HGTV stars may be all about home sweet home, but they often have to hit the road for public appearances and filming new projects. That’s an especially tough part of the job for someone like Jenny Marrs of “Fixer to Fabulous” and Mika Kleinschmidt of “100 Day Dream Home,” since they both suffer from flight anxiety.
So, when Jenny saw Mika was far from home on May 16, 2026, traveling with her husband and co-star Brian Kleinschmidt, she lovingly reached out with a bit of encouragement.
Mika Kleinschmidt Admitted Her Anxiety Was ‘Bad’ on Flight Home From Portland
The Kleinschmidts have been visiting Portland, Oregon, which is a long way from their home base of Tampa, Florida.
On May 17, Mika posted a photo of them together at the Portland Japanese Garden and wrote, “Japanese Gardens, Voodoo donuts, and Shanghai tunnel ghost tours!!! We fit in a little fun on this work trip to Portland🙌🥰😂”
In the comment section, Marrs sweetly wrote, “How fun! And I’m proud of you friend … I know that included a flight and you did it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️”
That night, Mika replied, “on the way home one more flight to go. Love to travel and see new things but man the anxiety is bad😢”
Mika has been open about the anxieties she’s worked hard to overcome, revealing on a 2023 family trip to Canada that she felt like “the whole vacation has been about me, personally, facing all my fears. Including heights, ice, mountains, water, bears, and now claustrophobia.”
In February, she shared a video of herself trying to stay calm in the elevator at the Vulcan Statue in Birmingham, Alabama, as she and Brian rode to the top of the 126-foot-tall sandstone and marble pedestal.
“I will say my husband constantly challenges me to overcome my fears,” she wrote in the caption, “and the view was pretty epic, but my goodness I can’t feel my legs😂😂🙏🥰🤪”
Jenny, meanwhile, has been very vocal about her own flight anxiety, which developed later in life after several scary incidents, including an emergency landing in 2006, triggered nightmares about flying, she shared via social media in 2023, revealing that she’s since had multiple panic attacks on flights in which she can’t hear, has shaken “uncontrollably” and has a hard time breathing.
Mika Kleinschmidt Received Kind Words From Fans & Friends
HGTVMika received kind words from other HGTV friends, including “Unsellable Houses” star Leslie Davis, who lives in nearby Washington State. She celebrated Mika’s accomplishment by writing, “Happy you made it to my side! It take quite the flight!”
“Renovation Aloha” stars Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama also posted two applause emoji in the comment section.
A fan who saw the exchange between Jenny and Mika wrote, “I get the feeling you don’t like to fly! I don’t either but you did it!! 🤩”
A flight attendant who also saw their comments wrote, “skygoddess here 👋 just know we are always here for you. 🥰 Hope to have you on one of my future flights. Anxiety is real and I’m proud of you 👏🙌”
