Few women in Fresno are as multifaceted as Rema Koligian. A former lawyer, Rema is now a businesswoman, mother of three, wife, restaurateur, and self-proclaimed SPF enthusiast. To label her a “girl boss” feels insufficient—she is a role model for wellness, beauty, and self-love for women of all ages. So, what’s her secret? While the restaurant business may be her bread and butter, the common thread in her life is a commitment to consuming, offering, being, and feeling her best in the purest form possible. From food and fitness to wellness and womanhood, Rema embodies perfection.

Rema’s love for physical activity and clean eating can be traced back to her upbringing. Her father was born and raised in Syria, her mother in Canada and California. Although Rema was born in San Francisco, she spent her childhood in Sacramento. “Having a dad who was an immigrant, who moved here at 30, meant that English was his third language. One of the easiest ways for him to learn English was by watching sports. So, throughout my upbringing, I remember my dad always having ESPN or some sports channel on because it helped him learn English because he knew the sport and could relate,” Rema recounts.

“And so, I’ve always been very sports minded. I love sports and staying active. My dad had two girls, but that did not stop him from wanting us to do the things that maybe a typical dad would want their son to do.” Rema played soccer throughout high school, joined the swim team, participated in water polo, and learned to snowboard—all activities her children now enjoy. In fact, she encourages her kids to participate in multiple sports and play outside together regularly. Rema has always maintained an active lifestyle. “I love going to the gym. It really helps with mental clarity and feeling good inside and out.”

Rema’s college years laid the groundwork for her current endeavors, albeit in a roundabout way. She spent her first two years at Sacramento State before transferring to the University of California, Irvine, where she earned a degree in international relations, as they did not offer a business degree. After graduation, Rema contemplated staying in Orange County while working for a land developer. However, she decided to take a shot at studying for the LSAT to see if she could get into law school. She was accepted into McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, which she took as a sign to move back north. As fate would have it, that’s where she met her husband, Kevin, who was also starting there and was from Fresno.

Throughout their dating phase, Kevin was adamant about eventually returning to Fresno. The allure it held for him puzzled Rema. After years of merely driving through the city, her then-husband-to-be brought her to Fresno for a visit and showed her a different perspective. Rema was pleasantly surprised to find how similar Fresno was to her childhood in Sacramento. “There was a sense of home here that I felt really early on,” she recalls. Rema secured an internship and was later offered a job at a family-oriented law firm in Fresno. Both newlyweds practiced law locally and soon started a family. The demands of the legal profession were manageable when it was just the two of them, but after their second son was born, Rema’s career path shifted.

I remember looking at Kevin and saying, ‘We could be ultra-successful, but if we don’t have the time to enjoy life, then what are we doing it for?’” she reflects. “That was the catalyst for us. It was kind of a turning point.” Food, like exercise, has always been another source of fuel for Rema. “When I first moved to Fresno, I definitely did notice a deficiency in the restaurant scene. I would joke at lunch, ‘Where do you go to have a quick salad? Somewhere you can customize your meal?’”

Rema missed the wholesome, build-your-own, fast-grab lunch options that were primarily available in the major cities she had previously lived in and often visited. This realization led to the idea of filling that void: to address this lunchtime need, she helped launch Butterfish California Poke. Heirloom was the following step in that farm-to-table restaurant evolution. Mayd Modern Mediterranean came next, and also serves healthy, customizable fast-food. Most recently, Saizon opened in the fine dining space.

Rema’s roots inform her wellness approach to food. “My dad, missing his homeland, has always been the primary cook in our family, preparing dishes from his childhood and culture. I’ve always seen him cook. He’s a great cook, and I have always enjoyed it to a certain extent,” she shares. “I’m really big on keeping things as natural as possible.” Eating cleanly, prioritizing lean meats, and embracing a veggie-dense approach—in both her restaurants and home kitchen—exemplify this conviction. In the Koligian household, eggs are on the table each morning, and Rema cooks dinner from scratch most nights.

That said, Rema emphasizes the importance of indulgence, especially within the wellness realm. “You can enjoy a veggie-dense, lean protein-style bowl if that’s what you desire, but you can also savor some of the additional toppings that make it a little more indulgent. I’m guilty of that every single time because I believe—in moderation—those indulgences are what make life worth living. For example, our crispy onions are delicious!” she chuckles. “I’m not strict in the sense that you can’t enjoy life—I just want it to be a balance of healthy and enjoyable indulgence.”

