The Stunning Transformation Of HGTV Star Mina Starsiak Hawk

Decades before Mina Starsiak Hawk started fixing up other people's homes in HGTV's "Good Bones," she was just a kid trying to make sense of her chaotic home. Speaking to Indy's Child in March 2021, the reality TV star revealed she grew up in a non-traditional household since her parents parted ways when she was only 3 years old. In the aftermath, she got to experience the highs and lows of being a part of a blended family.

Hawk further elaborated on her unusual childhood, which she spent with multiple siblings and eight dogs, during an April 2024 episode of the "Mina AF" podcast. "We would play hide and seek in the backyard," Hawk recalled (via Collider). "And there was this outhouse with, like, a broken-down boat and, you know, shattered windows. And we would have trash can fires in the metal trash can." The HGTV star also acquired a permanent scar on her wrist by coming in contact with that metal trash can. At another point, she even dared to swim through a flood.

While she viewed these instances as "fun adventures" in her childhood years, her adult self couldn't help but wonder what her parents were getting up to while they put themselves in grave danger as kids. However, as she grew older, Hawk started to branch out and explore what she wanted to do with her life. It all ended up working out just fine for her.

Since Mina Starsiak Hawk had little to no idea what she wanted to do for her career, she wound up graduating with a general studies degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 2007. In a 2017 interview with People (via Yahoo), she shared that she picked up part-time work as a waitress because she had no clear vision of her career path post-graduation.

However, she knew one thing for certain: "I didn't want to work 9-to-5 in a cubicle, but I wanted to do something grown up, because all my friends were getting accounting jobs and doing big kid things. So, I decided to buy a house." After shelling out $37,500 on a run-down house, Hawk entrusted her mother, Karen Laine, to help with its renovation. Although we all know her as a pro at home renovation, Laine was a defense attorney in those days. In a 2018 interview with People, Hawk shared that they had to rely on internet videos to figure out how to do the most basic of home renovation tasks, such as installing flooring and tiling.

After a whole host of missteps and victories, the mother-daughter duo successfully renovated their first home. According to USA Today, they poured around $47,000 into their first project and turned a tidy profit after they sold the home for $69,000. While that is already impressive, their second project saw a much greater return: they sold it for $134,000 after investing $95,000 in it.

Speaking to Popsugar in 2017, Mina Starsiak Hawk revealed that, although she and her mother, Karen Laine, began regularly renovating houses on the weekend after completing their first project in 2007, they didn't think their side hustle could turn into a business, and their full-time jobs, until 2009.

However, once that realization hit, their company, Two Chicks and a Hammer, became far more real. During Hawk's chat with USA Today, she shared that their company was completely bootstrapped and funded through the earnings of their day jobs. The mother-daughter duo also made a conscious decision to not take on essentially any debt. Their impressive projects caught the eye of a talent scout at High Noon Entertainment by January 2014. However, when the agent started making attempts to reach out to them, Hawk was hesitant to respond — she believed they weren't cool enough to be part of a talent agency.

Thankfully, she eventually realized the offer was legitimate, and wasted no time in jumping at the opportunity. However, her TV career didn't make her wardrobe any more glamorous. Since Hawk spent her days tearing down homes, she naturally wanted to prioritize comfort over all else, so she mostly stuck to tank tops and casual tees with caps. During colder months, she paired cozy sweatshirts and cardigans with a pair of simple jeans to give off warm girl-next-door vibes. To complete the look, she would often go bare-faced. Since her job required her to be so hands-on, she naturally steered clear of accessories.

In 2016, Mina Starsiak Hawk went through two major life events. She watched the premiere of "Good Bones" in March, and walked down the aisle to Steve Hawk in June. By then, they had been dating for about three years, after first striking up a conversation on Facebook.

Considering the HGTV star's on-screen persona, it's easy to think she would have given in to the anti-bride wedding dress trend and opted for a shorter dress. However, that wasn't the case by a long shot. Mina stunned in a strapless fishtail gown with lace detailing and a delicate veil. Since the dress was the main attraction, she naturally kept the accessories and the makeup to a minimum, opting for a chunky diamond necklace and a pair of studs. As always, Mina opted to go for minimal makeup that made her natural facial features shine.

Mina and Steve would become proud parents to Jack Hawk in 2018, and Charlotte "Charlie" Hawk in 2020. In a March 2020 People interview, the HGTV star shared she had no issues getting pregnant the first time. However, after months of trying for their second, she began to see signs she may have fertility issues. After her first round of IVF didn't come to fruition, a doctor informed her there was less than 1% chance of her getting pregnant a second time. Although that news was naturally heartbreaking for her, she still decided to give pregnancy another shot by opting for an intrauterine insemination. They, of course, managed to beat the odds.

In a January 2021 Instagram post, Mina Starsiak Hawk shared she had undergone multiple plastic surgeries shortly after giving birth to her second child in 2020. In addition to having a tummy tuck, she also had liposuction done and used the fat to give her butt a more even appearance. Although the recovery process was admittedly grueling, Hawk ultimately couldn't be happier about her decision.

Speaking to People in January 2021, the HGTV star shared she had struggled with body confidence issues due to the weight she gained during her second pregnancy. After her internal struggles started to gravely impact her self-image and sex, social, and work lives, she decided to undergo plastic surgery since it was the fastest and most effective solution to her problems. Although it's great that the "mommy makeover" helped give Hawk a major confidence boost, it was also the cosmetic procedure Dr. Terry Dubrow from "Botched" exclusively told us he would never recommend. During a November 2023 episode of her "Mina AF" podcast, the reality TV star revealed she later underwent a blepharoplasty to get rid of the bagginess around her eyes, as well as a butt lift.

"Whether we all want to admit it or not, I care about the way I look and the way I look makes me feel a certain way about myself," she said while discussing her choices (via Yahoo). "I'm turning 39. I don't feel 39. I want to look the way I feel." Moreover, she also revealed that she got the blepharoplasty because she didn't want to go through the tedious process of covering her bags with makeup daily.

During an August 2023 episode of the "Mina AF" podcast, Mina Starsiak Hawk revealed that "Good Bones" had come to an end after eight seasons. In other episodes, Mina hinted that her soured relationship with her mother may have factored into her decision to pull the plug on the show. Still, the bittersweet ending of the show gave Mina more time to work on herself. Luckily for the rest of us, she and her husband/trainer, Steve Hawk, didn't gatekeep their tips for gaining more muscle and frequently shared them on Instagram. As a bonus, their tips also helped break some myths about weight training that people need to stop believing.

As her confidence grew, her sense of style evolved. She grew more comfortable with wearing more tightly fitted clothes and showed off her physique in the occasional bikini snap. In an April 2024 interview with Indianapolis Monthly, Mina shared that working out consistently and prioritizing a strict sleep schedule had given her plenty of mental health benefits. She also rightly didn't hesitate to admit that she tended to her mental health through therapy and medication.

While Mina has transformed in many ways over the years, one thing has remained constant: her decision to wear little-to-no makeup. While her "Good Bones" days are behind her, she hasn't bid farewell to HGTV. In a January 2026 People interview, she revealed she was thrilled to collaborate with the network again as a contestant on "Rock On The Block." To say that Mina is more confident and driven than ever would be an understatement.