EDGE Boston

When Mimi Saraiva’s girlfriend Jackie Warner agreed to go on camera for the BRAVO reality show Work Out, the Brazil-born artist had no choice but to let the cameras into their relationship. Milenna became a controversial character on Work Out because the show turned the spotlight on her jealousy and her fights. Now that Season Two is about to start, Mimi reveals to EDGE that she has much bigger battles to fight.

EDGE: How did Jackie approach you about the show?

Mimi Saraiva: We had already been dating for four-and-a-half years when she was approached to do the show. She didn’t really want me to be in it - she was trying to keep me away, because [the gym] is her thing. It’s her show. She didn’t think it was a good idea for us as a couple to be in the show, but Bravo really wanted it. When they saw how much drama we created, they jumped on it.

EDGE: What did you do back then?

Mimi Saraiva: I’m a trainer! I used to work at Sky, in fact. I saw my clients there and Jackie and I used to work out together every day, but when the show started Jackie asked me to go somewhere else.

EDGE: How did you get into training?

Mimi Saraiva: I used to be a gymnast on the national team in Brazil. I trained 8 hours a day for 8 years, until I turned 18. I came to America to go to school for art, and started training people to make some extra money. I like it, but it’s time for me to stop. My real passion is for my art. That’s how Jackie and I met, actually, in a painting class.

EDGE: Does she still paint?

Mimi Saraiva: I don’t know. I don’t speak to her any more.

EDGE: Ooh, so you’re not together any more?

Mimi Saraiva: Not since... let me see... November.

EDGE: Whoa. But at the beginning of Season Two, you are both together in couples therapy!

Mimi Saraiva: We broke up after Season One, and then we got back together. It took a couple of months for Bravo to decide whether they wanted to do the show again, and when they went ahead with it I had to do the show again. Unless I wanted to be completely out of her life and never see her, and that’s not exactly what you want to do for six weeks if you’re dating someone...

EDGE: I’m really sorry to hear that.

Mimi Saraiva: I’m not sad, I’m ecstatic. The show really showed me who I was dating. Jackie is just not the right person for me and the show actually made me see that. I dated her for a long time and I wish her all the luck in the world.

EDGE: That’s sweet of you.

Mimi Saraiva: We tried to give the world an example of a really normal lesbian couple. We wanted to make a difference by being just like normal people, normal girls. And it didn’t quite work out like that.

EDGE: It seemed like you guys were always fighting on Season One. Was it really like that?

Mimi Saraiva: We did fight a lot - we were very passionate and opinionated. We fought a lot, but there was a different side of Jackie and me that was not shown for obvious reasons. She needed to portray a character, to be the hero, so it was not really realistic... The regular things aren’t really good TV. That’s why it was so dramatic. We were fighting a lot, but it wasn’t always like that.

EDGE: So what did you think when you first watched the show?

Mimi Saraiva: I was pissed! I was actually really upset when I watched it for the first time. I was pretty shocked and mad at Jackie, and I felt betrayed. But they have the right to edit - you signed the contract. At the premiere some of the editors actually came up and apologized to me. They said, ’Just embrace it, whatever happens. See it as a job.’ They were trying to prepare me.

EDGE: How did your life change as a result of the show?

Mimi Saraiva: It’s funny to have people recognize me, but it doesn’t bother me. It’s given me a lot of exposure in terms of my art. It generates buzz around me - ’Who’s this crazy person throwing glasses as people?’ TV is TV - it’s a big commercial for yourself no matter what it is. I have a show starting March 23 in L.A. which is really exciting.

EDGE: Now that Season Two has wrapped, what are you up to?

Mimi Saraiva: What I really want to do this year is get really intense with my art. I want to open my own art gallery by the end of this year.

EDGE: Any reality shows you personally are a fan of?

Mimi Saraiva: I’m going to be honest with you. I barely watch TV. I don’t have time for it. I didn’t even have a TV until last year, but I understand why it’s addictive. It’s inevitable; as human beings we’re curious, and we like to see people’s drama so our drama looks less bad or normal, I guess. Oh! I got into (BRAVO’s) "Project Runway." I really liked that one.

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Catch the season premiere of Work Out on BRAVO Tuesday, March 20 at 10/9 Central. For more on Mimi and the other members of the cast, visit the Work Out website. To see Mimi’s art, visit her website.