Meet the Editor: Katelin Walling

Introducing...
Katelin Walling, Managing Editor

I grew up in Maine—the Greater Portland-Midcost area—and although I’m new to the New York City area, I’m nothing like the naïve, fresh-faced country girl hopping off the bus dreaming of making it big on Broadway—you know, the one pictured in movies.

Although it may be hard to imagine, I loved being the youngest and only girl in the family. My brothers Graham (left) and Mason (right) looked out for me growing up; I always knew they had my back.

I’m the youngest in a family of five and my parents’ only daughter. My two brothers, 2 and 6 years older than me, were my best friends growing up—I wanted to be just like them and do whatever they did. Thanks to them and Dad, I’m just as much of a tomboy as I am a girly-girl. They’re also why I’m more comfortable socializing with groups of guys than with girls.

I participated in Boy Scout activities, Dad was the troop leader, and I hated Girl Scouts because they never went camping, hiking, or shot BB guns or archery (I have my own compound and recurve bows and was the best shot at Boy Scout Camp!). I went lake fishing in the spring and summer, ice fishing in the winter, hunting in the fall, and camping in all seasons.

Clearly I'm a trendsetter—I was a hipster way before it was the cool thing to do.

While we spent virtually every nice weekend and most of the summer doing the outdoor activities previously mentioned, there was still plenty of time for me to do the typical girly things, like play dress up, pretend house and school, and dolls—my brothers’ G.I. Joes usually kidnapped Barbie and held her for ransom—and paint my nails.