In the custom automotive arena, few women are bringing their vision to reality. When they do, the results are often visually stunning.
Such is the case with Krissy Cirino’s custom 2016 C7 convertible Corvette project car named Chasing Monarchs. Your eye is immediately drawn to the various hues of the meticulous paint scheme complemented by rose gold accents, even from a distance.
We first met Krissy at Caffeine & Octane. Her Corvette was surrounded by car enthusiasts taking in the subtle nuances of her rolling artistic creation. What we quickly discovered after talking to her was a woman of strength, focus, and conviction.
These are all prime attributes needed for those willing to put their blood, sweat, and financial investment on display for the world to see. Above all, we found a heartwarming story that we just had to share with you.
What follows is an edited transcript, adapted for this article. Enjoy!
All photos in this article were taken by Jesse James.
Army Strong
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Krissy, before we start talking about your beautiful custom seventh-generation convertible, can you take a few minutes and share your back story with our readers?
KRISSY CIRINO – Yes, of course, so first and foremost, I am from New York City, born and raised in the Bronx. I’m of Puerto Rican-Italian descent, hence my last name.
Right now, I’m currently in the United States Army. I’ve been serving for about five and a half years on the active side. I also have three years in the Florida National Guard and the New Jersey National Guard.
I’m a graduate with a bachelor’s in computer science, and that’s what I currently do. My mother was a single parent who, with my Grandmother, raised me. They pushed me to where I am now.
Prince ‘s Little Red Corvette
ROD WORLEY – Editor – In the world of customs, you could have chosen any vehicle. Why a Corvette? And have you always been drawn to Corvettes?
KRISSY CIRINO – Honestly, I’ve always drawn to that classic American muscle car look.
I mean, yes, we all love Lamborghini’s and Ferrari’s, but I can’t afford one right now. The Corvette is affordable for the working class.
It also has that sleek Ferrari sports car look. Though I do like the vintage classic Corvette look too.
I’m 28 years old, so I was looking for something more towards this younger generation. That’s why I purchased the C7.
You know, I was always into Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” song. My Corvette, before all these modifications, was the classic Torch Red. Prince’s song was kind of my inspiration.
About three years ago, I went to a car convention in the Anaheim Convention Center out in California. One of the things I noticed was there were only three Corvettes on display that were fully modified.
One of them won the best in the show award. I was surprised there were so few Corvettes there because people like the classic Corvette look.
In building this car, I wanted to up the bar for the Corvette community.
Memories of Old Town
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Behind every custom Corvette is the reason for creating it. What’s the story behind your creation?
Is it strictly going for the show circuit, or are there other interests?
KRISSY CIRINO – My Grandfather was a big influence on me when I was younger. He always had those classic muscle American cars.
I remember him having a red 1975 Camaro and a Legend Lime 2006 Ford Mustang GT. He used to take me to car shows out in Old Town in Kissimmee, Florida, back when they had Hot Rod Day and Motorcycle Day.
We would spend hours looking at all of the cars. I can remember clearly at a young age saying to my Grandfather, “Papi, that’s going to be me showing off my car one day.”
You know, this October, I will be there for Corvette Day in Kissimmee, Florida, with my custom Corvette. I will be showing off my Corvette there with my Grandfather.
It’s going to be a very monumental moment for me and my Grandfather. He hasn’t seen the car with the new paint scheme and all of the other custom additions.
Honestly, it’s going to be a very exciting time for both of us!
So the car at this stage is being developed as a show car. Since the engine is still under warranty, I don’t want to upgrade the performance and risk voiding it.
But if I can get the right sponsor, I would put a pro charger under the hood and track it. But right now, though, it’s too pretty to be tracked.
We’ll see what the future holds. I’ve got an Instagram account and soon to have a YouTube channel that will attract viewers and hopefully sponsors.
Inspiration For Chasing Monarchs
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Krissy, before you started, was there a vision you had for it, a theme?
KRISSY CIRINO – Yes, my vision is tied together with my logo and my name for the car. The name is Chasing Monarchs.
Monarchs as in the North American butterfly, so let me give you a bit of the back short here. When I was younger, I had a stepfather, and unfortunately, he passed away from leukemia.
