Unless you've been under a rock (and some folks have), you know about super cute Dani Campbell who stole the show on MTV's A Shot at Love. Dykediva correspondent Elizabeth Dean caught up with Dani and asked her about life after A Shot at Love.
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You must be in someplace warm.
Dani: Yes, it’s so nice out, beautiful.
Not like Chicago.
Yeah, it's really nice outside today. Sorry for the bells in the background, it's an ice-cream truck, it's really annoying.
Well it kind of adds to the atmosphere, I wish I was there.
Yeah, I'm just rubbing it in.
Yeah. So you are going to the Dinah Shore this year.
Yes I am. Very exciting.
Have you been before, just as a regular person?
I went last year for the first time and had a lot of fun and now I'm going back as a participant, I guess.
What do you know you will be doing?
I’ll be part of a fashion show at the pool party, I guess, and then I don't know what they have exactly planned for me, but with Club Skirts, I will be with them. So, you know, I'm sure I will be having
fun.
I'm going this year for my first time.
Oh really? It is a lot of fun. There are a lot of activities. It’s a good time. And the weather was awesome last year as well. That should be good for you, get out of cold Chicago.
I'm going with seven friends from Chicago and they keep adding more. The more people hear about it they are like, "Yes, we’ve got to go someplace warm as soon as possible. This sounds great.:" I heard that Tila Tequila was going to be at the Dinah Shore this year.
Yeah, that's what I heard. I haven't talked to her, we don't talk, but that's what I heard, that she is going to be there. It will be interesting.
Yeah, what do you think?
I don't know really, to be honest with you. I don't know. Like, "Okay. See you there." Like we haven't talked or whatever, so I don't know. Strange.
How about things from your perspective after the finale show was taped?
After it was taped? Meaning after it aired?
After it taped and after it was aired, what were you going through?
After it was taped, I just went home. It was a big change 'cause [before there was] everybody, cameras on my face, and people, and I was in some strange place, and then all of a sudden, you know, Bam! I'm back at home. And so it took some adjusting, even though I was only gone for like five weeks but I couldn’t talk to anybody. It was weird. All my friends wanted to know is "what happened?" and it's like I went away on some great vacation and I couldn't talk about it. But after it finally aired at the end, I was fine. I was living my life, going out, whatever, and I can finally talk about everything.
How much time passed between the taping of the finale and the airing?
We finished taping the first week of September and then it aired December 18th, I think. Finally, the finale. So, yeah, it was a long time. But it got kind of fun. Everybody wanted to know and I'm the only one with the answer. So it was like, I had it for ransom or something. I got to tease everybody.
My friends really got into it. We all got on board once it was down to about five people or so. Then we started to talking to each other about it. And we all went back and watched all the previous episodes on the Internet.
Yeah, it's crazy hearing everybody. They are like, "I cried at the finale" and people really got into it. They got really emotional.
Well, you showed a really emotional side of yourself.
Yeah, yeah.
You seemed really, really sincere and touching.
When I watched it, I was like, "Jesus, what a mess" at the end. I don't usually open up like that. So to do it on TV, it was the first, I guess, for everything.
Since it's on the Internet, where are some of the most surprising places you found out that you have fans?
I got a phone call -- one of my coworkers was like, "Hey, my family lives in Greece and they’re watching your show and they love you and they want to say, 'Hi' or whatever." I was like, "What?" So that was surprising, Greece. So that was cool. I think it's airing right now in Australia and Canada and France and stuff like that. So I wonder what's going on over there, if I'm getting the same response that I got here.
I wonder if they have to dub it or subtitle it in France.
I know...I wonder what I sound like in French. (laughs)
Do you have any follow-up relationship with any of the housemates?
Domenico and I keep in touch. We hit it off really well and I enjoy his simpleness. He’s just very unique and honest and he’s just fun. He's a lot of fun. We still keep in touch and he just got done filming his show and I think that airs pretty soon, if it’s not already started.
Do you have any stories you can share about anything unusual that has happened with fans since you’ve have been on TV?
It's weird when you go from being just a normal person to almost like movie-star status. I mean, people really react to me. I don't get it still -- you know what I mean. You just don't get it why people are really very emotional when they see me sometimes. So for me, at first, it was kind of scary, you know. 'Cause you just have all these random people coming up to you, "Oh we love you, love you, love you, love you." It's crazy. It's great. I mean, at the same time, it's awesome. It's a great feeling, but you know, it's overwhelming to go from being just an everyday person to some..., you know, wherever you go people are staring and talking and want pictures and stuff like that.
So, I guess, some of the crazier things like when people get super emotional, like fanatical. There have been fights in clubs that I go to. Like when they get really pushy. The girls are just so crazy. Cops have had to remove some of them. So that's when it gets crazy. Like those are some of the crazy parts. But other than that, it's just people and they want to say "Hi" and take pictures just for me being myself. It's interesting, you know. Because people were ready to see someone they can relate to on TV instead of someone super crazy.
