The Richmond Hill Post, November 2000 issue cover story
BY MICHAEL DOJC

Elvis Stoijko may be Richmond Hill's most well known export but I don't think anyone would argue that Gisel Della Chiara, host and narrator of The Sex Files, Discovery Channel's highest rated show, is the sexiest. Those of you who have seen the show or caught a glimpse of the lovely Latina vamping out on an MRI machine for a Toronto Star photo shoot last month know why. The Star photo was so steamy it was deemed too hot for print in this publication. Aside from being absolutely stunning with flowing brown tresses and a killer Mediterranean smile, Chiara is also charming and incredibly personable to boot.

Before she became a Discovery Channel poster-girl, Gisel was turning heads as the host of Moda Hits, a successful TLN music show. She still finds time amid her hectic schedule to produce Latin Vibes which airs on CFMT. Unfortunately I didn't get the pleasure of meeting the Chilean/Italian beauty in person, but I did catch up to her phone and we chatted about Richmond Hill, Toronto men, and Sue Johanssen.

The Chilean/Italian beauty emigrated to Canada from Chili as a teenager with her parents and two sisters in tow. It was the middle of the eighties, a still-in-the-closet George Michaels was singing about wanting sex, a man with an incredibly phallic chin was this country's prime minister and so you can understand that Gisel Della Chiara had a lot of adjusting to do. "It was like coming to a whole new world when we came to Canada and I think that is awkward for any child that is not born here" says Chiara explains Gisel with a sweet Hispanic lilt in her voice. Her awkwardness was only exacerbated by her parents penchant for real estate hopping. Chiara says her family changed addresses five times in and around the Richmond Hill area alone. Her most recent residence was near Yonge and Weldrik and she can still often be found hanging with friends at the Dimetris at Highway 7. Chiara also had to adjust to the relaxed nature of Toronto public schools. Chiara attended private school in Chili and was used to strict teachers, lots of homework and dress codes. "We got to wear street clothes to school here" Chiara reminisces with a mixture of glee and disgust, the way a schoolgirl confesses her first crush.

Maybe it was the freedom afforded by deciding what to wear in the morning, or perhaps it was those harsh Toronto winters, but Chiara's career ambitions were never exactly traditional. "My dream was to become a Solid Gold dancer and an architect. So the kids from Richmond Hill were like, eh?" I guess their parents didn't let them stay up past eight.

Speaking of Chiara's parents, they have always been cool about Gisel's career decisions. "My parents are very supportive of my career. They like the fact that I'm independent That's the biggest and the best thing. That's also what I enjoy more than anything else in this world, not having to depend on anyone, to be able to depend on myself." In fact since landing the Sex host gig last year, she has had many healthy dinner table conversations about sexual issues with loved ones. "With my family and friends its now ok to to say words like vagina, masturbation, and penis." But it is not like her family was close minded before their daughter started appearing on national television and asking teenagers in Holland "What is you favourite position" as she did on a recent episode titled The Act. " My mother always made us feel very comfortable around it. My dad was very shy. But with my mother on the other hand, and the rest of our family, it was something that you could discuss. It was not something bad. [Sex] was something that if you had a question you could just ask."

Still, Chiara is not without her inhibitions. She still blushes or stutters when she has to talk about different parts of the body that she is not used to discussing in public. "We did a stand-up for a private part--the vagina. And I was standing in the middle of Queen street with signs that said, 'the box', 'the beaver' etc." Imagine how many honks and cat calls that scene provoked--talk about a traffic accident waiting to happen.

Chiara shows a genuine respect for her foremothers in the field. She especially admires Sue Johansson, the queen of Canadian sex radio, for her stunning poise and confidence. Chiara waxes on about Johansson as if the Sunday night sex show host were a dear old friend. "Sue can literally hold a dildo in her hand and talk about it with a straight face. Nothing effects her, I mean she's just wonderful. She's an extremely educated woman that can speak about pretty much anything to do with sex, it just doesn't phase her. For me I still have to get over the hump."

Beware budding Sex show hosts: aside from learning to talk the talk, there are other potential pitfalls. As the host of a popular sex show, Chiara has had her share of run ins with homo ignoramous. "Some people didn't read the Star article that went with the MRI shot. I 've had people coming up to me saying vulgar things, thinking they had the right to say things to me that they don't. Most people have taken it well and are very kind. There is really no bad part except , pardon the expression, the occasional jackass."

Unlike Sue Johansson or Dr. Ruth, Chiara is not a sex expert. As Gisel likes to point out, she is the package--not the content. This is what gives Sex Files its charm. Unlike David Suzuki's The Nature of Things, when Chiara speaks to Doctors or scientists about sex, she doesn't already know the answers. So we discover sexual insights at the same time as Chiara. "I'm learning along with everyone else. That is what makes it good for me. I think it comes across when you hear my voice or you watch the stand-ups. I'm not an expert but I'm becoming knowledgeable on the subject. I have a lot of theory, but not enough practice" she graciously admits. Gisel also claims that while men may salivate in her presence, they are often afraid to approach her. "I think they are scared. They didn't come up to me before and now no one is coming up to me in the city [there is sarcasm in her voice but then again as of press time she is single and we do really want to believe her.]