But before he passed away, he had left a poem to my mother and myself. Mind you, I was very young, probably five or six years old.
The poem talked about us being like Monarch butterflies. It said that we were beautiful and elegant and would extend our wings and fly one day.
The poem was inspirational to me, especially for being such a young child.
Monarch butterflies always seem to be a part of my life. We have one preserved in a shadow box that died on my stroller.
Butterflies always seem to be around me. I see them landing on my Corvette all the time at car shows.
I named my car Chase, which is short for chasing Monarch butterflies. For me, it’s about chasing my dream, chasing my empire, and just trying to be a strong woman for my family.
Children Are Drawn
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Often as you’re planning a custom build, there is an emotion you want people to walk away with when they see your Corvette? Was there one for Chase?
KRISSY CIRINO – When people see my Corvette at a car show, I want them to feel the emotion of freedom and the strength to pursue your dreams. I want them to see me chasing my dreams and the hard work I’m putting in to reach my goals.
The younger crowd, especially the children, are drawn to Chase. I hear them say it’s like a Unicorn or a Barbie car.
I’m all for the kids because I remember what it was like at that age. I’ll let the kids sit in my car, and let them take pictures.
I feel like, yes, it is a show car, but I also created it to bring happiness.
My happiness comes from seeing parents happy because their kids are excited. I can see that look in the children’s eyes.
Its the same look I had as a young girl with my Grandfather when we visited Old Town.
So when you ask what emotion I want people to walk away with, it would be for them to feel happiness. And to keep chasing their dreams.
Possible Collaboration
ROD WORLEY – Editor – So is Chase, your project car, completed? Perhaps some additions are coming in the future?
KRISSY CIRINO – Oh, Chase? Chase will never be completed. I go to these car shows, and it gets my mind going with different ideas.
So actually, I’m in the process of working with a company called Modify My Stang. And yes, they work on Mustangs, but the owner is just a great guy.
They’re out in Raleigh, North Carolina, though they’re trying to branch out to Atlanta. We’re in the works of making a “Modify My Vette” brand.
After this interview, I’m headed out to Myrtle Beach to go meet up with him so we can see where this can go. He is very well known in the Mustang world, and besides, who said Fords and Chevy’s couldn’t get along?
We’re looking at producing wide-body Corvette kits and custom rims too.
Future custom work for my car includes pulling the whole stock interior out and putting in rose gold accents and my logo stitched into the seats.
Ceramic coating is on the short to-do list, as well as a custom front splitter and spoiler.
And hopefully, soon, I can find a great sponsor in the Atlanta area who shares my passion. Engine-wise a pro charger or twin-turbo setup would be ideal.
More To Come
ROD WORLEY – Editor – You know, we’ve covered a lot of ground today, but is there one question I should have asked you but didn’t.
KRISSY CIRINO – I think we’ve covered the highlights of my car. The only thing I do want to mention is we hope to show future updates and progress in this magazine.
If readers would like to follow my progress via Instagram, they can follow me on Chasing_Monarchs. On that platform, they can see the progress every step along the way.
And hopefully, fingers crossed, if this works out with Jess and “Modify My Stang,” I would soon have a “Modify My Vette” section. That could be happening soon.
And, Rod, your readers would be the first one to know about it. I think this would be great for the Corvette community. It would become a one-stop-shop for their custom needs.
Dare To Dream
Spend some time talking to Krissy and admiring her Chasing Monarch project car; you can’t help but come away impressed. She has set the bar high for her career and her one-of-a-kind show car.
A project like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There have been vendors whose talents are on display throughout this custom Corvette.
In Woodstock, GA, vendors such as XVRacing by Afrogola design crafted the hood and bodywork. Hydrodypz, also from Woodstock, Ga, did the rose gold dash, engine covers, and emblems. Mad Creations in Loganville did the vertical doors.
There was also wheels and calipers by RTP Customs, Marietta,GA, and photography by Jesse James @Jams Media located in Augusta, Ga. Soon USA Reflections will be applying the ceramic coating.
At the end of the day, car shows need more women designers attending their events. Young women like Krissy Cirino who encourage children to sit in their beautiful Corvette and dream of chasing their own Monarchs one day.
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