We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Krystal Katz-page a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Krystal, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience was forged through the adversity of growing up in extreme poverty. Growing up on the East Side of Detroit, Michigan, I was immersed in a world where hardship was the norm. Limited job opportunities, low wages, and neglected housing was the harsh reality of my neighborhood. My mom gave me strength because she was a chameleon and navigated raising five children on her own in a home shared with my extended family. Despite our financial constraints, we were a close-knit family that found joy in the simple things.
Though the harsh realities of our environment were ever-present, so long as we had each other, we could preserve. We didn’t have to say a word, we had each other’s backs and that’s neighbors included! I mean it was evident in the way the adults both reared and protected the children of the neighborhood. Fairport, our beloved street, was the definition of it takes a village. But every heaven on earth has its achilles heel, ours just happened to be the chilling, earth shattering sounds of nightly gunfire. Yet we didn’t falter, we developed a resilience that would shape my future.
A defining moment in my life occurred when, as an elementary student, I found myself alone with my younger sister and uncle, when our home invaded. This was the first time I truly felt fear, as we hid under my grandmothers bed, but my uncle’s courage inspired me! He, an elementary kid, planned to confront the intruders, but thankfully they were gone when he headed downstairs. The bravery he demonstrated would forever resonate within me and help shape my boldness & bravery.
Subsequently, my family relocated to a different part of Detroit, a move that brought both challenges and opportunities. While I mourned the loss of my familiar surroundings and the village that shaped me, I was eager to embrace the prospect of a two-parent household. However, this prospect was short lived as financial struggles persisted, and the idyllic family life we envisioned was often overshadowed by economic hardship.
My mother was a tireless worker whom juggled multiple jobs to support our family. She instilled in us a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility. We learned to contribute to household by doing chores, preparing meals, and caring for our younger siblings. It had its challenges, but these experiences cultivated a deep appreciation for hard work, financial discipline and self-reliance.
While our circumstances were often difficult, they forged my character. I learned to adapt to adversity, to find strength in adversity, and to persevere in the face of challenges. I learned that even when times got tough, creativity, strength, and familial strength would enhance your adaptability. These lessons have equipped me with the tools to navigate life’s obstacles, emerge stronger, and the confidence to dream boldly.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Krystalyn “Krystal” Katz-Page. I am an actress, film producer, and the proud business owner of NerdyQueen Candle Haven, LLC. As a child, I was immensely tough but also shy. I loved to be create music, poetry and sing, but I often lacked the confidence needed to express myself. I imagined myself a bold singer, but in reality, I was the person who only sung in the shower. So if you would’ve told me one day I’d be an actress, I would’ve told you that you were dreaming! I did however want to improve my confidence, so I spoke to my guidance counselor, whom wisely, decided to enroll me in choir. I was nervous at first but choir turned out to be the best fit because my music teacher understood me! He didn’t mock my shyness or force boldness. Instead, he took a more subtle route and allowed the small group of us shy kids to conduct our vocal range assessment after class. Afterwards, I learned I was a soprano and my confidence blossomed over time.
Acting was a talent that I not only discovered I had, but truly had a passion for. I discovered my talent during the theatre tryouts at my middle school for the Charles Dickens play, A Christmas Carol. Ironically, this discovery almost never happened due to my shyness. It took substantial encouragement from my loved ones, guidance counselor, and choir director, as well as a push from myself to audition. Despite valid reasons to take the leap, I was still filled with anxiety and was freaking out! The thought of performing in front of an audience with their scrutinizing gazes sent shivers down my spine, making me physically ill. But then I reflected on the love and support from my friends and family and it helped me overcome my fears. For the first time, I decided to get out of my own way and embrace the opportunity. The way those bright stage lights shinned down was transformative! I didn’t freeze, I didn’t get stage fright, I blossomed & landed a supporting role. Our holiday show went spectacular, receiving standing ovations both nights. The cherry on top of the cake was the heartwarming and supportive gifts my mom bought in recognition of my hard work. To this day, I cherish that feeling of personal growth and overcoming obstacles, as growth is a fundamental aspect of being an actor. With dedication, creativity, and passion, the possibilities are limitless.
Executive producing however, has allowed me to be more of a silent contributor in film. I love being in front of the camera, but I am equally fascinated by the process of artistic creation- it’s quite a mesmerizing experience. I love watching people switch off their traditional thinking patterns and behaviors for the lifestyle and art forms of someone else. It really gives prospective to the phrase, walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. It also feels good to know you’re contributing to so many peoples dreams coming true.
