Naman Shrestha
In Paramount+’s ‘Don’t Date Brandon,’ the primary focus is on Brandon Johnson and how he allegedly manipulated and cheated on his partners over the years. One of the women who dealt with his deception is his first wife, Athena Klingerman. The three-part true crime documentary series delves deep into Athena’s marriage to Brandon and how she managed to break free from his alleged harassing and stalking patterns. Featuring on the show, she discusses all the intricate details of how he impacted her life.
Athena Klingerman Was Brandon Johnson’s First Wife
It was in 2007 when Athena Klingerman met Brandon Johnson on an online dating website. At the time, she was a single mother of a daughter named Lexus from a previous relationship and worked as a dancer for the Everett Hawks, a minor league football team. As sparks flew between Athena and Brandon, they dated for a while before the latter moved in with her and her daughter. Not long after, she became pregnant with his daughter, whom they named Sydney. After several years of togetherness, the couple tied the knot in July 2011. As he allegedly mistreated her first daughter, Lexus, their marriage got rocky too quickly.
When she found out about his alleged infidelity, she told him that she wanted to end the marriage. According to her, he then threatened to take his own life if she didn’t take him back. After the divorce was finalized in 2012, he allegedly stalked her almost everywhere she went. As they shared the custody of Sydney, he also allegedly pitted her against Athena by telling her that she had cheated on him. In the following years, he threatened to kill her and himself while he was with his second wife, Amber Rasmussen. After the two women joined forces, they were awarded a five-year no-contact order against Brandon.
Before Becoming a Podcaster, Athena Ran a Thriving Lash Extension Boutique For Over a Decade
Athena Klingerman kick-started her professional career in the 2000s. In 2001, she obtained an Esthetics certificate from The Euro Institute of Esthetics. A year later, the Green River College graduate joined PRO Sports Club as an Esthetician and went on to refine her skills at the organization for five years until 2007. In July of the same year, she launched her own business, Lashes by Athena LLC, in Downtown Kirkland, channeling her years of experience and expertise into building a successful venture. In 3 years, she established a name for herself due to her impressive skills and proficiency, and seemingly dissolved the company in June 2010. She became the co-owner of Eye Candy Lash Extensions and Cosmetic Boutique alongside Jaymie in the same month.
Combining their experience of over a decade, Jaymie and Athena provided exceptional services, ranging from eyelash extensions and a curated lash product line to professional waxing and brow tinting treatments. After years in the business, Athena made a professional transition, especially following the unfortunate experience she endured at the hands of her ex-husband, Brandon Johnson. Therefore, the staunch domestic violence advocate teamed up with Amber Rasmussen, and the two started ‘Ex-Wives Undercover,’ a true crime podcast that sheds light on the dark realities of men who scam, manipulate, gaslight and cheat their partners. By giving the survivors a platform to raise their voice, they enable them to share their stories with the world. Alongside the co-host, she also serves as an Executive Producer of Double-A Productions and ‘The eX Files.’
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Athena Cherishes the Time She Spends With Her Loving Husband and Kids
Athena Klingerman has come a long way since the emotional and psychological distress she reportedly endured while married to Brandon Johnson from 2007 to 2012. Despite her unfortunate experience in love, she kept her heart open and gave love another chance. Eventually, her fate led her to a man who respects, adores, and understands her just the way she’d hoped. The two ultimately tied the knot and started their own family. Today, Athena’s family is composed of her devoted husband as well as a sweet son and three adorable daughters, including one she shares with Brandon. While she is officially a podcaster, the role she cherishes the most is that of a stay-at-home mother to her little munchkins.
Whenever she finds some downtime, Athena sets out to their cozy little cabin in the central part of the state to bask in the sunshine or relax for a bit. The mom of four loves to satiate the appetite of her loved ones by cooking up mouth-watering delicacies and tending to her garden. For the uninitiated, she also possesses an innate talent for singing, which she fully displayed in the early 2000s when she not only made it to ‘American Idol’ but also mesmerized the judges so much that she earned the golden ticket to Hollywood. Interestingly, around the same time, she also spent a season as a dancer, cheering for a Seattle-based minor league football team. Thus, from what we can tell, Athena Klingerman-Nazarian currently leads a life full of purpose, gratitude, and love in Washington State, surrounded by the affection of a loving family and a close-knit circle of friends.
