Rachel Campos-Duffy
Encyclopedia
Rachel Campos-Duffy is an American television personality who first gained fame in 1994 as a castmate on the MTV
reality television
series The Real World: San Francisco
, before becoming a TV host, most notably as a recurring guest host on the ABC
talk show The View.
. She has two brothers, one of whom is named Patrick, and a sister named Julie. She was raised in a strict, Catholic home.
Campos graduated from Arizona State University
in December 1993 with a degree in Economics
. She was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Graduate Fellowship, which she had planned to use to attend graduate school, with the goal of being a college professor.
in January 1994, and lived in the house on Russian Hill in San Francisco with her six housemates from February 12 to June 19. The season premiered on July 6, 1994.
Although the castmates were informed ahead of time that they would be living with someone who was HIV
-positive, they were not informed which housemate it would be. On the cast's first night in the house, Campos’ housemate, AIDS
educator Pedro Zamora
, informed the housemates that he had AIDS by showing them his scrapbook of his career as an HIV educator. Campos felt uncomfortable and initially distanced herself from Zamora, stating that she wanted to know how his health status would affect her. However, she said nothing to the other housemates for fear of appearing homophobic
. Although Zamora took this as an act of rejection on her part, the two eventually became friends, with Zamora traveling to Arizona with Campos to visit her family.
During her time on the series, she had both a romantic relationship and tumultuous friendship with housemate David "Puck" Rainey
. Judd Winick
attributed this attraction on her part to her taste for rebellious men, or "bad boys". Campos conceded this, and admitted that she was sometimes an initial bad judge of character, and too trusting. Campos' friendship with Rainey eventually dissolved, as did Rainey's friendship with the rest of the cast, resulting in his eviction. Campos subsequently became best friends with Rainey's replacement, Joanna Rhodes, and the two of them were referred to by Winick as "high maintenance twins".
On the show and in MTV's promotional materials for the show, Campos was depicted as a passionate Republican, whose heroes included Jack Kemp
, and as a Catholic, though she conceded her strict religious upbringing fostered within her a rebellious streak that sometimes brought her into conflict with her parents. Her political viewpoints led to conflict with her housemates on more than one occasion, as when Mohammed Bilal ridiculed the Republican housing ideas that she expressed in Episode 3. In Episode 12, after Campos invited her housemates to a College Republicans
function, self-described liberal Winick opined that the speakers at the function were sexist, homophobic, and racist, a view to which Campos objected as unfair.
, along with alumni of other past Real World seasons, such as Sean Duffy
of the Real World: Boston cast.
She twice vied for a role on the daytime television talk show
The View. After Debbie Matenopoulos
left the show in 1999, Campos competed in an on-air try-out with Lisa Ling
and Lauren Sánchez
. Ling was eventually hired. After Ling's departure in 2002, Campos, who by then held her own "coffee talk" show with other Wisconsin housewives, again competed in a week-long on-air try-out, this time against Erin Hershey Presley
and Elisabeth Hasselbeck
. Hasselbeck was hired.
Campos-Duffy was also one of ten Real World alumni who starred in The Wedding Video
, a Real World parody centered on the wedding of first season alumnus Norman Korpi
.
Campos later married her Road Rules: All Stars
costar, Sean Duffy
, They live in Ashland, Wisconsin
, where Duffy was the District Attorney
of Ashland County and is currently a Republican member of Congress. They have six children as of April 2010: Evita Pilar (October 1st, 1999), Xavier Jack(November 2001), Lucia-Belen (April 2004), John-Paul, Paloma Pilar (May 18th, 2008) and MariaVictoria Margarita (April 1st, 2010).
, Nick Oceano's 2008 film dramatizing Pedro Zamora
's life, Campos-Duffy is portrayed by Karolin Luna.
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series The Real World: San Francisco
The Real World: San Francisco
The Real World: San Francisco is the third season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships...
, before becoming a TV host, most notably as a recurring guest host on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
talk show The View.
