An Interview with RACHEL FRIMER
VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION, MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION


by Rafa Delfin



RAFA: Tell us a little about yourself, where you came from, and what's a nice girl like you doing in a big and crazy place like New York City?

RACHEL: I was born and raised right outside of NYC, my father owned his own business in midtown for over 25 years. I have been coming into NYC for as long as I can remember. I am very partial to New Yorkers.

I have always worked in the entertainment industry. Live music, live theatre , so live television seemed like the logical next step.

RAFA: Now that we got that out of the way (LOL), tell us who the real Rachel Frimer is and why did the Miss Universe Organization hire her?

RACHEL: Paula Shugart and I are longtime business associates and friends. We have always had a great deal of respect for one another’s work and have always tried to have fun while working hard. When she needed a head of production she reached out to me. The best part of this story is that when Paula called me, she was on a float in a parade in Puerto Rico celebrating Denise Quinones’ homecoming.

As far as who the real Rachel Frimer is, you might be better served asking the people with whom I work. I do think I am fair, I can usually find the humor in most things and I like to fly below the radar.

RAFA: What is the best part of your job? The worst? Which MUO pageant has been the most challenging to produce so far and why?

RACHEL: The best part of my job are the people that I work with. I have known many of them for most of my television career. Obviously, traveling the world and being able to spend a lot of time in various cultures is a true gift. I now have friends worldwide and amazing life experiences - good and not as good.

The worst part is being away from home for long periods of time and jet lag, of course.

Each pageant is challenging in it’s own way. Sometimes just the language barrier can exhaust you but somehow we always make it happen and the host country/city truly becomes a partner in the production. In the end, people are not so different and you can usually find common ground.

RAFA: To people who are seeking to follow your line of work, what advice would you give them?

RACHEL: Be willing to start at the bottom. Get coffee, if something needs to be hauled and lifted to get the production moving forward then do it, ask questions but try not to ask the same ones over and over again. You have to be a little brave to go into such an unorthodoxed business and so being willing to take chances is important. Also, learn how to read blueprints and function on very little sleep.

RAFA: What is it like working with Paula Shugart? Be honest! LOL

RACHEL: Since Paula has a deep television production background I always need to make sure that I am at the top of my game. She knows the questions to ask of a Line Producer. Also, before becoming President of MUO she had my job in the company so she knows what it entails. She has proven to be a good sounding board for me because of that. Paula is honest and has a great sense of humor.

RAFA: Describe a typical day for you.

RACHEL: There truly is no such thing. Sometimes I am on a plane or in another city or country surveying potential sites. Sometimes I am giving speeches and sometimes I am completely focused on building the show budgets. I work closely with the Executive Producer, Director and all the design teams. My department hires all the technical and operational crew. Obviously, the key to this is to hire great department heads and work closely with them on all aspects. These enormous productions require the hard work of many, many people. We work with the cream of the crop of the television, event and production industry.

RAFA: Which entertainers would you like to see perform someday in Trump's pageants?

RACHEL: One of my favorite parts of the telecast is learning about new music talent. When I worked at MTV I got to know a lot of great music that I otherwise might not have. I got it by osmosis, just being around it. It is sort of the same thing for me here.

RAFA: Your job allows you to travel to different countries. If you were to retire and live in any of these countries, which would you pick and why?

RACHEL: The United States, New York is home. I have lived in other places but I always wind up back in NY.

RAFA: What one question - that no one has asked you before – you wish would people ask you and what would you respond to this question?

RACHEL: This is a very good question and I honestly cannot come up with an answer. You have stumped me.

RAFA: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

RACHEL: I have never lived that way. There would be no way for me to have planned this life of mine thus far. I think that if one takes care of the people in their lives, their health and their money, and, if you are always willing to learn, opportunities will present themselves.

RAFA: What message would you like to give to our Critical Beauty readers?

RACHEL: Thank you for your support!

PHOTO CREDIT: Miss Universe Organization


JANUARY 2010

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