“It’s clear that food plays a significant role in Rema’s wellness regimen, but working out is another top priority. “Now that my youngest is in kindergarten and all three kids are in school, I typically work out four days a week,” Rema reveals. “I absolutely love lifting weights. I think I’m at a point in life, as I’m getting older, where weights play a crucial role in helping me feel fit and healthy. So, I’m a big weights girl.” Her best friend is a fitness instructor with an exercise app. Thus, when Rema can’t get to the gym, she follows along with virtual training. “It really sets the tone for my day,” Rema acknowledges. “I’m a morning workout person, and if it doesn’t involve a good sweat and a good pump in the muscles, then I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished enough for the day.”

Sauna time after her workouts has become a cherished self-care ritual. “I aim for a minimum of 20 minutes in the sauna,” Rema shares. “To me, it’s a wonderful way to sweat out everything and, because it’s so hot, to take a moment to really do absolutely nothing. I’m not on my phone. I’m not answering emails. I’m just sitting and allowing my mind to rest while also reaping the health benefits of the heat and sweat. That, right now, is a fan-favorite.”

Another non-negotiable in Rema’s routine? “I’m an avid SPF girlie—I don’t go a day without it. I’m also diligent about washing my face,” she insists. “As someone who has struggled with acne on and off for years, I never go to bed with makeup on. I moisturize and use a vitamin C serum. Those are absolute essentials.” Nighttime moisturizer and eye cream are also indispensable. “I like to use a variety. I think your skin can plateau when you use the same product over and over.” Currently, she’s a fan of the ZO skincare line and products from KaramMD.

There are countless ways to approach aging today. “I genuinely want to age gracefully. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to maintain my skin or look my best. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to take preventative measures against wrinkles,” she clarifies. “I understand that aging is a natural process, and I believe I can navigate it while still feeling and looking like myself. Ultimately, I think that I’m happier that way.”

This year, Rema began using Sculptra, drawn to its natural ability to help build collagen rather than relying on fillers. “I love to mix in quarterly microneedling and ‘baby’ Botox,” she elaborates. “I feel like in today’s society, I joined the Botox train very late,” noting that she started in her mid-30s. “I still want to be me and be expressive. Botox, and now Sculptra, help me feel like I can maintain looking and feeling like the best version of myself. That is something that I really enjoy and like, and am going to continue to pursue.

Laser treatments are another avenue she has explored. “I’ve undergone Opus and IPL laser treatments because of having suffered from acne in my younger years and I developed melasma from having children,” she explains. “The skin discoloration really bothered me, so the IPL laser helped target and lighten those areas, giving me a more even skin tone.”

On a different note, Rema finds peace in decluttering and organizing. “Tidying up my living space brings me mental clarity and a sense of control, which is quite a feat in a family with three kids. For me, it’s a therapeutic process that creates a calmer environment. It helps me realize that less is more—except when it comes to Christmas decorations,” she laughs.

Society has made great strides in how it views beauty and wellness, yet there remains an element of humanity that’s hard to escape. As women, “We’re the ones who look in the mirror and pick ourselves apart. Especially since having a daughter, I’m increasingly aware of how we talk to ourselves and treat ourselves. They’re watching all of that,” she notes. “This awareness has helped me become more loving toward myself, so I can set a good example for her. In today’s world, it’s challenging to tune out the noise of social pressure to look, behave, or appear a certain way—all of which can make you feel inadequate. Based on what standard? At the end of the day, I have a family that loves me and we’re all healthy. I’m so blessed. None of the other stuff matters. It really doesn’t.”

In this social media age, “It’s easy to see quick snapshots or glimpses of someone’s best moments, but most people don’t share their ordinary, mundane, or worst days. Those are the things we hide away,” Rema observes. “If you take yourself too seriously, it’s hard for people to relate to you. If you’re too immersed in social media, it’s also difficult to differentiate between curated, perfect little squares from true reality. Yes, those posts might showcase a wonderful day or moment, but so much of life is not that. If you don’t step back and find a healthy balance—much like with food—if you don’t have moderation, you risk losing touch with reality. So, I strive to be real.”

Rema is real for the world, herself, and her family. As Colton, Bronson, and Keira’s mom, she is committed to leading and living by example. “Ultimately, I want my kids to lead healthy and happy lives,” she asserts. “I want them to feel good about themselves and enjoy life. I hope I’ve instilled in them practices that promote health because I believe health is a factor in beauty and wellness. I strive for all my children to recognize their inherent worth, independent of external validation. This includes avoiding the pursuit of unattainable perfection or falling into the trap of comparison, instead celebrating growth, effort, and the unique differences that make us all special—something often overlooked in daily life.” At the end of the day, “Beauty is about how you treat others.”

Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
Photographer Ellie Koleen
Hair Kimberly Mendez
Makeup Matt Garcia