Early life
Rachel Campos was born in Tempe, ArizonaTempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
. She has two brothers, one of whom is named Patrick, and a sister named Julie. She was raised in a strict, Catholic home.
Campos graduated from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in December 1993 with a degree in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. She was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Graduate Fellowship, which she had planned to use to attend graduate school, with the goal of being a college professor.
The Real World: San Francisco
Campos was cast on The Real World: San FranciscoThe Real World: San Francisco
The Real World: San Francisco is the third season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships...
in January 1994, and lived in the house on Russian Hill in San Francisco with her six housemates from February 12 to June 19. The season premiered on July 6, 1994.
Although the castmates were informed ahead of time that they would be living with someone who was HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
-positive, they were not informed which housemate it would be. On the cast's first night in the house, Campos’ housemate, AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
educator Pedro Zamora
Pedro Zamora
Pedro Pablo Zamora was a Cuban-American AIDS educator and television personality...
, informed the housemates that he had AIDS by showing them his scrapbook of his career as an HIV educator. Campos felt uncomfortable and initially distanced herself from Zamora, stating that she wanted to know how his health status would affect her. However, she said nothing to the other housemates for fear of appearing homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
. Although Zamora took this as an act of rejection on her part, the two eventually became friends, with Zamora traveling to Arizona with Campos to visit her family.
During her time on the series, she had both a romantic relationship and tumultuous friendship with housemate David "Puck" Rainey
David Rainey
David "Puck" Rainey is a reality television personality who first gained fame as a cast member on The Real World: San Francisco in 1994. A bicycle messenger during the show's shooting, he became notorious as the second Real World cast member ever to be evicted from the house, due to his...
. Judd Winick
Judd Winick
Judd Winick is an American comic book, comic strip and television writer/artist and former reality television personality...
attributed this attraction on her part to her taste for rebellious men, or "bad boys". Campos conceded this, and admitted that she was sometimes an initial bad judge of character, and too trusting. Campos' friendship with Rainey eventually dissolved, as did Rainey's friendship with the rest of the cast, resulting in his eviction. Campos subsequently became best friends with Rainey's replacement, Joanna Rhodes, and the two of them were referred to by Winick as "high maintenance twins".
On the show and in MTV's promotional materials for the show, Campos was depicted as a passionate Republican, whose heroes included Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
, and as a Catholic, though she conceded her strict religious upbringing fostered within her a rebellious streak that sometimes brought her into conflict with her parents. Her political viewpoints led to conflict with her housemates on more than one occasion, as when Mohammed Bilal ridiculed the Republican housing ideas that she expressed in Episode 3. In Episode 12, after Campos invited her housemates to a College Republicans
College Republicans
The College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
function, self-described liberal Winick opined that the speakers at the function were sexist, homophobic, and racist, a view to which Campos objected as unfair.
After The Real World
Campos later appeared on Road Rules: All StarsRoad Rules: All Stars
Road Rules: All Stars is the first season and original title of the MTV reality television game show, The Challenge. The first season of the show premiered on June 1st, 1998.-Format:...
, along with alumni of other past Real World seasons, such as Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy (Wisconsin)
Sean Patrick Duffy is an American politician, prosecutor, former sports commentator and reality television personality. He first entered public life as a cast member on The Real World: Boston and 2002's Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons, before going on to serve as district...
of the Real World: Boston cast.
She twice vied for a role on the daytime television talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
The View. After Debbie Matenopoulos
Debbie Matenopoulos
Thespina "Debbie" Matenopoulos is an American television personality and actress.- Early life :Matenopoulos was born in Richmond, Virginia, of Greek ancestry. Her birth name is Despina Matenopoulos, named after her grandmother...
left the show in 1999, Campos competed in an on-air try-out with Lisa Ling
Lisa Ling
Lisa J. Ling is a Chinese American journalist, best known for her role as a co-host of ABC's The View , host of National Geographic Explorer, reporter on Channel One News, and special correspondent for the Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN. She is the older sister of journalist Laura Ling.-Early...
and Lauren Sánchez
Lauren Sánchez
Lauren Sanchez is an award-winning American news anchor, entertainment reporter, and media personality. She was the weekend anchor and special correspondent on Extra. She is also a co-host on KTTV Fox-11's Good Day LA and the station's top-rated "Ten o'clock News." Sánchez is also a regular...
