AT HOME IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA
COVER STORY

ONCE WISHING SHE LOOKED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, KRISTINA YOSHIDA MCMORRIS IS NOT ONLY PROUD SHE IS DIFFERENT - she embraces it, as she evolves into the best years of her life

Kristina Yoshida McMorris has achieved more than most at 29 years old. She's a television host, actor, cookbook editor, head of public relations and events for the Yoshida Group and now a mother to a 9-month-old baby boy. But she didn't "plan" for any of it - in fact, she tried to run away from her first love, but destiny found her. She says life just keeps getting better and better, and she has no complaints. Well, almost none. Her only one is that she has to sleep.

"I wish I didn't have to sleep at all, because there's so many things I could be doing during that time!" she says.

When she told a friend that, she simply responded, "Kris, now you're starting to scare me."

Whether she's a bit scary or not, her fast-paced, successful lifestyle seems to agree with the energetic host of "Weddings Portland Style," who says there's still plenty more she wants to achieve in this life. But ask her what she's planning on doing next, and she reminds you that she never plans. Without ever planning, though, how has she become so successful in her young life? The answer most likely starts in front of the camera.

As we start shooting her for the cover photo at her Clackamas home, it's obvious she's more than comfortable in front of the camera.

"The camera is like part of our family - Asians aren't shy at all when it comes to taking photos, trust me," she says.

It's no wonder why Kristina looks so at ease in front of the camera - she's been on television on and off since she was 9 years old, hosting the Emmy-award winning children's show, "Popcorn."

As a little girl, Kristina wanted to be just like her mom and become a model. Wanting to support her daughter and help boost her confidence at the same time, mother Linda enrolled Kristina in performance classes. She auditioned soon for "Popcorn," and became the show's host at just 9 years old. She kept that role for five years.

"It was a lot of hard work. It's not as fun and glamorous as people think," she says. "The schedule was pretty draining because we'd tape twice a week usually on school nights until 11 p.m."

Kristina says she'd cram her homework in when she could, ate on the run and often missed out on outings with her friends. She remembered a time when they had all planned to go to a concert. She ending up having to cancel at the last moment because of the show, but because her parents had committed to driving the other kids, Kristina drove with them to the concert, only to stay behind.

Although she loved her time on the show and the experience she gained, at age 14 she decided to quit and pursue other things — mainly to just be a kid. She credits her parents for getting her to hang in there during previous times when she thought she wanted to quit.

"I'd get real tired of it at times and my mom would always tell me that if I still felt this way next year, that I had their support to stop doing it," she says. "But they always reminded me that I had to be responsible, and that once you walk away from something, you can't get it back."

So when she entered high school, Kristina became just like a regular kid again, thinking her days in front of the camera were history.

"I never planned to get back into it, but then again, I haven't planned any of the big things that have happened in my life - they just happen," she says.

Kristina went on to graduate and attend college in California, where destiny came knocking at her door again. Her old agent knew she was living in Los Angeles and contacted her about a modeling and acting competition in the area. Modeling agencies such as Ford and Elite would be there, so it was a perfect opportunity for Kristina to pursue an old dream of hers. She was a junior in college - set to graduate early, so the timing seemed perfect to travel and indulge in her dreams.

Upon entering the competition, Kristina found out she was just short to become a model - literally - about I inch to be exact. At 5-foot-7-inches, she was too short for the industry standard. So she reluctantly (she emphasizes reluctantly) competed in the acting portion of the competition. Once again, she was a success, taking home several awards.

"I wanted to be a model but it was God's way - destiny - that got me into acting again," she says.

After graduating she started to go to auditions, and was pleasantly surprised at how it felt getting back into it again.

"I remembered how much I enjoyed it," she says.

Destiny found her again at acting class, where she met her husband, Daniel, on the first night.

Kristina starred in several independent films, had a stint on "Days of Our Lives" and in a comedy sketch on "The Tonight Show." She says she enjoyed that time immensely, but learned a lot about herself in the industry, and how she wanted to live her life.

"LA is a whole different world, and I had had enough of it. I learned that unless you can picture yourself doing it for at least 10 years, you should move on," she says. "Everyone there is trying to make it in some way and they look at people as how someone can be an asset to them. I realized that it was time to move on. I also didn't want to have to wait tables in between jobs!"

She didn't know where destiny would take her next - again, with Kristina, nothing is ever planned. She thought for sure that she wouldn't come back to Portland, but then again, fate has a way of always stepping in her path.

She and Daniel got married and moved to the Midwest, where Daniel studied for his masters at Notre Dame and worked. A friend who videotaped their wedding then contacted her about a new wedding show in Portland that he was producing, and asked her if she wanted to host it. They agreed that she would fly to Portland for tapings, which wasn't too much of a chore since her family lived in Troutdale, so that gave her added incentive.

"Weddings Portland Style" premiered in January 2003 and airs weekly on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on UPN, cable Channel 13. It is Portland's only TV show for brides-to-be. The show connects brides with local businesses and services, providing easy access to make the wedding planning process enjoyable, Kristina says.

