By Kelli DeWalt
Everyone fantasizes about stumbling into their favorite celebrity while walking around Manhattan or at a hot new nightclub. To meet A-list celebrities on a regular basis and create a nationally known blog about their lives would be a far fetched dream. Yet, for University senior Micah Jesse Koffler, this dream is a reality.
Koffler, known simply as Micah Jesse, is a public relations major who describes himself as just a normal kid from Atlanta, Ga. When he got to New York, he first felt out of place.
“I was kind of a lost little puppy,” Koffler said.
He started to go out and kept having crazy experiences with celebrities. His friends encouraged him to write a blog about it, and the idea of MicahJesse.com was born. It’s been up and running for the past year and a half.
“I’ve found my niche compared to other celebrity bloggers,” Koffler said. “I stay positive, I like watching celebrities grow rather than fall.”
This sets him apart from the famous celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton, who Koffler was compared to by OK! Magazine.
“My ideas are completely different than his,” Koffler said. “MicahJesse.com is a positive celebrity and lifestyle blog.” He adds that he represents a lot of cosmetic products as well. “My blog is my platform to share things that I find fabulous.”
He loves the idea that a person can turn a simple product into something larger than life.
“You can turn a nail polish color into a global phenomenon,” Koffler said citing O.P.I’s popular “Russian Navy” as a prime example.
Koffler got his start in the PR world when his friend’s sister, a publicist, helped him land an internship with music mogul Tommy Mottola in 2006. There he assisted singers Thalia and Cassie as well as performed general intern duties. He went on to help plan high-profile events for exclusive night clubs in New York City. And most recently he interned with OK! Magazine, where he also did some freelancing.
Now, Koffler is filming his own TV show called MicahTV where he will be an on-air personality. He wants to expose a different side of celebrities and focus on their daily life.
He’s already interviewed “Sex and the City” costume designer Patricia Field, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and Jaslene Gonzalez from “America’s Next Top Model” as well as others. He plans to pitch it to networks hosting show such as “Access Hollywood,” “Extra” and “Entertainment Tonight.”
“I love TV and see myself being on TV,” Koffler said. “But I won’t report on something negative.”
Jesse plans to do it from his angle and promote positive things that celebrities are doing. Hopefully the public will be able to see it in the next couple of months.
He also mentions that DJ Cassidy who DJed at Beyonce and Jay-Z’s private wedding has really pushed for MicahTV and has been representing him in his current endeavors.
As busy as he is, Koffler has still managed to find time to record a CD. Music producer Izzy Gold is “starting a revolution” by finding models, designers, socialites and bloggers who are not into music and helping them produce a CD free of charge.
“It’s really, really exciting,” Koffler said, “I love music and I’m always singing.”
The CD is in its beginning stages, but there will be five tracks in all, and they’ll be available on iTunes and as ringtones. The songs will be about being from Georgia and remembering where he came from.
Koffler loves what he does and finds his work rewarding.
“I like paving the way for other people that want to blog about their ideas,” Jesse said. “I want to help others find their angle.” His blog has helped him pursue other goals of his and he hopes others are inspired by him and his success.
When one goes to his Web site, they find hundreds of photos of Koffler with various celebrities. Of all the celebrities, he has met, Kelly Ripa is his favorite.
“I look up to her. She’s so sweet and down-to-earth, willing to talk to anyone” Koffler said. “She also embodies what Hollywood should be about, which is glamour.”
Through all of his ongoing and future endeavors Koffler will always have his blog. “MicahJesse.com is always going to be my baby” Koffler said.
This is good news for University students and the celebrity-obsessed everywhere who can continue to get their pop culture fix week after week and be the first to know what Micah Jesse is up to next.