Kristina Basham is a woman of many talents who has built her life around flying planes, raising her family, and following her dreams. She became known to many people when she married famous cartoonist Scott Adams in 2020, but her story is much bigger than that relationship. Today, she works as a commercial pilot and flight instructor while studying to become a neuroscientist. Her journey from child model to skilled pilot shows how she has always worked hard to achieve her goals.
Detailed Bio Table
| Full Name | Kristina Basham (born Kristina DeGennaro) |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 31, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Birthplace | Walnut Creek, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor, Former Model, Musician |
| Education | Master’s Degree in Economics, UC Berkeley (currently studying Neuroscience) |
| Children | Three (two daughters: Hazel and Marin; one son born 2024) |
| Famous For | Marriage to Scott Adams (2020-2022), Aviation Career, Social Media Presence |
| Social Media | Over 3.7 million Instagram followers |
Early Life and Education
Kristina was born in Walnut Creek, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. She grew up in a family with Middle Eastern, German, Italian, and French roots. Her father, Valmor Bagala, is a musician of French and Italian background, while her mother, Mary Posthauer-Olry, has German heritage and worked at Kemper Sports. Kristina has a younger brother named Scotty and an older sister named Valerie.
From a young age, Kristina showed interest in many different activities. She started taking piano and violin lessons when she was in elementary school. She also learned to sing and dance. During high school, she joined the cross-country running team and won a gold medal in a 20-mile race. These early experiences taught her about hard work and following through on her goals.
When she was just eleven years old, Kristina began modeling with Ford Models, working with them from 1997 to 2002. This early start in the modeling world gave her confidence and opened doors to new opportunities.
After finishing high school, Kristina went to the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied financial economics. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2010 and continued her education at the same university. In 2012, she earned her Master’s degree in economics. Her love for learning did not stop there. She is currently studying neuroscience at UC Berkeley, showing her interest in understanding how the brain works.
Career and Achievements
Aviation Career
Flying became one of Kristina’s greatest passions. She earned her commercial pilot license and became a flight instructor at Fiori Aviation. As both a commercial pilot and aerobatic pilot, she has spent countless hours in the sky. She shares her love for flying with her 3.7 million Instagram followers, posting photos and videos from the cockpit. For Kristina, aviation is not just a job but a way of life that gives her freedom and purpose.
Modeling and Business
Besides her modeling work as a child, Kristina continued modeling in her twenties. She worked with agencies in New York and London, collaborating with well-known fashion and lifestyle brands. Her modeling career helped her build a strong social media presence where she shared content about fashion, travel, lifestyle, and baking.
Kristina also stepped into the business world by opening Le Vasseur Confectionary, a bakery in San Francisco. This showed her creative side and her ability to run a business. She has also worked in technology and business roles, including holding an executive position at a scheduling and productivity company.
Music
Music has always been important to Kristina. She plays the piano and violin at a professional level. Growing up with a musician father, she developed her musical skills from a young age. Music remains a part of her life, and she occasionally shares her performances on social media.
Marriage to Scott Adams
Kristina met Scott Adams, the creator of the famous Dilbert comic strip, around 2019. Despite their 31-year age difference, they got engaged on Christmas Day 2019. Seven months later, on July 11, 2020, they married on a yacht in San Francisco Bay. The wedding was a special celebration of their relationship.
However, their marriage faced challenges. Scott Adams became involved in several public disagreements that caused problems for his career. In February 2023, he made comments that many people found offensive, which led to newspapers dropping his comic strip. By March 2022, Kristina and Scott had already divorced after less than two years of marriage.
The reasons for their split remained private, though Kristina once suggested on social media that there were problems in the relationship. Despite the divorce, both said the separation was friendly. Kristina moved on with her life, focusing on her career, education, and children.
Life as a Mother
Kristina is a dedicated mother to three children. She has two daughters, Hazel and Marin Hilsabeck, from a previous relationship. In June 2024, she announced on Instagram that she was eight months pregnant, and later that year, she welcomed a son. She often shares glimpses of her life as a mother on social media, though she keeps her children mostly out of the public eye to protect their privacy.
Being a mother while managing a career as a pilot and continuing her education shows Kristina’s strong commitment to both her family and her personal goals.
Current Life and Focus
Today, Kristina lives a quieter life away from the spotlight. She continues working as a commercial pilot and flight instructor, teaching others how to fly while spending time in the air herself. She is also pursuing her neuroscience degree at UC Berkeley, showing her desire to learn more about science and the human brain.
On social media, she now goes by her birth name, Kristina DeGennaro, though she keeps the surname Basham in her username. Her Instagram account shows her daily life, including moments with her son, pictures from the cockpit, and updates about her work and interests.
Interest in Kristina increased again in January 2026 when news broke about Scott Adams’ passing. Many people began looking back at her career and personal life, admiring how she built her own identity separate from her marriage to the famous cartoonist. Social media users have praised her for keeping her privacy while managing a busy career and growing family.
Conclusion
Kristina Basham’s journey from child model to commercial pilot, mother, and neuroscience student shows her strength and dedication. While her marriage to Scott Adams brought her into the public eye, she has built a meaningful life based on her own talents and hard work. Today, she continues flying, raising her children, and studying, proving that she is a person of many skills and interests. Her story reminds us that success comes from following your passions and never stopping learning, no matter what challenges life brings.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does Kristina Basham do for a living?
Kristina works as a commercial pilot and flight instructor at Fiori Aviation. She also has experience as a model, musician, and entrepreneur. She is currently studying neuroscience at UC Berkeley.
2. How many children does Kristina Basham have?
Kristina has three children: two daughters named Hazel and Marin from a previous relationship, and a son born in late 2024.
3. How long was Kristina Basham married to Scott Adams?
Kristina was married to Scott Adams for less than two years. They got married in July 2020 and divorced in March 2022.
4. What is Kristina Basham’s educational background?
Kristina holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in economics from UC Berkeley. She is currently studying neuroscience at the same university.
5. Does Kristina Basham still use social media?
Yes, Kristina is active on Instagram where she has over 3.7 million followers. She now uses her birth name, Kristina DeGennaro, on social media while keeping Basham in her username.
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