By Eric Stann
At this year’s Wienie 500, Mizzou alumna Camila Fowler finished in first place, driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile named the “New York Dog.” It’s the second year in a row that a Mizzou alum has claimed the top spot.
June 30, 2026
Contact: Eric Stann, StannE@missouri.edu
Photos courtesy of Oscar Mayer
As Americans fire up their grills this Fourth of July, University of Missouri alumna Camila Fowler, BJ ’25, has a unique perspective on the holiday’s signature dish.
She just spent a year as an Oscar Mayer Hotdogger.
After graduating, Fowler traveled around the country in a 27-foot fiberglass wiener-on-wheels known as the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, putting her Missouri School of Journalism training to work in a role that blends public relations, content creation and community engagement.
“It’s basically a PR firm on wheels,” she said.
For Fowler, known among the Hotdogger community as “Cook ‘em Cam,” the experience also confirmed that she’s on the right path.
A strong Mizzou connection
Fowler is part of a long-standing Mizzou tradition. Over the past 40 years, more than 30 graduates have served as Hotdoggers.
Landing the role is no small feat. Candidates must navigate seven rounds of interviews, culminating in a final trip to Chicago. Throughout the process, Fowler leaned heavily on what she learned as a journalism student studying strategic communications.
“The Missouri Method is no joke,” she said. “Everything from the coursework to the professors’ styles is intentional. It taught me how to create my own magic.”
With that foundation, Fowler hit the road, meeting more than 250,000 people at schools, community events and festivals across the U.S. Some appearances drew large, enthusiastic crowds. Others were quieter and required improvisation, such as dancing in an empty parking lot at 7 a.m. to spark interest.
Regardless of the setting, the mission never changed.
“You’re dedicating a full year of your life to making people smile,” Fowler said.
Along the way, she gained professional and personal experiences.
“You learn that people are good,” she said. “Sometimes they just need a small moment of joy.”
Those moments reinforced lessons beyond the textbook. Each interaction deepened her understanding of effective, human-centered communication.
From classroom to career
Fowler’s experience culminated at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past May, where she crossed the finish line to secure her victory in the Wienie 500. Now in its second year, six Wienermobiles race against one another for two laps ahead of the Indy 500.
For the five months leading up to the race, she trained alongside professional IndyCar drivers, learning to safely maneuver the oversized vehicle at high speeds. When she ultimately won, the moment was more than a mustard-sprayed celebration in victory lane.
“It was emotional,” she said. “My win is for everyone who supported me, including my family, my Mizzou community and the people I met on the road.”
That milestone also marked the beginning of her next chapter.
Today, Fowler works in Chicago at Zeno Group, a global communications company. In a full-circle moment, one of her accounts is Kraft Heinz — Oscar Mayer’s parent company. And the year spent meeting thousands of people in the iconic traveling hot dog influences how she approaches her work.
“It’s all about connection,” she said. “You remember when you made someone smile. That’s what sticks.”
It’s a lesson Fowler first began developing at Mizzou, and one that continues to guide her in every new opportunity.
