Hot diggity dog!

Driving across the United States always has been one of Magaly Estrella’s dreams, but she never imagined she would be doing it in a MINI Cooper outfitted with giant hot dog on top of it.

Estrella ’08 was named an official 2008-’09 Oscar Mayer Hotdogger in March after a series of interviews that began in February when Oscar Mayer representatives visited Biscayne Bay Campus.

She received an invitation to visit the company’s Wisconsin headquarters, where she was asked about her leadership experiences, which include serving as the vice president of programs for the Association for Women in Communications student chapter at FIU in 2007-’08 and as an event coordinator for the BBC Student Organizations Council.

Soon after, the 23-year-old Golden Panther found out she would become one of 14 students in the country selected each year to serve as a spokesperson for Oscar Mayer. The company picked 14 Hotdoggers from a pool of 30 finalists. One thousand people applied for positions this year.

“I was surprised. I never thought I would do this in my life,” she said in a recent phone interview. “I get to go on a road trip across the country and participate in special events like Calle Ocho and golf tournaments.”

Estrella currently is in Wisconsin for a two-week training period at Oscar Mayer’s Hot Dog High. She will learn about the company’s public relations practices and how to drive the MINI-Wienermobile. Then, she will hit the road for one year as a Hotdogger.

“I won’t be going west of the Rockies, but I’m really looking forward to going to Boston and Philadelphia,” she said. “This is the MINI-Wienermobile’s first tour and after a few months I will start driving the larger model.”

Of course, paramount to her new role is a taste for Oscar Mayer wieners.

“I do like hot dogs,” she said. “With mustard, with ketchup. With relish. Sometimes with chili.”

Part of Americana

One of the United States’ most iconic attractions, the Wienermobile was created in 1936 to promote Oscar Mayer products at grocery stores across the Midwest.

As the company grew, the Wienermobile continued traveling from coast to coast until 1970. Then, in 1986, on the 50th anniversary of its first run, the Wienermobile went on tour again, and it has been on a roll ever since. As Estrella makes her way, whistling the Oscar Mayer jingle, she will become part of this tradition and gain hands-on public relations experience.

“My friends and family laugh at me sometimes, but they understand this is a great opportunity for me,” she said.

Her duties not only include giving away Wienermobile key chains and T-shirts and whistles, but also creating affinity for the Oscar Mayer brand.

Once her one-year stint as a Hotdogger is up, Estrella, who graduated in April with a major in liberal studies and a minor in communication, plans to either stay with the company or go into advertising, marketing and public relations.

But up first, a hot diggity dog of a road trip.

— Martin Haro
Editorial Services

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