From Heartbreak to Empire: The Christina Flach Story

Some stories stop you in your tracks. Christina Flach’s is one of them.

As the founder and CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup and one of the Bay Area’s most celebrated celebrity hair and makeup artists, Christina has built a career that spans weddings, film, TV, photoshoots, and editorial work across Marin, San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, Carmel, and Cabo San Lucas. Her work has taken her to the highest levels of the entertainment and beauty industries, with clients and brands that include Hillary Swank, Bobby Flay, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Tesla, Forbes Magazine, and the New York Times.

But behind the glamour is a story of profound loss and extraordinary resilience.

Christina was married to professional tennis player Ken Flach, who passed away in 2018 after a sudden and devastating bout of sepsis. In the aftermath, Christina channeled her grief into purpose. She partnered with Sepsis Alliance to raise public awareness about the dangers of sepsis, the symptoms to watch for, and the critical importance of getting swift medical attention. She has shared Ken’s story on Fox News, NBC Bay Area, ABC Bay Area, CBS, the Tennis Channel, Sirius Radio, Marin Magazine, and more.

On the Long Shot Leaders podcast with Michael Stein, Christina opens up about overcoming the loss of both a child and her husband, and what it truly means to rebuild your life from the ground up. It is a conversation about grief, post-traumatic growth, purpose, and the kind of quiet strength that doesn’t make headlines but changes everything.

Listen to the full episode here.