Biography
Kiana Tom is a television host, fitness expert, author, actress, and entrepreneur.
She has Hawaiian, Chinese, and Irish heritage. Her Hawaiian name means "calm water" or "moon goddess."
Tom was the star and creator of the fitness series Kiana's Flex Appeal on ESPN, authored the book Kiana's Body Sculpting (St. Martin's Press, NY), and received the United States Sports Academy Award. She was interviewed for the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, served as emcee for the Governor's Ball at the inaugural X Games in Newport, RI, and appeared in Ms. Shape Magazine. Additionally, she was a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders.
In 1995, Tom launched, hosted, and co-produced Kiana's Flex Appeal, a lifestyle, health, and fitness show on ESPN. She designed numerous exercise routines and developed segments such as home gym, pro gym, target training, and aqua flex training. The series concluded in 2001.
Thanks to the show's strong initial ratings, ESPN expanded Tom’s presence with additional programs including Kiana's Too Fit 2 Quit, Summer Sizzle with Kiana, and Hot Summer Nights with Kiana.
In May 2002, Tom appeared nude in Playboy magazine. In an interview, she explained her decision came after reaching peak physical condition and feeling it was the right moment in her career. She also revealed receiving threatening letters due to her celebrity status, which led her to involve the FBI. She mentioned taking precautions such as never answering the door, withholding her address, and using aliases when checking into hotels.
Since then, Tom has hosted ABC Super Bowl Nightlife, served as host and reporter for extreme sports shows including the X Games, Extreme Energy, Fitness America Pageant Series, Blade Warriors, and King of the Mountain. She worked as a news anchor for Turner Broadcasting and made guest appearances on The Drew Carey Show, Family Law, and in Eminem’s Grammy-winning music video "Without Me." Tom co-starred in her first film, Universal Soldier: The Return, alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, produced by Sony/Columbia Tristar Pictures. A New York Times review from August 1999 noted that her presence enhanced the film’s physicality.
By 2009, Tom, now a mother of two, was developing a new show called FitMomTV.
