Arissa Hill. It’s likely you haven’t heard that name since the early 2000’s, when she graced our TV screens with her presence on MTV’s The Real World: Las Vegas. (which happens to be my favorite season) The “Where at They Now” in me wanted to see what she was up to and to my surprise – with a simple google search – I found out she had made her way into the food industry.

Her baby? Mojo. A box of organic snacks that can be delivered right to your doorstep. You know, you see a lot of celebs go into ventures that they’re not really attached to, or have very little interest in, but that’s clearly not the case with Hill. From her hands-on approach (I’m talking in the kitchen, making shit), to her knowledge about healthy eating, there’s no mistaking that she – and her product – are the real deal.

SOAB: How did Mojo come about?

AH: The gentleman that I was working for in Boston decided after me cooking for him and his family that I was waisting my talents working for him booking private jets. He was like “You need to be a private chef.” He said he wanted to create a food company for me, that I would be the chef, the face — everything — and he would handle all the marketing behind it. I was given space and opportunity to create and I just started creating things that I like myself.

SOAB: Tell us more about the box and some of the items you offer.

AH: It’s a subscription service box. So you could either pick whatever items you like, or you could just have me create the box. Normally I try to ask everybody if they have any food allergies. So I’ve been starting to roll out some new gluten-free and dairy free items so I can expand my audience. But I want it all to be delicious. I feel like organic, and gluten-free, and dairy-free doesn’t have to mean taste free. I think that my best avenue has been to do seasonal items. So for the summer I've been offering a variation of different root chips which are sweet potato chips. And I found that kids love these which was surprising to me. Also, pita chips. And I do Henny (yes, Hennessy) granola, which I'll keep year round.

SOAB: Why organic?

AH: After living in California I became obsessed with organic food. So I started using organic farm fresh ingredients around the area.

SOAB: Why to you think people are starting to take care of their bodies more?

AH: I think between the 80's and the late 90's there was an influx of fast food. And then people started to get sick. Cancer started happening. Diabetes started happening. People started to say "What is going on?" We didn't have this happening in the 40's and 50's when people were farming and getting their food in a slow way. To preserve our life and our health people are now getting with the program. I encourage education. I encourage people to grow and pick their own food, even something as simple as having an herb garden. When you go and pick something there's so much more respect for the earth and food. And then there's a chain reaction. You don't put shitty gas in your car. You don't go weeks and months and years without a tune-up. So why are you treating your body like that?

SOAB: Lastly, what MTV Real World experience have you implemented in your real world now?

AH: I'm so blessed that I had that opportunity and experience. I would definitely say an element of self awareness. Just being aware of my words and actions and the effect that they may or may not have on other people. Being aware of who I am and what I'm doing here. And trying to make sure it's more positive.

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