By Lya Carrera
Bay Windows Contributor
Published Newspaper: Bay Windows
Online Version Published Date: March 6, 2008
Online Verison Printed Date: March 6, 2008
Tila Tequila may not have chosen Dani Campbell in the totally unexpected finale of A Shot At Love, but that hasn’t stopped the firefighter-turned-reality-TV-contestant from becoming a bona fide lesbian celebrity. And neither did the cold temperature nor the buckets of snow stop the hordes of infatuated girls from coming out to see her when she visited downtown nightclub Pure on Feb. 29.
Although doors opened at 10 p.m., there were already more than 60 people braving the weather and waiting outside the club by 9:45 p.m. Most of those 60 people were, unsurprisingly, 20-something women who seemed to have a soft spot for the be-dimpled Campbell.
“I came here to see Dani Campbell because I think she’s really cute,” said 21-year-old Stephanie Perez. “I was rooting for her the whole entire show.”
Up until recently, no one knew who Campbell, a 29-year-old firefighter from Florida, was. But after she made it to the final round of A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila, MTV’s latest reality TV experiment involving a former pin-up girl questioning her sexuality - and lost to the vapid and not nearly as cute boy, Bobby - everyone knows who Dani Campbell is. And everyone, evidently, wants to touch her.
“It’s always like this at the clubs,” she said, talking with Bay Windows during the event, of the throngs of excited fans. Campbell said that while she has taken all of it in stride, she definitely needed to adjust her lifestyle a bit.
“At first, it was a little shocking because I wasn’t prepared. I’m really big on personal space but that’s gone,” she said. “People feel like they know me, so they touch, hug, and kiss me. Now I know what to expect, so I just embrace it.”
Campbell’s appearance at Pure, which was sponsored by LesbianNightLife.com, was just one stop on a tour that has her criss-crossing the lesbian nation, and the ladies turned out en masse in Boston. Beth McGurr, the promoter of Pure: Fridays, a weekly lesbian night, said that the club was at capacity by 11:30 that night and was busier than they had expected.
“There were some very happy young women,” said McGurr. “We hope to continue to bring different celebrities to Boston because I think it would add something new, different, and exciting to the scene.”
While it may have been a near-blizzard outside the club, inside it was summer come way early. Two lifeguard chairs sat at the front of the stage while club dancers clad in bikini outfits drummed up the crowds with hula-hoops and beach balls. The playful energy reached a fever pitch of clapping and whistling when Campbell took the stage. She gamely serenaded - along with the rest of the crowd - a lucky birthday girl who was brought onstage. Later, fans quickly shuffled to form a line for some individual face time with the self-described “futch,” or butch-femme hybrid lesbian, which is how Campbell affectionately refers to herself.
Only the first 100 people through the door got the chance to meet Campbell, which means more than a few fans went home disappointed. The lucky ones walked away with an autographed photo of their very own and some even left with “Dani” scrawled on their t-shirts and arms. Meanwhile, security was frequently challenged by sneaky fans trying to get onstage and a few who were allowed to be there had to be escorted off after hogging too much time with the amiable Campbell.
“If it was up to me, I would have let everyone meet her, but Campbell can only sign so many autographs,” said McGurr.
Those who did meet Campbell were not disappointed. “I feel awesome,” said Dasen Woitkowski, 26, flush with excitement. “I wanted her signature on the ’Team Dani’ t-shirt that I bought through her myspace. I’m very happy. I’m the only one in the club who has it.”
“It was worth the wait,” said Dani Elliot, 29, who said she owns a bar in Taunton called Secret. She asked if Campbell could make a special appearance at her club. Campbell, she said, agreed.
Campbell’s high demand seems to be based not just on those dimples. Many already see her as a role model.
“I think she’s a positive person,” said Sandra Rodrigues, 31. “She’s clean cut, well spoken, and has a great head on her shoulders.”
Now that she missed her shot at being Tila’s girlfriend, Campbell is looking to achieve other goals. Although she still works as a firefighter, she’s decided to start a clothing line called Futch Apparel, geared towards futches like herself. She anticipates having her website up and running soon.
“Hopefully by the end of March there will be six different designs for t-shirts,” she said. “This is just to get it started. I hope to have the other items by the end of the year.”
And despite being thrust into the limelight, Campbell appears to be handling her success with ease.
“It makes me feel good when people tell that I helped them in their lives,” said Campbell. “It would also be an accomplishment if I can change someone’s outlook on gay people and bring some equality not only in our community but also the world.”
