Krystle Nicole Russin

Krystle Nicole Russin (born June 26, 1987) is an American journalist and model who has been featured in Elle Magazine and the Chicago Tribune. Her writing has been published in newspapers and online websites such as the State Journal-Register, the Heartland Institute, and PurePolitics.com. Her work has been cited in publications like the New York Post, Salon.com, and the Austin American-Statesman, and television programs like The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
Career
Print Journalism
Russin began in journalism as a teen. While attending high school, she contributed to local publications and magazines and the online website Illinois Leader, covering statewide politics and profiling state and national legislators. During her involvement in Illinois political journalism, the attention often switched from her journalism achievements to Russin's media reputation as a "hot chick."
She gained attention in 2004 for her lengthy interview with presidential candidate John Kerry and helped establish PurePolitics.com's international coverage in 2005 through her interviews with the London mayoral candidates.
As a freelance writer, she has covered politics, business, policy issues, entertainment, and fashion and profiled celebrities and newsmakers such as actress Janeane Garofalo, syndicated talk radio host Martha Zoller, former Gawker.com editor Maggie Shnayerson, and author and singer Kinky Friedman. Her 2008 article on meat production as a factor in global warming generated buzz with environmental activists and Internet blogs. Policy experts also took note of her pieces on the British health care system and Florida "tax swap" plan.
In September 2008, a Turkish Islamic group hacked the entire contents of PurePolitics.com and Russin's personal e-mail account due to her interview with British journalist Gareth Jenkins on his book, Political Islam in Turkey: Running West, Heading East. The website was soon revamped with a new design.
Television
From 2003 to 2004, she hosted Illinois Stories on regional PBS, syndicated in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. The Emmy award-winning show focused on Illinois history and politics, past and present, and is now hosted by Mark McDonald.
In 2009, she began blogging for Nightly Business Report's "Riding Out the Storm" on PBS.org, focusing on "how to live smart during this recession."
Modeling
Russin is represented by Ikon Model Management for modeling, acting, journalism and other ventures.
Radio
During 2001 to 2002, Russin contributed "in the street" interviews focusing on a youth perspective and spoke about regional politics on the Mary Griffith Show, which aired on the STARadio Corporation owned station KGRC.
Pageantry
Russin was one of several contestants representing Austin in the 2008 Miss Texas USA pageant held July 1, 2007. She did not place at the pageant but won second place over 120 other contestants in the Turn for the Judges readers choice poll.
Memberships
Russin is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and the University of Texas Texas Exes alumni association.
Political Involvement
Russin briefly volunteered for political campaigns for both parties as a teenager, including an appearance in a 2002 Rod Blagojevich gubernatorial campaign commercial, a stint as youth coordinator for 2004 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chirinjeev Kathuria, and serving as press secretary/webmaster for the Illinois Teenage Republicans, where she helped organize a statewide youth voter awareness mission inspired by P. Diddy's Vote or Die campaign. Some criticized the effort, saying the group and celebrities used voter awareness as "another form of public relations."
She made statewide news when she created a popstar-like parody fan website for a potential 2006 gubernatorial candidate, causing Chicago gossip blog Gapers Block to nickname her the "Republican cheerleader."
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of friend, fellow beauty pageant contestant, and Illinois political volunteer Miss America 2003 Erika Harold, who represented Illinois as a delegate and was one of the featured speakers at the 2004 Republican National Convention, Russin expressed interest in being a delegate at the 2004 Illinois State Republican Convention but was deemed too young. Though some states allow delegates as young as 17, the rules required that a delegate must be of legal voting age during the same election cycle.
Background
Early Life
Russin was born in Quincy, Illinois, an only child, and presently resides in Manhattan and Austin, Texas. She has said she was inspired to go into journalism at a young age by Tim Russert and Aaron Brown.
Education
As a high school student, Russin participated in talent shows and won third place at the regional Optimist International student oratorical contest.
She graduated from Quincy Senior High School at 16 and John Wood Community College at 17 as a member of Phi Theta Kappa, contrary to media speculation doubting that she had really graduated early. She moved to Austin, Texas in 2005 to finish her bachelor's degree, graduating from the University of Texas at Austin at 19 with a degree in Government (Pre-Law) and minors in Journalism and History.
Russin is bilingual. She began studying Spanish in junior high school and concentrated in Spanish literature at the University of Texas at Austin.
Student Journalism
Russin was heavily involved with her student newspapers during junior and senior high school, writing about politics. At the University of Texas at Austin, she contributed to KVRX-FM and KVR-TV (now Texas Student Television K09VR) and ran for a seat on the Texas Student Media board.