Together we can HALT THE HATE

Born and raised in San Antonio, Mrs. Kreines began her professional modeling career at the age of twelve. By nineteen, she had moved to New York, where she continued her fashion career while studying journalism at the New York Film Academy. After graduating, Mrs. Kreines returned to Texas and transitioned into real estate, following in her mother’s footsteps. This year marks her tenth year in the real estate industry.

As a retired model and former Miss San Antonio USA, Mrs. Kreines grew accustomed to dealing with criticism and judgment daily, which helped her develop resilience and a thick skin. Despite this, nothing could have fully prepared her for the challenges she would face. Her life felt like a fairy tale—blessed with a loving soulmate, a magical wedding, and the anticipation of their first child, yet, amidst these blessings, bullying and harassment began to cast a dark shadow over their lives.

The impact of adult bullying on her family has been profound, leading Mrs. Kreines to a critical decision: should they continue to suffer in silence or should they take a stand? Although silence is often considered golden, it was not a viable option in this case. As a former beauty queen, Mrs. Kreines felt a responsibility to act beyond the crown. Inspired by her experiences with bullying, she chose to transform this adversity into a force for good.

In 2024, Mrs. Kreines broke her silence and founded “Halt the Hate,” an organization dedicated to raising awareness about adult bullying and supporting victims in taking action, coping, and overcoming the harm. Together, we can extinguish the flames of adult bullying. Together, we can HALT THE HATE!

JoAnn is a San Antonio native. Entrepreneurship has always been a part of who she is. Her parents owned their own business, and JoAnn followed in her mother's footsteps to do the same. With the support of her husband Ali, they owned and operated two businesses.

in 1996 JoAnn pursued further business expertise by enrolling in real estate school. Her passion for helping people find their dream homes has led to fulfilling relationships with her clients. Unfortunately, her successful career came to a halt when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2006. JoAnn took a leave of absence to undergo treatment and heal. Her road to recovery was challenging, marked by a pulmonary embolism, a stroke, and time spent on life support. Despite the grim prognoses from her doctors, Joann remained positive. With faith, medical care, and unwavering family support, she believed in her healing. Her determination paid off when she became cancer-free in 2009. JoAnn is a devoted wife and mother to three children: Moses, Mercedes, and Alexandra. She is also a busy grandmother to five. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs.

When Joann was nominated to run for LLS Woman of the Year, she accepted the nomination without hesitation. Her goal was to use her passion for helping people and her firsthand experience with the disease to raise funds for this vital cause. Joann raised $27,000 for her fellow JFK alums with her fundraising expertise and devotion to her community. She then organized another fundraiser and raised $19,000 for a second alum. The two fundraisers supported John F. Kennedy High School and two of Joann's high school alums.

As a mother of two daughters, one of whom is involved in the fashion industry and beauty pageants, Joann has seen firsthand the effects of adult bullying.

"I'm thankful for my struggle because I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength without it."