MTV 'Road Rules' Alumnae Speak Out for Feminism

Veronica Portillo and Rachel Robinson, both stars from MTV's hit series "Real World/Road Rules Challenge," presented a talk about women's issues Thursday, Nov. 2 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Sponsored by the school's programming board, the event drew about 50 people and topics of discussion included eating disorders, misrepresentation of women in the media and women's equality. The two sat down afterwards to talk about life, women and reality TV.


Question: What's it like to be able to travel across the county and speak to students about your life experiences and women's issues?

Rachel Robinson: Well, I started doing it a few years ago and I started doing it about diversity and women's issues and it started taking off. We love what we do. We love going around and meeting college students and we wanted a way to kind of incorporate those core issues and work together and we realized that every time we went to all these campuses - there were all these women - that the pressures of society to meet a certain standard gave us an outlook.

Q: You've been an advocate for the student vote in the past. Why is it so important for students to vote in today's election?

RR: The fact that we do not take advantage of voting is beyond ridiculous. I mean, I actually made it a point before I went on the road this week to vote early because I realized that on the 7th, I wouldn't be in Miami. If you don't vote, you have no say; you have no reason to complain. I'm so opinionated that when I watch something and I see a politician that I don't agree with, I am really passionate about it. I realize that if I don't vote I can't say anything. Honestly, just shut up and sit down because it doesn't matter.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the clothing line you have together.