The show's crew knew that the show would be a hit to women, but the surprise has been that men are fans of the show too. Kristina explains that the show goes beyond covering what's new in wedding styles, including hot spots in Portland to host a party, and what current trends are emerging. This makes it an informative show for everyone about what's the newest and best in the city, she says.

The show has afforded her many perks, including traveling to tape shows in Maui, Jamaica and Fiji. Traveling is one dream that Kristina did plan on achieving, she just didn't know it would once again be in front of the camera.

Nowadays, though, she's quite intent to stay home, and why wouldn't she. Her two-story home is immaculate, decorated with a European feel, representing her love of Italy. She admits to being a neat freak, liking everything in the house to have its place. In fact, she and Daniel agreed when they moved in that he could get one room to put anything he wanted in it — wherever he wanted. The rest of the house and decorating was all hers, except for a small bedroom, just at the top of the stairs. Her mom got a hold of that one, and hired an artist to paint a nursery full of characters from "The Jungle Book." It is in this room, particularly, that you realize why Kristina is a homebody now more than ever, as she holds her son.

"Motherhood has changed me so much," she says, rocking him in a family heirloom chair. "It's relaxed me a lot and I'm more patient. The best part of my day is rocking him to sleep at night."

Her priorities have changed, she says. She sacrifices a lot for the toughest, most rewarding job she's ever had. Her son, who puts himself down for naps, is an easy baby, she says, and so loved by his extended family. He's the first grandchild on both sides of the family, and the first male on the Yoshida side to someday head up the family's empire.

What people see now when they look at her parents, Junki and Linda Yoshida, is a fun-loving, wealthy, successful couple. Yoshida businesses bring in millions each year. Junki has been dubbed, "The Boss of Sauce" for his famous teriyaki marinade. But what many may not realize is that the family has literally gone from rags to riches.

Thirty-six years ago, Junki lived in his Plymouth Valiant near Seattle. As a temporarily homeless student, the Japan native dodged immigration officers, as he illegally worked as a gardener for $1.25 an hour. He also traded karate lessons for tuition at college - all while speaking less than mediocre English.

He initially gave his marinade bearing his name as a homemade Christmas gift to his students, which later became a Costco staple, and now is sold to grocery stores and restaurants across the United States. Thanks to a wacky marketing persona and what Kristina calls, a demanding, hard-core business style, he now owns 20 businesses ranging from wine, to galleries and jeans, generating $180 million in annual revenue.

"Few people see both sides of my dad's personality," she says. "One side is the life of the party - fun, crazy and fearless. The other is a very shy side. He's very serious when it comes to business, and can be a tough person to work for because he expects a lot."

Kristina oversees all of the public relations, advertising and events for the family business.

"But my full-time job is probably damage control for my father," she jokes. "My mother's in charge of everything he wears on his travels, and will put numbers on his clothes as to what he's supposed to wear when. They make a great team."

Kristina says she's often calling the media telling them that he didn't really mean to say that, or don't take him so literally. It's obvious that there's not only a lot of humor in this family, but also an abundance of love and admiration. She's extremely close to her parents, who she says aside from her husband, are her best friends.

Their bond was formed early, especially when Kristina almost died as an infant.

Junki and Linda have three children - all girls. Five days after bringing Kristina home from the hospital, she suffered from jaundice and was rushed to Children's Hospital in Seattle, where she spent six days in intensive care. The doctors later told them that within hours they could have lost her. The family vowed thereafter to always support non-profits organizations, especially those who work with children.

"We made a deal with God - take our life away, and exchange it for her life," Junki says about that time. "And that is the day I really think I became a father, and really cared about somebody."
The couple had no medical insurance, and worried about the hospital bill.

Junki was earning about $400 per month teaching karate. The hospital asked the couple to pay just $250, telling them to give to others when they had the chance.

"My dad gasped when they handed him the bill," Kristina says. "They thought it was because it was too much for them to pay."

Junki couldn't believe the amount was that low for treatment that would have cost thousands.

"That instance made my life change," Junki says. "I found a purpose. I really want to help those guys."

Junki and Linda have returned that life-saving gesture by donating and helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Doernbecher Children Hospital, and dozens of other non-profit organizations.

Kristina says now that she is a parent, she realizes just how lucky she really is.

"He's so healthy. I could be rocking him at Doernbecher," she says. "All too often, we don't appreciate what we have until it's gone."

As she's grown older, Kristina knows what family ties mean more than ever, and has grown a personal appreciation for herself too that she didn't have as a child.

She recalls as a teenager, she always wished she had blonde hair with blue eyes. She hated being different. Then one day her Philippino friend told her something that she would never forget.

"She told me that someday I would love that I looked different, and now I do."


SHE Magazine - a special publication of The Gresham Outlook and Sandy Post / Summer 2004; by Courtney Dunham