Angie Katsanevas takes Washington, D.C. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City mom headed to Capitol Hill this week to testify before Congress about the importance of U.S. franchisors.
Angie, who owns the Lunatic Fringe salon franchise with her husband, Shawn Trujillo, told lawmakers she was quite “passionate” about the franchise business model, as demonstrated in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6, Episode 4.
The October 7, 2025, broadcast found Angie and Lisa Barlow in a heated exchange about their respective business ventures. The tense back-and-forth led to allegations, name-calling, and one of Angie’s most memorable clapbacks.
Angie Katsanevas recalls Lisa Barlow drama while addressing lawmakers
“A fellow housewife, who happens to have a brand partnership with a quick-service restaurant brand, questioned whether I was a ‘real’ business owner because I franchise,” she said during her January 22 testimony. “In that moment, I responded with, ‘You do French fries. I do franchise.’ And the clip blew up online.”
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Angie said her quip garnered strong reactions among viewers, many of whom praised her for defending the franchise sector.
“When I told my co-star on the show, ‘I do franchise,’ it meant I didn’t open my own business,” she added. “I opened a franchise business that allowed other entrepreneurs to also thrive in the system that we started.”
Angie Katsanevas touts the U.S. franchise business model
The Salt Lake City ’Wife was tapped to testify in support of the American Franchise Act. The proposed federal bill was introduced in September 2025 and aims to clarify the joint-employer standard of franchisors and franchisees.
“We have a tried and true model,” Angie said. “Our team is set up for success. It gives them the opportunity, also, to have a path forward to ownership and to becoming an entrepreneur.”
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Angie Katsanevas sets the record straight on her & Shawn Trujillo’s business
After meeting at a hair salon more than three decades ago, Angie and Shawn launched Lunatic Fringe with a 700-square-foot space in Salt Lake City. The business has since expanded to nine locations in Utah, Ohio, and Idaho.
Angie shed more light on her salon chain in the aforementioned Season 6 episode, after Lisa claimed Angie only “owned one and a half” Lunatic Fringe salons.
“Who told you I own one and a half? That’s not true!” Angie fired back. “Let me help you count my cash: I have three salons that I own, and the rest are franchises. It’s a model I’m proud of… You lie and throw things out there to insult me. You have no idea what I own. You don’t know the facts about my business. You do French fries; I do franchise. You should stick to it.”
“Oooh, that was good,” castmate Mary Cosby replied.
Get more details about Angie’s marriage to Shawn, and how she recently shut down rumors of their impending divorce.
