[citation needed] Calabrese grew up in Hyde Park, a South Side neighborhood of Chicago.

[1] Calabrese worked as a professional model in her teens and into her twenties, and was featured in national magazine and television commercials.

Calabrese decided to transition careers from modeling to cooking and consulting about the raw and vegan lifestyle.

[1] Karyn also teaches workshops and promotes raw foodism, holistic therapies, and natural longevity.

[3][4] She started a GoFundMe campaign to help keep her business afloat, but faced accusations of fraud and unsanitary practices.