Who says women and machinery don't mix? Rachel De Barros proves Mr. Ismay wrong by being part of All Girls Garage, a show that showcases women's expertise in car repair and restoration.
All Girls Garage is a motoring TV series hosted by Sarah "Bogi" Lateiner, Cristy Lee, and Faye Hadley. But before Faye stepped in as host, there was Rachel De Barros. Rachel started hosting the show along with Bogi and Cristy, and another automotive service lady named Jessi Combs.
On April 6, 2019, Rachel announced on Facebook that she's not coming back for the new season of All Girls Garage. So, let's look back at some of her best moments on the show through these 15 little-known facts about her.
15 Rachel Is A Businesswoman
Rachel Barros has been doing business since college, and eventually, she was able to put up her own company called Purple Star Media, LLC in May 2006. This company is a boutique creative studio whose specialty is organically branded video content.
She's also the owner of Wonder Spawn, a maker/STEM entertainment brand that focuses on lifestyle programming through interactive narratives, engaging live streams, and digestible social stories.
14 She Was Already A Vlogger Before All Girls Garage
Prior to being scouted as a host for the show All Girls Garage, Rachel has already been using the media to share her knowledge on automotive. She has a vlogging channel called Gearhead Diva on YouTube. The title of this YouTube channel was based on her nickname. It is a DIY car building community and network that produces content for the current generation. Rachel serves as its host, chief marketing officer, and executive producer.
13 Rachel Was Scouted By Cristy And Bogi
Through Gearhead Diva, Bogi and Cristy discovered Rachel and scouted her to join them on the show Girls Garage. They recognized her amazing knowledge and passion for cars, as well as her creativity in restoring and repairing vehicles on her YouTube channel.
12 She Has Been A Car Nut Since She Was A Teenager
Ever since Rachel was a teenager, she has been smitten by cars. No wonder she loved the Transformers cartoons growing up, while other girls her age were into chick flicks. She loved tinkering with machinery and would often take apart and reassemble their family VCR. It is a good thing, though, that Rachel nurtured this love for automotive, instead of conforming to the norms of society.
11 Rachel Paid For Her College Tuition Through Her Car And Repair Business
Rachel graduated from college thanks to the money that she earned from doing car repairs and maintenance. After college, she took on a variety of jobs while also juggling running her very own social marketing firm that aims to help businesses boost their online presence. This was all before she took on the challenge of becoming one of the hosts of All Girls Garage.
10 She Had An Oldsmobile Firenza For Her First Car
Rachel's first car was not a flashy one. Just like other ordinary teenagers, she got an old car. The only difference is she bought it with her own money after her father had given her the permission to do so.
With Rachel's knowledge of automotive, she did her own upgrades on the car and was quite happy with the results. Until now, she still treasures her Oldsmobile Firenza. It is a reminder of her love for her craft and how her passion for cars got her to where she is now.
9 Her Father Had Her Learn How To Perform Maintenance Jobs Before Allowing Her To Own A Car
With all the work Rachel had been doing, she must have had enough money to buy herself a car as a teenager. However, her father had something else in mind. He wanted to teach Rachel how to be a responsible car owner, so he made a deal with her. Her father only allowed her to have a car after she learned how to change a tire and perform other maintenance jobs.
8 She Is Best Friends With Bogi and Cristy
Rachel, Bogi, and Cristy are best of friends even in real life. They don't just share the passion for automotive but they also share the same interest in restoring and repairing cars. Cars really do bring people together, literally and figuratively.
Though, it was obvious from their cooperation on-screen that these three women are really close to each other and have bonded over their show and their projects. There is something truly inspiring about women coming together and collaborating to accomplish a single goal.
7 Rachel’s Talent In Automotive Mechanics Runs In Her Family
Part of the reason why Rachel is quite talented when it comes to restoring and repairing cars is that this talent runs in her blood. Her uncle was a mechanic and she spent most of her time in his shop when she was a teenager.
During summers, she would work at their uncle's auto-shop, where she learned the basics of auto repair. Her father is also quite knowledgeable and skilled in auto repair. He taught her the value of knowing how to take care of automobiles.
6 She Is Actually A Very Reserved Person
The reason why very little is known of Rachel is that she is quite reserved. Rachel is a very private person who doesn't talk about her personal and private life in public. Despite being well-known through All Girls Garage and her YouTube channel, she remains very humble and protective of her private life. In fact, she is rarely seen with a man that people started speculating that she is not dating anyone.
5 She Graduated From Ohio University
Rachel obtained her Bachelor's degree in marketing from Ohio State University. Upon completing her college coursework, she decided to pursue her passion for automotive work by completing a program in the Philadelphia Automotive Training School. It was there that she learned more complicated repairs and tackled jobs that were new to her such as dealing with wiring and car engines.
4 She Plays The Violin
Aside from automotive, Rachel is also very passionate about the violin. It is not that she repairs violins, though; she loves playing one, and she feels happy performing violin pieces for other people.
In her Twitter accounts, she shared moments when she played the violin during special occasions. It should not come as a surprise that Rachel is quite natural when it comes to entertaining and engaging viewers because she loves doing so. And even though she is quite a reserved person, she tries her best to become more sociable.
3 Rachel Is A Self-Confessed Mopar Girl
Mopar is a part, service, and customer care organization within Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. It designs and builds customized vehicles. Rachel is a self-confessed fan of Mopar-customized vehicles; hence, the term "Mopar Girl." Even at 40 years old, she gets giddy over Mopar-customized vehicles.
As someone who restores and repairs vehicles, Rachel has been doing a lot of research on the industry, and she found Mopar to be one of the best in customizing vehicles. This organization's approach to customization is probably similar to that of her own. That is why she is drawn to their works. And by the way, Rachel absolutely loves the E-body Plymouth.
2 Her Family Is From Brazil
Rachel's family is originally from Brazil, but she holds American citizenship, as she was born in Washington, DC in the USA. Rachel spent most of her childhood and teenage years there. Growing up, she would spend a lot of time with her electrician father and auto-mechanic uncle. Rachel loves her family and has so much respect for them. She may not express this in an excessive manner, but she does it in sweet little ways.
1 She Was The Executive Producer Of All Girls Garage
During her stint at All Girls Garage, besides being a host, she also worked behind the scenes, serving as the executive producer of the show. Rachel really puts her everything when it comes to doing something she loves and enjoys. This shows how hands-on she is in performing her tasks and in completing her projects.