Another question I have is, since being on the show, what has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge since being on the show, I guess, is being normal. Like having my normal routine back and everything like that. Like I don't have a routine anymore, you know. It's getting used to the new lifestyle I guess. That's my biggest challenge right now.
What's your biggest reward?
My biggest reward, I guess...the good feeling from it all is when somebody comes up to me and tells me that I have changed their life. Like I have given them the courage to be themselves or come out or talk to their parents. Or, after 30 years of being married finally being like, "Look I'm gay" or something like that. Like that's probably the most rewarding feeling out of all of this.
Yeah, definitely.
Uh-huh.
So to change the subject, you are still a firefighter.
I am.
And was this something you always wanted to do? Or how old were you when you knew that you wanted to be a firefighter?
I was pretty young, I guess, in high school. I guess, in high school I knew and then after high school I went to college. I got softball scholarships. I took my time. I knew I wanted to do it and finally got all the schooling done and I got a college education in the same time for free. So then after I was done with school and finished my paramedic stuff, I jumped into it, I guess, when I was 25. And I’ve been doing it since then, about three years now. I kind of always knew; it's like perfect to me. So that's a scary thing, too. Like if I'm juggling that, and traveling, and all of these new stuff, you know?
So what were you like when you were in high school? How would you describe yourself?
Oh God, in high school? I think my mom described it best: Like "a little shit". So pretty much, that’s it.
I can see that.
Yeah, I was always in trouble and a typical high school brat, I guess. And then, thank god for my mom's teachings and blessings and taking care of me. I turned out all right.
Yeah. You got your diploma so you could go to college. That's good.
Right, right.
So, do you feel like a role model?
I would like to be, because I think more people should have an outlook on life like, "Embrace it". Like, "“Be proud of who they are", and they don't. I am like "I don't have a problem with it", I think that if I can be in a spotlight, and if I'm helping people then, yeah, I guess, I am like a role model.
Another thing, one of the final challenges on "A Shot at Love" was to write a song.
Oh yeah, my rap?
You really did a good job. What part does music play in your life?
When I was younger I took eight years of piano...so I have always been into music and I really enjoy music. Then I taught myself the guitar. I play with that every once in a while. And then I used to bartend and on slower nights, when they had open mike nights and stuff, I would get up on stage. I'm no stranger to the stage, I guess. I would make up my own music and rap about people and just do silly stuff. So when she gave us that challenge, it was right up my alley.
So is it just something for fun? Do you ever want to do it more seriously?
What's that? The singing stuff? Oh, I would love to be a professional musician, fine. And get paid, like who wouldn't? But I just don't have the credentials to do the voice. I don't think I'm too bad, but no one is going to pay me to sing for them, I'm sure.
What about the line of clothing you have in mind, "Futch Apparel"?
Yeah, that's really in its first stages I guess. It's a lot of work, it's more than I even knew. But I have a business partner and we’re working diligently on that -- just trying to get it launched. We want to come out with a capsule launch -- which is there are a few items. To get something out there. It's going to be like six teeshirts hopefully by the end of March, beginning of April. And then by the end of the year have more items in the line -- like a full line.
Okay.
So hopefully by the end of March we will have some shirts out, at least.
You think over the Internet or in boutiques?
We will have an Internet site mostly. That's how we will be doing most of the sales and then when we come out with the majority, you know, bigger pieces or bigger lines more complete, we will try to branch out to the boutiques. Local boutiques and stuff like that. But online is so accessible to everybody. Easy.
There is a local Chicago company that does a lot of stuff online "Dykes in the City". They are probably going to be at Dinah Shore, as well.
Oh yeah.
So, what do you know now that you wish you had known then -- before the TV show?
"What do I know now?" Is that a trick question?
No, no.
No, no, no, I know. "What do I know now that I didn't" -- I don't know, I guess, nothing really.
Okay, that's fine.
Dani: Nothing pops into my head.
Anything you want to say to Chicago, us here in Chicago?
I can't wait to come visit. I have a gig set up there this month or the beginning of next month. Somewhere like that. I don't have my schedule in front of me. It’s crazy. But I have never been and I heard it's a great city. So I am going to go do my appearance there and then stay for a little while and hang out.
Were you able to travel much before?
No, I didn't do much traveling. Because I was just an underpaid firefighter. So I was just on a pretty normal schedule and now I'm traveling everywhere. I don't get to party much. That's what I'm doing, I'm appearing at clubs but, you know, I don't get to have much downtime and I really enjoy these places.
Right.
So that's what I'm hoping I can do in Chicago.
Thanks for your time, and hopefully we'll see ya at the Dinah!
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Dani will be appearing at The Dinah 2008, sponsored by Club Skirts and Planet Out. For info - http://www.clubskirts.com/
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