Influencer Kit Keenan On The Importance Of Home-Cooked Meals, Her Fashion Sense & A Surprising Fact About 'The Bachelor'

Influencer Kit Keenan has a lot to say about cooking, New York City, work/life balance and much more.

Keenan tells Modern Luxury about growing up with a famous mother in New York , what she looks forward to the most about Montauk, why home-cooked meals are so important and reveals a little bit about her time on The Bachelor.

See More: Catching Up With Hamptonite And Influencer Kit Keenan

Read our interview below:

For those that don't already know, can you tell us about your background in the fashion space?

So I grew up in fashion. My mother is a fashion designer, she has her own fashion company, so I grew up around fashion, going to her shows. A lot of her friends are designers, so that was kind of like my intro into fashion, and I've always just appreciated it and been interested, and I've thought about working in the industry myself, but at this point, it's not like, my long term goal.

What was it like growing up in New York City?

I grew up in the West Village, and I went to high school downtown and I went to lower school in the West Village. So always been in, like, a little ten-block radius. And so when I was applying to colleges, I was like, I want to go as far away as possible. So I ended up going to USC for two years, and then I ended up coming back to New York and going to NYU and finishing college at NYU. So I feel like I'm very happy that I lived away from New York for a while. I think I needed that time, otherwise, I literally would have lived my entire life. My heart is here. My family is here.

You mentioned your mother. She's a famous designer. [Editors note: Her mother is Cynthia Rowley.] How does that impact your work life and creativity?

My mom is an amazing businesswoman, but she's also such a creative. She describes sometimes she just has visions of things, and she's very visual, and she's so hands-on, and she has so much vision. So I've always [been] inspired by that. Like, the way that she sees the world, and she always sees the glass half full. So I try to take that creativity and that optimism and apply it to myself, but I'm definitely a lot more logical.

When did your love for cooking begin?

So speaking of my mom, when I was growing up, she was always working so hard because being a business owner, it's like a full-time job, and especially in the fashion industry, like, during fashion weeks and around fashion month, she was just so busy and coming home super late sometimes. But her priority was always to cook dinner for my sister and I. So even she would get home at like 8:30-9. We were having dinner as a family and sitting down and eating a home-cooked meal. So to me, food has always been love and connection and the kitchen is always like the heart of my home. So I've always had that passion and that love for cooking and then I just started sharing it naturally on my own social platforms and building my audience around cooking and the food and back previously.

What does a typical weekend look like for you in New York City?

I feel like I'm such a creature of habit. So I love girls' nights in New York. We always go to one of four or five restaurants including American Bar, Emmett’s on Grove, Indochine, like someplace downtown and fun. And then we'll go for a little night out usually. But during the day I love coming uptown, going to museums. My family is very interested in the art space, so I like going to galleries and museums uptown, workout, classes, walks. And then in the summer I'm out in Montauk.

And then how do you manage a healthy work/life balance?

My work is my life. So I think it's hard to create a balance. But I think because my job has so much flexibility, it's easy to have a happy life because I have enough flexibility to the point where I feel comfortable with that.

You mentioned Montauk. What are your favorite coffee shops or brunch places and restaurants, and nightlife spots?

So I am so excited for the summer because I cannot wait to be back in Montauk. Joni's is my favorite breakfast and coffee place. I also love Left Hand Coffee for breakfast. Naturally Good is really good for breakfast. And then nightlife, of course, Surf Lodge. Rushmeyers and then for dinner I love Duryea’s. There's so many amazing places, you can't go wrong.

You were on season 25 of The Bachelor. What was something that surprised you while you were on the show or something that you didn't expect while filming?

I feel like people always are surprised when I say this, but I really went into that experience so skeptical. I'm going to be honest, I thought it was all fake and when I got there I think this is a testament to Matt just being like a really good guy and a really good person, but also the way that the show really allows you to commit to a relationship ... I have a hard time in the real world because I'm so focused on work and focused on my friends and family, and it's just a hard balance. So to be able to take two months off and just focus on being in a relationship made it a lot easier to really get vulnerable with someone. And sometimes when I'm dating now, I'm like, well, I kind of wish I could just go away with you for two months and see if we could get to a point that we're comfortable with each other because that would make being dating a lot easier. But I think in general, my takeaway is it's always good to start off with an open heart and being vulnerable with someone, because for me, I always have my walls up so high when I start dating someone. And I think it's just a lot more productive to try to be vulnerable early on and if it doesn't work out, you kind of get a little bit hurt. But then, that wasn’t your person.

What advice would you give someone who's trying to move to New York and break into the influencer space?

I lived in L.A. for two years and I was doing social media at that time. And I remember I had fun living in L.A. but I just think that the influencer space is definitely way more competitive and kind of petty. When I moved back to New York, the influencer space was changing so much. I grew up when it was bloggers and fashion people, hardcore, like OG fashion bloggers. And when I moved back and TikTok was like, coming up so much and there are TikTok influencers here in New York, and just like this whole new generation of social media creators, it was so inspiring for me. And I noticed that in New York, this space is so welcoming and so positive. I have not had one negative experience with any influencer in New York. I just feel like we're always championing one another and when somebody comes out with a new product or has a launch or has an event, everyone wants to come out and support one another. And that has been so amazing for me. So I think if you're moving to New York and you're a creator, just know that there is a space for you and we'll all end up meeting at some event or whatever. And just like, I hope that you have the same experience that I do, and I know you will because everyone is so welcoming and just, like, amazing.

In one word, how would you describe your fashion sense?

Classic.

What is your go-to restaurant in NYC?

American Bar.

If you could describe your perfect day in the Hamptons, what would it be?

Wake up, surf, work out, go to Joni's, head to the beach and tan all day. Lunch on the beach. Sunset, surf sesh, head to Surf Lodge for drunks, dinner at Duryea’s, home by like 10:30-11.

Do you have any unknown or hidden hobbies?

I honestly think surfing is like my hidden hobby. I mean, I've talked about it before, but it's kind of like she's from New York and she lives in a city, but she also surfs. I surfed my whole life, so I started when I was like 11 or 12 and my whole family surfs. We travel to surf all the time. It's like our little bonding activity.

What's your go-to recipe?

When having friends over, I always go for an easy pasta dish because I know I can't mess it up. And everyone pretty much loves pasta. So I have a rigatoni recipe that's one pot rigatoni. And it's inspired by one of my favorite restaurants in New York called Bar Pitti. And they have this dish called the Rigatoni Pitti. So I make a one-pot version that's literally incredible. It comes together in 20 minutes.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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