THUNDER BAY – The actor who produced a bikini-clad video promoting the prospective Ring of Fire mining development claims she had no intention of sexualizing herself or the mining industry.
The video’s producer and star Theresa Longo is not only a model, musician and actor. She’s also a shareholder with KWG, the company at the centre of the Ring of Fire development that posted her “five facts” video to its YouTube channel this week.
Longo pitched The Mining Minute segment to KWG president Frank Smeenk at a Toronto prospecting conference in March. Arguing young people seldom visit corporate websites, Longo suggested she could produce bite-sized video segments to generate social media interest among millennials.
The series garnered views in the hundreds until its controversial Episode 23, which had attracted over 38,000 by Wednesday night.
“There are people who say it’s too sexy but we don’t feel that way. It was the cottage, it’s a beautiful setting and we were just hanging out up there and enjoying ourselves,” Longo said.
“We did take lengths to even protect our modesty a little bit in the video, as it is. We made sure we were wearing shorts and I had a crop-top on for much of it.”
Longo added she and her co-host (referred to only as Ashley) shot the segments without doing their hair or makeup.
While she conceded online reaction has been mixed, she said those who know the work she has done over the last five years in mining public relations have come to her defence.
“To me, it’s a little bit shocking that people – some of the media as well – is quick to sexualize it. We didn’t go in with the intention to make it something seductive at all. It was kind of funny and kitschy and a great way to get the message out – and we looked great,” she said.
“This video was meant to bring more awareness to the story. I’m so happy we succeeded in doing that.”