I never thought much about producing films in the past. It wasn’t until I worked on the set of Disruption that I started to feel an urge to produce. Working alongside my husband, Roshaun Akeem Page, has opened many doors for me to see the other side of film beyond acting. There’s so much planning and execution that goes into the production. To put into perspective the planning needed to be accounted for, think of a composer writing a beautiful ballet or a wedding planner creating a vision and executing an elaborate wedding. It’s truly fulfilling to see the projects grow from concept to creation- just being a small fragment that helped along the way is very fulfilling.
NerdyQueen Candle Haven, LLC was created because I wanted to make a positive impact on our community where it matters most, within our homes. I think of homes as a sacred place, so it’s the last place you’d want unintended harm causing malice to you or your loved ones. Sadly while researching for my candle company I learned how easy it is to do just that, so I set out to create a candle company that is eco-friendly, sustainable, cruelty-free, and recyclable.
NerdyQueen Candle Haven, LLC focuses on the science behind candle-making to ensure a consistent, bright, and enjoyable burn. We conduct thorough testing to guarantee that we are minimizing our environmental footprint. We utilize recycled, renewable, and biodegradable materials in every aspect possible. One way this is accomplished is by ensuring we use biodegradable and recyclable packaging. Additionally, we utilize recycled and more sustainable vessels for our candle wax blends. Our wax blends, which include high-quality coconut-soy and coconut-apricot options, are chosen for their cruelty-free, vegan properties and cleaner burn, which produces less soot while delivering vibrant fragrance.
Although we initially considered beeswax, our research revealed the detrimental effects of over-sourcing beeswax, such as habitat displacement and the potential use of plastic honeycombs to meet demand. Paraffin wax is a whole different beast altogether. I encourage people to learn more about the health benefits and effects of every wax. While no wax can claim to be completely pure, it is vital to be mindful of the materials used in their creations. Our findings led us to conclude that coconut-soy and coconut-apricot waxes are the best choices for minimal impact on both people and the environment.
Ultimately, NerdyQueen Candle Haven, LLC is dedicated to “Illuminating your creativity responsibly.” We celebrate our uniqueness and encourage others to embrace their individuality, rather than conforming to societal norms. Creativity, whether it manifests scientifically, in writing, programming, gaming, or avid reading, requires courage—we recognize and appreciate your boldness! At present, our exact launch date has not been determined because we’re testing to ensure top quality “Nerdy”products. However, what I can say is that we plan to launch in 2025! I pride myself on trailblazing a better approach to candle-making. Though I know my charted path can present challenges, I’m dedicated to creating a conscientious candle company that supports our environment, rather than inhibiting quality lifestyles. I encourage others to find their inner NerdyQueen, Kings, or Quings & steadfast in their own journeys!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe three essential skills that can significantly benefit anyone is determination, teachability, and flexibility.
Being determined lead me down a path of self-discovery and perseverance. It taught me the importance of keeping my mind focused on my studies, because that was my ticket out of poverty. It was hard to stay on task at times, but I was determined to keep striving for something more. I took zero hour classes in the morning, participated in extracurriculars after school, took part in early college training offered by my high school, and still found time to work during summers. That’s what I call determination & that’s the gumption most will need to achieve their goals.
Similarly, being teachable also opened doors for me, much like determination. No one likes to collaborate with a know-it-all, instead they prefer to work with a smart person that has room to grow. That’s not to say if you know the information, pretend you don’t. It simply encourages humility, as there are many way to understand the same concept. Always be moldable, that will take you far and enhance your opportunities. It helps me a lot when trying to develop new characters for film and television. I seek advice from different professionals, watch them work, and, if you really want a character to stand out, inquire about internship opportunities or something similar because real-world experience helps.
Lastly, flexibility is crucial. When starting a business, extensive research is necessary, often requiring a balance between needs and wants—both of which are essential. To remain open-minded and creative, you have to prioritize yourself & your mental health. On the other end of the spectrum, sometimes you have to be a little flexible or creative in business as well because let’s face it, unforeseen circumstances arise when equipment breaks or you get slow sales period. One strategy that helps me is being able to do gig work for various platforms. While it may not lead to wealth, it provides crucial support when facing financial difficulties.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
In the near future I would love to collaborate with people from the entertainment, music, art, literature, gaming and science industries. My business is all things nerdy, loud and proud! So I think it would be cool to have some legitimate business collaborations in the near future. I mean who wouldn’t love a candle collaboration from Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Roblox or even EA! I could go on and on as a game lover, but could you imagine the possibility there? People just want to be close to the things their hearts resonate with. Smell is a very strong sense, as it correlates to taste. It’s like getting two for one! Just saying, if you could have your favorite description of how a place smelled from your favorite book, would you buy it?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Krystalkatzpage
Image Credits
Image 1 & 2: Trail of Dark Matter
Image 3 & 4: Black & Blue (Short Film)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
