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Fernanda Rocha may have captivated national audiences when she became the first lesbian cast member of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County, but she's long been prominent in the fitness field. Rocha, who owns The Art of Fitness in Laguna Beach, Calif., came to the U.S. from Brazil when she was only 23, with a few dollars and a dream in her pocket. Today, she says she's living the American dream, while becoming both a fitness guru and an LGBT rights advocate.
In between promoting her apparel line, Jiinga Brasil, and her now-famous workout DVD Brazilian Booty (which is, face it, responsible for half the nice badonkadonks in Hollywood), Rocha is joining in activist efforts like the No H8 campaign and the It Gets Better Project. She has a slew of new projects, including a new series of workout DVDs, an online fitness boot camp, and a daring new public project called Fernanda's Food & Fitness Program. For that, Rocha will offer schoolchildren in her community hands-on activities involving nutrition and fitness.
She says she's living loud and proud and that one day her "life vision" will be complete when she can marry and start a family. We caught up with the original Brazilian babe (FernandaFitness.com) to find out about her plans for world domination.
The Advocate: You
have a lot of things coming up this year. Where to start?
Fernanda Rocha: For
the New Year, we need to start talking about New Year's resolutions right? So
we can start by Fernanda's 2012 Eight Week Body Transformation. It's an online
program, and I have a team working with me, and for anybody that signs up we
are going to provide guided training and nutrition, and a meal plan and
exercise plan, and a 24-hour support team throughout these eight weeks. It
works together with my own supplement line, so they are going to receive the
protein powder, the fat metabolizer, the detox plan -- all of this is part of
the Eight Week Body Transformation. That is one of the big projects that I am
involved in right now.
You've already got a clothing line too, right?
Yes, Jiinga Brasil is a clothing line that I have had
since 2002 -- it's fitness wear.
I'm coming up with a new collection, a bikini line, very soon. That is very exciting news in my world. I want to blend a little bit of Brazil and the United States. I don't know how it's going to be, but I love the whole creativity part of it.
Now tell me more about the project you're doing with
kids. That sounds really progressive.
Together with Fitness World, we are launching a program in
Laguna Beach for kids. It is fitness, food, and fun, and we are
getting the support of the city. We are going to do a workshop to bring awareness
to the kids about staying active.
So you're going to be going to schools?
No, we are basically going to be in community centers, and
kids are going to be part of the workshops. And since it has the food element
together with the fitness and fun, I will work with different restaurants for
every workshop. We are going to invite a chef, so every chef is going to be
part of the food part of the workshop. My intention was to open this for the
underprivileged kids, as well, so we are going to make this a free program to
bring a little bit of knowledge and awareness to the young population. There's
high numbers of obesity, here and especially in Brazil as well. So I think this
is important for me, I want to be involved in this and help in the community I
live in.
Is this an idea that you took to the city, or did they
come to you?
Well, I always had the desire to give back, but I always
thought that I had to wait for the right time, and then I realized that I am
never going to [know] the right time -- when it is quiet? When I have more
money? So I decided that time is now.
The reality is we have to do it now, because this is part of what I want to
create for my life. So there was an event in Laguna, and I was talking to a
person who works at the Chamber of Commerce, and I was sharing with her what I
wanted to do, and she loved it. So we have been preparing for about six months,
and we finally finalized everything and we are going to open the program in
January.
How many workshops will there be?
We are going to start with two workshops a month. And the
fun element needs to be incorporated for kids, because it is not about going to
the gym or being fit, it's about being active and how being active can really
make you feel good. It's about kids feeling good, which has to do with the type
of nutrition that you put in your body as well. That is such an important topic
and knowledge that I hope I can help with.
When you were in Brazil growing up, did you have any idea
that you would be where you are today?
I had an idea that I would be doing something with movement
-- movement, dancing, or sports, because I love to dance, and when I was little
I wanted to play soccer. I was very active and always searching for little
things to do. So I always knew that my body would be more of the right side,
the creativity part in creating things, the way we connect with the body. With
that I decided to get a kinesiology degree from Brazil, and I started teaching
physical education. I went to the gyms and I started creating fitness programs
in the gyms. I found my world. I said this
is what I want to do. So I started training clients and doing personal
training, and soon I got into a university. I taught for a couple of years at
schools. Being at the gym was my thing; I managed some health clubs, and I said
to myself, One day I will have my own little studio, teach classes,
create programs, and be involved with movement and feel good about it.
So you came to the U.S. when you were 23 years old. What
was the transition like?
Yeah, I came by myself. I saved my money back in Brazil. I
decided that I wanted to learn more; my number 1 thing was to learn more
about the fitness world. And I always dreamed about the U.S., watching the
movies, thinking, Oh, I want to be in Los Angeles. I made one contact and I got my things and just came here knowing no
English. I taught myself English. I never went to schools to learn English. I
made great contacts in the fitness industry, and I knocked on the door of the
big clubs and I was like, Wow, I can't believe I'm here. So I asked them if I could share my Brazilian
expertise with them and my techniques, and from one health club to another to
another, the doors started to open up for me ... and my life started to unfold
here. I found that it took me a long time to embrace the culture and a lot of
the differences. I miss Brazil a lot and I still do, but this is where I choose
my life. I am doing what I want to do, and I have the privilege to stay in
touch with my friends and family back in Brazil. I became a U.S. citizen last
year, so I have the best of both worlds. I really feel like I'm living the
American dream.
