This January, Weir takes to the small screen with a culinary motley crue on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. Along with team members Chili (of TLC), Dean McDermott, and Cornelia Guest, Weir competes in a series of cooking challenges under the watchful eye of Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri to earn the title of Cook-Off champion and $50,000 for his charity of choice. Here, I catch up with the skating sensation about eating well and looking better.
Julie Bensman: You’re no stranger to reality show competitions (Skating with the Stars), but in the past, you’ve served as a judge. How was it to be a contestant this time around?
Johnny Weir: Terribly nerve wracking. I’m not an expert chef and I wanted to learn as much as possible from our mentors, but between the cooking, the preparation, not messing up my outfits, and time constraints, it was terrifying. Cooking for my husband can be a challenge when I know he'll be judging it, but when you're presenting food to expert chefs, it’s a daunting undertaking. I can say that Rachael and Guy were much kinder with their critiques than I was during my time as a judge on Skating with the Stars.
JB: You were a part of Team Guy. Tell me about that team dynamic.
JW: I always used to laugh when people in these competitions would cry and get emotional after what seemed like a few minutes on the show, but now I understand. Chili, Dean, and Cornelia became my family while we were filming…I was genuinely sad whenever anyone was sent home as we were all lending our time and personalities to win funds for our charities.
JB: Where do you find inspiration – in clothing, in food, and in life?
JW: My main inspiration in life is to not fall into mediocrity. I do everything one hundred percent and I accept nothing less from myself. Even if I fail, at least I tried.
JB: You clearly have your own unique sense of style. How has it evolved over the years?
JW: When you’re young, you wear silly things just for a reaction or to show who you are. I know who I am stylistically now. I wear what I love and what I appreciate.
JB: Who are some of your favorite designers?
JW: Chanel, Chris Benz, Hermes, Christian Louboutin, and Gareth Pugh.
JB: What’s next for Johnny Weir?
JW: Everything! I’m working on a children's book about self-empowerment and goal setting. I’m also a weekly columnist for The Falls Church News Press in Virginia and training to compete at the next Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. I'm performing all over the world. Life is never boring.
Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off premieres Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. EST on the Food Network.
Via: Johnny Weir Sinks His Teeth Into Food and Fashion: Closed Set with Julie Bensman