Romi Klinger gets a kiss from her husband, Dusty Ray. The husband and wife are living in Long Beach and are stepping away from life in the reality television spotlight. —Photo courtesy Romi Klinger
By Ashleigh Ruhl: There’s a reality-show celebrity settling into a new life here in Long Beach — a life where cameras aren’t following her around on a regular basis to document her every move. Romi Marie Klinger, 30, was part of the cast on Showtime’s “The Real L Word” for the past three seasons. She was one of the stars on the ongoing reality television show that follows a group of lesbians in their daily lives in the Los Angeles area. During the show, Klinger dated both women and men, eventually marrying a man named Dusty Ray. Now, she says, she will not be returning to the show. “It’s been about four months since the show ended,” Klinger said. “I’m setting from reality show into reality.” The newlywed says she doesn't identify as gay, straight or bisexual — rather just someone who loves who she wants to love. It’s a character trait that runs in her blood since her mother and her aunt also spent time partnered with both women and men. She has lived in Long Beach for more than a year, with cameras following her until last summer, and she said she is settling into a new life in a city where her mother and other family members also live. Born to a part Mexican and part Native American father and a German mother, Klinger said she learned early to embrace the cultural abundance and diversity around her. She is passionate about her family, which includes five brothers — two of whom have special needs. She compares her big, unorthodox family to the television show, “Modern Family,” and she said one of her favorite mantras in life is: “You are who you are because of where you have been.” A woman of many talents, the former makeup artist, actress and “accessory maven” started a new career after the camera lights dimmed. She is busy hosting a pop-culture radio show and is working in retail at Kimberly’s Collection in Belmont Shore in addition to writing a fashion blog, creating music with her husband and launching her second jewelry collection called Casa Por Vida. Her radio show, The Romi & Rose Show, broadcasts at 4 p.m. Fridays at www.LATalkLive.com and features Klinger as well as Rose Garcia, another star from “The Real L Word.” Klinger said the two girls talk to guests on the show about fashion, pop culture and more — the show does not focus on LGBT issues, although Klinger is passionate about equal rights and considers herself part of the LGBT community."Source: Gazettes
