Meet Krista Kunkel | Owner of Fakewrenching.com / NotMjG

We had the good fortune of connecting with Krista Kunkel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Krista, what do you attribute your success to?
My brand is called Fakewrenching.com. I make apparel that puts a smile on peoples faces. The most important factor behind my brand is I helped make someone’s day better or someone wearing a shirt made someone else’s day better. I might not be super successful but my success is based on being authentic and pushing positivity. I love when people tell me a story about how they wore my shirt out in public and made a new friend or it was a great ice breaker.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Over 10 year ago I bought a 1998Jeep Wrangler. I was very interested in learning about how it functions and how we can change that with upgrades and modifications. I ended up getting really into learning about how to do the work myself and started just posting photos and videos of me doing stuff. It really took off into inspiring other females to learn more about their vehicle. I really bought a Jeep to make friends because as an adult I just worked all the time and never really went to bars or anything. I learned about “wrenching” parties where everyone gets together and lends a hand on something someone’s working on and I really fell in love with the camaraderie in the Jeep world. For once it didn’t matter what you did for a living or how you looked. All that mattered was you felt welcome showing up someplace because we all shared the same passion. I will admit it wasn’t very easy being the only female with the guys a lot. Some guys where really great and some just called you names or put you down. It really took having a back bone to put up with the comments. As much as I’d like to say I hated it. (Which I did in that moment) I’m glad I went through it because I learned how to handle these types of situations and learned how to never stoop to their level. It’s been years and I still have people reach out and actually apologize for the way they treated me and told me they respect how I handled myself in numerous situations. I ended up naming my company after all the negative comments I got on the internet of people saying I was Fakewrenching for media attention. I just can’t explain it every time I think of how hard I worked to get where I am the name makes me laugh. It also reminds me what I went though with internet bullying and harassment. I never forget where I came from and what I came from.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m not that familiar with Jacksonville. I just moved here 6 months ago and I do spend time traveling for Jeep events.

I will say I have gone to the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens. I enjoy fitness and the trails are beautiful.

I have gone to the Jacksonville area beach and I do enjoy walking on the beach.

As far as food Cantina louie has amazing queso dip.

Island wings has this fantastic chili cheese and bacon fry plate.

The one place I really want to go is 1904 music hall. I am a hardcore scene kid and was just told about this place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give random strangers credit for my success. Anytime I feel down or I want to give up someone will contact me or comment on my media outlets with kind words or how my story inspires them. A lot of these random strangers have now become my friends and family to me.

Website: Fakewrenching.com

Instagram: NotMJG

Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/NotMJG

Youtube: YouTube.com/Fakewrenching

Other: Facebook.com/KristaAKunkel Instagram.com/Fakewrenching