Karina Manta was born in Olympia, Washington, but she grew up in the sunshine of Chandler, Arizona. At 16 she moved to Colorado Springs to become an elite figure skater. Despite her distaste for the cold, she kept figure skating and living in Colorado, eventually competing for Team USA. She currently works as a performer for Cirque Du Soleil. She enjoys eating ice cream, engaging with creative approaches to activism, and being bisexual. Follow her on Twitter @KarinaMantras and on Instagram at @KarinaManta.