You’ve probably seen her on QVC or caught her red-carpet commentary during the Oscars. Katrina Szish has that classic, polished TV presence that makes you feel like you’ve known her for years. But when it comes to her personal life, specifically her history before her current marriage to Marc Korczykowski, things get a bit more "New York society" mystery.
People ask about Katrina Szish first husband all the time. It's one of those internet rabbit holes. Most fans know Marc—the biomedical engineer and high school sweetheart she reconnected with in a total rom-com twist. But before the beach wedding in Delaware and the domestic bliss in Manhattan, there was a different chapter.
That chapter involved a man named André Stead.
The Fashion World Romance
The story of Katrina Szish and André Stead feels like it was ripped straight out of a 2000s dramedy about the high-fashion world. It makes sense, honestly. At the time, Katrina was deeply embedded in the Condé Nast machine, working for titles like GQ and Vogue. She was the "it girl" of fashion journalism, and André was a British-born creative who had spent years navigating the European high-fashion scene.
They met in the late '90s.
It wasn't some corporate meet-cute. André was a bit of a bohemian spirit in a world of sharp suits. There’s this famous anecdote from a 2003 Observer profile where André reportedly wandered into the lobby of the Condé Nast building—the literal fortress of fashion—wearing an ill-fitting suit and carrying a box of freshly baked cookies for Katrina.
He didn't have an appointment. He just showed up.
That kind of grand, slightly messy gesture is exactly what won her over. At that point, André had actually stepped away from the intense European scene and was living more quietly in Vermont with his parents, but he would make these trips into the city to "woo" her.
The 2003 Skytop Wedding
By 2003, they were ready to make it official.
They didn't go for a flashy Manhattan ballroom or a destination wedding in St. Barts. Instead, they chose the Skytop Lodge in the Poconos, near where Katrina grew up in Pennsylvania. It was a winter wedding. Why? Because André famously said that, "graphically," winter was the best time for a wedding.
Total artist talk.
Katrina, ever the fashion expert, didn't even pick her gown until she saw the latest round of designer shows. She was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted the aesthetic to be. They had this vision of white tie and tails, a stark contrast against the snowy Pennsylvania backdrop. It was sophisticated, intentional, and felt like the start of a permanent partnership.
Why Nobody Talks About It Now
Life happens.
Marriages in the public eye are tough, but marriages where both people are highly creative and evolving can be even tougher. While the public details of their split are sparse—Katrina has always been incredibly classy and private about the "why"—we know that the marriage eventually ended.
Sometimes two people are perfect for a specific season of life.
👉 See also: Steve Carell Net Worth 2024: Why The Office Still Pays the Bills
Katrina’s career was exploding. She moved from print to television, becoming a fixture on US Weekly, ABC News, and eventually the shopping networks. The "fashion editor" version of Katrina was the one who married André. The "media personality and lifestyle expert" version of Katrina is the one who eventually found her way back to Marc.
It's actually kind of refreshing. In an era where every celebrity divorce is a 12-part TikTok series, the end of the Katrina Szish and André Stead era was handled with quiet dignity. No scandals. No leaked court documents. Just a quiet closing of one door so another could open.
The Reconnection with Marc Korczykowski
You can't really talk about the first husband without mentioning why the second one feels so "final."
In 2014, Katrina got an email that changed everything. It was from Marc Korczykowski. They hadn't seen each other in twenty-four years. They were high school friends from the same Pennsylvania circles, but their lives had gone in completely opposite directions.
- Katrina: High-glamour, TV cameras, New York City, fashion weeks.
- Marc: Science, biomedical engineering, a more grounded, analytical world.
When they met up for a drink at the Loews Regency on Park Avenue, the spark wasn't just there—it was a bonfire. Within three months, they were engaged. They married in November 2014 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
It was a whirlwind. It was fast. But when you’ve already been through a marriage that didn't work, you tend to recognize the "real thing" much faster. Katrina has often described Marc as her "eternal optimist." He’s the guy who pulls her out of her own head when she gets too serious.
Lessons from the Katrina Szish Marriage History
What can we actually learn from Katrina's journey? Honestly, it’s about the evolution of what we need from a partner.
- The "Aesthetic" vs. The "Real": Her first marriage to André was beautiful, "graphically" perfect, and fit her life in the fashion world. It was a marriage of style and shared creative energy.
- The Power of Roots: Her marriage to Marc is built on a foundation of shared history—high school, Pennsylvania roots, and a deep, uncomplicated friendship.
- Privacy is a Choice: You don't have to trash your ex to move on. Katrina is proof that you can have a "first husband" and still maintain a professional, clean image without the past defining your future.
If you’re looking into the history of Katrina Szish, don’t view the André Stead years as a "failed" marriage. View it as the chapter that prepared her for the stability she has now.
Next Steps for Readers:
If you're following Katrina’s career today, the best way to see her current vibe is to check out her latest segments on QVC or follow her Instagram. She often shares glimpses of her life with Marc and their dogs, which offers a great contrast to the high-society fashion world she inhabited during her first marriage. You can also look up the archives of the New York Observer from the early 2000s if you want a deeper look at the social scene she and André were a part of.