and so a couple of my guy friends repeatedly warned him. When that didn't work, my 4-foot 11-inch best friend, Kelly, approached him. He never bothered me again! more >>
