Frank & Margarita

Frank Mesa and Margarita Mesa are a team of Separated Parents on The Amazing Race 1.

Separated for a year prior to the Race, Frank & Margarita found their relationship being tested multiple times on their way to the final three. Though they often argued, particularly with Frank regularly talking down to Margarita, their competitiveness, strong racing acumen, and desire to provide for their daughter made them one of the most formidable teams on the inaugural season. Eventually, the Race came down to a two-horse race between the separated couple and Rob & Brennan, with the two teams racing to the Finish Line in Frank & Margarita's hometown, New York City. Frank, deriding the lawyers as "followers", allowed them to take the first taxi out of the airport so that Rob & Brennan could not follow them, believing that their knowledge of their hometown would allow them to take faster routes than their opponents. However, Frank & Margarita's confidence was short-lived when they spotted Rob & Brennan having already crossed the Finish Line ahead of them, leaving Frank & Margarita as the runners-up.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com^[1]

"Being best friends and respecting each other is the key to great, loving relationship we have now."

When Frank and Margarita were teenagers, a mutual friend introduced them, and they hit it off right away. They've had fun traveling together before, because they both enjoy learning about people and experiencing other cultures. They auditioned for THE AMAZING RACE because their combined talents make them a strong Team: Frank is intelligent, level-headed and physically strong; Margarita is patient, intelligent and has a keen intuition. Although they've been separated for a year, they're considering getting back together, and see THE AMAZING RACE as an opportunity to find out how well they can work together.

Frank[]

I'd most like to receive a letter from: My daughter (if she could write!)
Comfort item from home I'll miss the most: Bed with lots of pillows
Hobby or activity I'll miss the most: Working out with free weights
I'd most like to receive a phone call from: My daughter
Sunday paper I read most often: New York Times
Favorite TV show: Lonely Planet
Favorite Movie: Scarface
Favorite Actor: Al Pacino
Favorite Actress: Hillary Swank
Favorite Music: Hip Hop

Margarita[]

I'd most like to receive a letter from: My old best friend in California
Comfort item from home I'll miss the most: My daughter
Hobby or activity I'll miss the most: Playing with my daughter
I'd most like to receive a phone call from: Any of my close friends or family
Sunday paper I read most often: New York Times
Favorite TV show: Seinfeld
Favorite Movie: Cast Away
Favorite Actor: Javier Bardem
Favorite Actress: Juliette Binoche
Favorite Music: Hip Hop; R&B; Salsa

The Amazing Race 1[]

Race History[]

Frank & Margarita's Race History
Episode	Leg	Destination(s)	Detour Choice (underlined)	Roadblock Performer	Placement	Notes
1	1	United States → South Africa → Zambia	Air / Land	Frank	3 of 11	^[1]
2	2	Zambia → France	Near / Far	Frank	4 of 10
3	3	France	Tough Climb /Easy Walk	Frank	2 of 9
4	4	France → Tunisia	Full Body Brew / Full Body Massage	Frank	4 of 8
5	5	Tunisia	Puzzling / Listening	Margarita	5 of 7
6	6	Tunisia → Italy	Foot / Hoof	Frank	1 of 6	^[2]
7	7	Italy → India	Used Fast Forward		1 of 6►
8	8	India	Elephant / Rowboat	Margarita	2 of 5
9	9	India → Thailand	Public / Private	Frank	2 of 5
10	10	Thailand	Hike / Climb	Frank	2 of 4
11	11	Thailand → China	Volley / Rally	Margarita	1 of 4
12	12	China → United States	Flat / Steep	Frank	2 of 3
13	13	United States	Dog Power / Horsepower	Frank	2 of 3
				Average	2.38
Legend: The team finished in first place The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg The team that won The Amazing Race The team that crossed the Finish Line second The team that crossed the Finish Line third ► The team used the Fast Forward pass
Notes: 1: Leg 1 had an unaired Roadblock, which Frank was shown to have performed in the DVD release. 2: Frank & Margarita initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for not taking a train all the way to Castelfranco Emilia. This did not affect their placement.

Post-Race[]

Frank & Margarita initially reconciled after the Race,^[2] but divorced and now remain good friends.
- Frank has been married to Lisa Francouer Mesa since August 2006.^[3]
Frank was present at the Starting Line for the Season 25 premiere with The Amazing Race fans and other former racers to witness the start of the season.
- The first clue instructed the teams to approach "a contestant from the first season", pertaining to Frank, to ask him the location of the Finish Line of his season's finale, Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, also his hometown.

Trivia[]

Franchise Records[]

Frank & Margarita, along with Lenny & Karyn, are the first African-American teams to compete on the Race.
- By extension, they are also the first African-American team to make it to the final leg.
First co-ed team to win the Fast Forward pass.
First co-ed team to win a leg.
- First married team also to win a leg.
First team to win consecutive legs.
First team to qualify for the final three.
First team to have the highest racing average of a season.

Other[]

Margarita was the last female standing on The Amazing Race 1.
Highest racing average on The Amazing Race 1, with 2.38

External links[]

Interviews[]

Jane Clayson on The Early Show (12/14/2001): "Ding Dong The Lawyers Won"
Brill Bundy at Zap2it (12/14/2001): "The Amazing Crosses the Finish Line"
Jessica Liese at RHAP (10/20/2014): "Amazing Race 2014: Episode 4 RHAP-up with Season 1 Runner-up Frank Mesa"