Camila Fowler, or as she is more commonly known in her job as an Oscar Mayer Hotdogger, Cook ‘Em Cam, brought the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile back to the University of Missouri’s campus in a full-circle moment. Fowler was first introduced to the 27-foot hot dog-shaped car during her first year at Mizzou. Now, as a Hotdogger, Fowler and the Wienermobile travel the country and stop in a new city every week.
“We get about 10,000 event requests in a year, and so you are hauling buns across the country, bringing joy and smiles to everyone,” Fowler said. “Because who doesn’t need a little bit of joy?”
A new class of spokespeople for Oscar Mayer, called Hotdoggers, has taken on this task for the past 38 years. Oscar Mayer hires new Hotdoggers each year, but Mizzou in particular has developed a strong legacy within the program.
“There’s nearly every year been a Mizzou grad, which is part of the reason why we’re on campus right now, because all the applications for the rest of the country, let alone the rest of the world, are currently closed, minus for a couple universities, Mizzou included,” Fowler said. “And so there is a bit of a legacy to have Mizzou Tigers as Hotdoggers. So we’re just, we’re just here catching up with everybody who may want to hop on the hot dog highways.”
For Fowler, the road to becoming a Hotdogger began when she attended an info session that was held while the Wienermobile was on campus during her senior year. Following her graduation from Hot Dog High, she was assigned to the East Coast team with her co-pilot, Jack Cupit, or Jack and Cheese.
“For the first half of the year, you are in one region of the country with one co-pilot, and then you switch about halfway through, different region, different co-pilot,” Fowler said. “And so that Hot Dog High is training, just so you’re ready for anything on the road. And it’s team bonding. It’s learning the basics of Hotdogging, and then also how to drive the Wienermobile.”
During her time as a student of the Missouri School of Journalism, Fowler learned communication skills that she uses daily while representing Oscar Mayer’s.
“It’s been quite an adventure, and the J-School definitely helped me with the skills for it, because we do PR, so you’re pitching local media, but also doing the interviews that you pitch, sometimes it’s also national media,” Fowler said.
While Fowler does experience the professional side of public relations, her job also allows her to be more down-to-earth.
“Admittedly, it’s a lot of just really meeting people where they are, encouraging people to keep it Oscar, which means keep it playful, no matter how old you are,” Fowler said. “Be a kid, follow your heart and stomach, is what I like to say.”
According to Fowler, the most important part of her job isn’t driving the Wienermobile; it’s the happiness and joy that people feel whenever they see the iconic car. To help spread this joy, the Hotdoggers play the Oscar Mayer jingle everywhere they go.
“Whenever we are pulling up somewhere, or if we see someone who is really excited by the Wienermobile, or doesn’t know we’re there, I love to push the button, especially for kids,” Fowler said. “It’s the best. But honestly, the Wienermobile is like generationally loved, and so that button is used often.”
This happiness is not only expressed by those who see the Wienermobile, but also by those who drive it. As this is her only year as a Hotdogger, Fowler relishes every moment.
“You learn the power of joy,” Fowler said. “And yes, we all know it to an extent, but to be able to be so close to it every single day because of the Wienermobile, and have something so like that, so uniquely brings joy. Oh my gosh, it’s a dream. It’s a dream.”