. Ling was eventually hired. After Ling's departure in 2002, Campos, who by then held her own "coffee talk" show with other Wisconsin housewives, again competed in a week-long on-air try-out, this time against Erin Hershey Presley
Erin Hershey Presley
Erin Hershey Presley is an American actress.-Career:The actress is most known for her role as Alison Barrington on the canceled American soap opera Port Charles...
and Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Elisabeth Hasselbeck is an American television talk show host and television personality. She was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback and is a current co-host on the daytime talk show The View .-Early life:...
. Hasselbeck was hired.
Campos-Duffy was also one of ten Real World alumni who starred in The Wedding Video
The Wedding Video
The Wedding Video is a mockumentary film in the genre of gay and lesbian comedy, starring, directed, and written by Norman Korpi. Filmed in 1998 and completed in 2001 it was not released until 2003 by TLA Video....
, a Real World parody centered on the wedding of first season alumnus Norman Korpi
Norman Korpi
Norman Korpi is an American painter, fashion designer, film maker and reality television star. He is best known for being one of the original cast members/roommates on the first season of the MTV reality show The Real World....
.
Personal life
After her stint on The Real World ended, while the fifth season of the show (set in Miami) was being filmed, Campos was in a serious car accident. She sustained injuries to her leg, and the other passengers in the car, including her fiancé at the time, a producer for The Real World, were killed.Campos later married her Road Rules: All Stars
Road Rules: All Stars
Road Rules: All Stars is the first season and original title of the MTV reality television game show, The Challenge. The first season of the show premiered on June 1st, 1998.-Format:...
costar, Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy (Wisconsin)
Sean Patrick Duffy is an American politician, prosecutor, former sports commentator and reality television personality. He first entered public life as a cast member on The Real World: Boston and 2002's Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons, before going on to serve as district...
, They live in Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland is a city in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon Bay. The population was 8,695 at the 2010 census....
, where Duffy was the District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Ashland County and is currently a Republican member of Congress. They have six children as of April 2010: Evita Pilar (October 1st, 1999), Xavier Jack(November 2001), Lucia-Belen (April 2004), John-Paul, Paloma Pilar (May 18th, 2008) and MariaVictoria Margarita (April 1st, 2010).
In popular culture
In PedroPedro (film)
Pedro is a 2008 American film about the openly gay, Cuban-American AIDS educator and television personality, Pedro Zamora, who became famous as a castmember on MTV's reality television series, The Real World: San Francisco. It was produced by Bunim-Murray Productions, the same company that produces...
, Nick Oceano's 2008 film dramatizing Pedro Zamora
Pedro Zamora
Pedro Pablo Zamora was a Cuban-American AIDS educator and television personality...
's life, Campos-Duffy is portrayed by Karolin Luna.
Filmography
- The View - Episode: October 12 (2009) Guest Co-Host
- The View - Episode: November 4 (2003) Guest Co-Host
- The Wedding VideoThe Wedding VideoThe Wedding Video is a mockumentary film in the genre of gay and lesbian comedy, starring, directed, and written by Norman Korpi. Filmed in 1998 and completed in 2001 it was not released until 2003 by TLA Video....
(2003) - The Real World Movie: The Lost Season (2002)
- The Real World Reunion 2000 (2000)
- The Real World You Never Saw: Boston + Seattle (1998)
- Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Road Rules: All-Stars (1998)
- The Real World You Never Saw (1997)
- The Real World Reunion: Inside Out (1996)
- The Real World Reunion (1995)
- The Real World Vacations: Behind the Scenes (1995) Hostess
- The Real World: San Francisco (1994)