Do we view fitness differently here than you do in
Brazil?
There are differences, but I cannot generalize; it depends
on where you live.
You were grand marshal of Chicago's LGBT Pride parade this year.
Yes, what an experience. There were thousands of people, and
I was literally overwhelmed but at the same time I was looking at everyone
and the connection, the way they embraced the idea of being happy and being
proud of being yourself -- that for me was the main point. It was happy and real
experience for me, because I was never around so many [LGBT] people and I
didn't know how they would perceive me. Some of them recognized me from the
show, even though that wasn't the main point, but just the connection of me
being a lesbian and me being out there and putting a good message about just
embracing myself and being happy. We are not different than anybody. And
any time I have that opportunity to do it, I will do it with an open heart and a
smile on my face.
I noticed that you were visible with a couple of causes
this year -- you posed for the NoH8 campaign and It Gets Better, and you were
there for the Matthew Shepard anniversary memorial. Why is that important to
you?
Because I want to be happy 100%. I want people to treat me equally and look at me in the same way that they look at my brother, that they cannot see any difference. So for me it's about us putting together our belief in terms of let's just be out there and not look at the differences, just show respect for others. I would like to have the same respect as someone who chooses to have a relationship with a person of the opposite sex. I think the more people see us out there, the more they will see that we are the same, we are human beings, we have the same heart, organs. It will get better.
You mentioned that people do know you for becoming the
first lesbian on The Real Housewives of Orange County. What did you get from being on that show?
It was a good learning experience, because I was going
through a hard time in my life emotionally, going through a breakup, and I had
to meet the cast members and people I was connecting with, and I had to make
choices about not to talk about everything on-air. That was very hard for me
because of who I was back then, so I grew a lot, but I chose to hold back a lot
of things. Unfortunately, the message that went out there about Fernanda,
people didn't really get to know about who I am, because I chose to not really talk about everything that I was experiencing.
But today, I am in a totally different phase of my life. I believe a
lot of people today are like, Shh, don't do this, don't say that, and you get to the point that you don't know what
to do. I won't do that anymore from now on; if I can share more about what
happened back then or what happened to me through the process, I will. I say,
don't be afraid to speak out. So I learned a lot of how I would handle some
situations from now on.
Did it change you in other ways?
In the end, being on the show opened doors for me to
connect with people and get involved in a lot of organizations that really
support equality. So for me it was a great experience as well as great
exposure, to do what I believe I am meant to do. In terms of business as well,
I am still connected in fitness and I got great opportunities through the show,
so I see both sides of it. But it was not an easy experience. But on the same
note, you might see more of me on TV very soon.
You can't tell me more? That is such a tease.
No, I can't. But you'll probably get to see more of the real
Fernanda soon. [Laughs]
Who is your fan base at this point? Do you have any hard-core devotees?
For me it's so general. I have a lot of support from the gay
community, a lot of clients from the fitness groups, so I don't have a specific
group, and I am very open, I try not to stay in one little bubble. For me its
all about being loving and caring about everyone. So I think my connections in
general, people have been very nice with me, with who I am.
Are there other women whose careers you admire?
I have a personality that I can admire what she does in her
life. For me it's not even in fitness, but when I talk about my life and who I
am today, it's about being a big dreamer. For me it's Oprah. Because I totally
believe that you don't have to have money to be happy. You don't have to have
this or have that. You are able to create your life and you can come from
nothing. And I see myself going through that, and you have to do it with a lot
of faith, a lot of faith, determination, dedication. It's not easy, but it's very
possible. And I think this is such a powerful message, and when I see or read
about Oprah and what she does, it touches my heart and I feel that I am doing a
lot in my own little world. But going through that path of creating and
believing and having faith and finding who you are, come and bring the best
of you, and having it come back to you -- I am a true believer in that.
It seems like a lot of straight women are attracted to
you. Why is that? Do you think they usually understand that for you this isn't
just experimentation?
Straight or gay -- it doesn't matter. If there is a
connection or attraction and in that moment something happens, whether it's a
kiss or more, they shouldn't be afraid to acknowledge that. When you dismiss
your experience, which may be a lifestyle for someone else, you are
disrespecting someone else's way, choice, community, challenge, family, etc.
Take responsibility for your actions. I don't want anyone to feel shushed,
discriminated against, or bullied. I'm strong and can handle this, but now I want to
take my experiences and knowledge and turn it into a responsibility and be a role
model for other people who are confused, questioning, not out, who feel so alone. I want to help people --
including our own community -- to treat each other equally. Too many games are
played and not enough pieces are put together to give us a valuable prop.
Are you still single?
No, I found love. Oh, it's such an amazing thing. I am truly
there -- so connected, so in love. And she's an amazing person. You will
see more about her too.
You're not giving anything away today.
No, all I can tell you is that love is here, and it is for
real.
I know that was something that is really important to
you.
Yes, thank you. We are already talking about
the big plans for the new year, so I am very excited about 2012. You'll see.
[Laughs]
deliciousdiane
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Diane Anderson-Minshall
Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.
Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.