By Sophia Chang
But by night, and weekends, and even sometimes the early mornings, depending on her boss Donald Trump's schedule, Himmler gets to be a part of the action on the hugely successful “The Apprentice” reality television show. Viewers of the show will easily recognize her. She is the striking young brunette who sits at a small desk outside of the infamous Boardroom, where the show's contestants are excoriated and fired each week, and announces when Trump is ready to see them.Himmler, who really is one of Trump's executive assistants and has been working for him since 2000, said she became involved in the show through unexpected measures.”I didn't realize I would be on TV” when she began working for Trump, Himmler said during lunch recently at Trump Tower. Over the building's gleaming front entrance hangs a huge banner of Trump pointing his finger emphatically and featuring his trademark expression “You're fired!”Himmler, who grew up in Flushing and Bellerose before moving to Bay Terrace 14 years ago, had gone to the School of Visual Arts for a fine arts degree, working at a photography studio as a print retoucher and office manager after school. She had also worked for a spell at St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children in Bayside in 1999 and was set to pursue creative therapy as a career before fate intervened.”I was thinking about going back to school for art therapy, but I also went to a staffing agency in the city,” she said. The agency asked her if she would be interested in working for Trump's company. Within the day, Himmler had gone through two interviews, including one with Trump, and been hired.”I didn't know at first exactly what it was for,” she said of the position. “But I knew if I dedicated myself to the job, I had an idea it definitely would be exciting.”Himmler appeared in a brief Nescafe Taster's Choice commercial that aired right after last Thursday's episode, which also featured a challenge based on marketing the coffee brand. In the ad, she is sitting at her desk and checking out the company's Web site for a free two-week supply of coffee. “I typically start my day with a cup of coffee, and Taster's Choice at that,” Himmler said. “It was nice participating, to get the message out there and create a buzz.”And while she said her busy schedule would make a full-fledged effort at acting difficult, Himmler said she had a good time shooting the spot and hoped to continue making commercials.”It was a lot of fun working with all the creative people on the set,” Himmler said.From her vantage point, Himmler said she gets to see a lot of unaired tension between contestants. “There is a lot of drama, because you're dealing with a lot of highly motivated people,” she said. Despite the on-air shenanigans, Himmler said she remains on friendly terms with many contestants. “A lot of them are very focused, but some people can be focused and make relationships,” she said. “Sometimes I'll bump into them in the building if they come visit. We'll rap about the show, talk about the memories.””They're all unique, interesting people,” she added diplomatically.Last season one contestant even asked her out – in front of the cameras – after being fired. Though she demurred on the date, when the contestant visited Trump later on, she agreed to meet him.”We had a cup of coffee and talked. It was not a date,” she said. “The coffee wasn't even Taster's Choice.”Despite the unexpected paths her career has taken, Himmler said she's having a great time, though she has not forgotten her roots.”Art makes me happy,” she said. “I keep wanting to take some kind of sculpting class.Reach reporter Sophia Chang by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
