Joe Jer & Zabrina

Joe Jer Tee and Zabrina Fernandez are a team of Co-Workers and the Official Winners of The Amazing Race Asia 1. They are also the first female team to win any edition of the program.

Profile[]

Retrieved from axn.asia.com^[2]

Joe Jer[]

Age: 29
Occupation: TV Producer
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Zabrina[]

Age: 26
Occupation: TV Producer
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Friends from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Zabrina and Joe Jer are nothing if not lovable. Viewers will find themselves taking to these two immediately, for their ready smiles and easy-going camaraderie.

These two young women are looking forward to the fun and the adventure of The Amazing Race Asia - particularly being able to share it with a friend.

Friends from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and self-described reality show freaks, these two ex-colleagues see their friendship as an asset that will support them through their efforts in the race.

"We're good friends," says Joe Jer "We can talk to each other."

Zabrina agrees. "We have the same sense of humour, that's why it's good."

Friendship comes with its own price - both of them can also be very direct, something that causes occasional friction. Eventually, though, the two manage to clear the air, and are all the stronger for it.

Joe Jer and Zabrina met at the workplace, while working for a TV station. Joe Jer had been working there for some time before Zabrina joined the firm, and was one of the first friendly faces that Zabrina encountered there and soon a friendship blossomed when they discovered that they both had a mutual love for television.

Not just a love for television, but in particular, for reality television shows. They are hard-core fans, and the two of them see this as one of the strengths that they will bring to The Amazing Race Asia.

"We know the game," says Zabrina. "We really know it. We watch it all the time. We take note of all the things that go wrong and right in the game."

Knowing the game backwards and forwards also means that they know what mistakes to avoid, when to push one another, and when to let go. They've already developed some strategies that they will be bringing to the game, including keeping their heads, not laying blame, and not wasting time bickering.

They plan to make decisions first, take appropriate action, whether right or wrong, and then bicker later. Clearly, they intend to learn from the mistakes of others.

A love for television is not the only thing that they have in common. It is obvious from watching them interact how similar they both are - quick-witted, spontaneous, and more than a little gutsy.

They banter easily, back and forth, and are quick to pick up where the other left off, as though they're used to finishing each others' sentences. They're also both into sports, and can be quite competitive.

In other ways, they can be quite different.

For example, Zabrina is the more emotional of the two, and can cry at the drop of a hat. Joe Jer, on the other hand, is somewhat more stoic, and does not react quite so easily. Fortunately, the two of them seem quite comfortable compensating for one another's shortcomings, so whenever Zabrina would get tense over the auditions, Joe Jer would calm her down.

"Joe Jer's also quite stern, so I'm quite afraid of her," says Zabrina. Jokingly, of course, but Joe Jer is quick to protest.

Their fast-talking style might become their trademark on the show - they trade barbs, back and forth, with the ease and the pace of a television sitcom. Joe Jer is punctual to a fault, Zabrina is never, ever on time, Joe Jer is a perfectionist, Zabrina a little more laid back, Joe Jer is more thrifty than Zabrina, and the list goes on.

Viewers may enjoy trying to spot these differences, although it might be difficult to find them since the two are good at supporting one another.

Having worked together, the two have already worked out many of the kinks in their relationship. They have had fights, yelled at each other, and so on. They have already seen how their friendship works under pressure, and are confident that it will survive The Amazing Race Asia.

"The Amazing Race Asia is a whole new game," says Zabrina, "There hasn't been an all-woman team winner yet, so we could be the first."

Acknowledging their shortcomings, including the fact that they do not appear to be physically intimidating, the two still manage to give it a positive spin, hoping that their opponents will underestimate them. Besides, they have people skills, and will use whatever they have to their advantage during the course of the game.

Taking part in The Amazing Race Asia was, for them, a chance to break out of their routines and try something new, with the prospect of some nice prizes at the end. It will also give them the opportunity to do some traveling, something that both of these women enjoy.

Both of them are already savouring the prospect of The Amazing Race Asia, looking forward to the adventure of the entire thing.

"We're going to enjoy the ride," says Joe Jer.

They are also hoping to make it all the way to the end, even though they might look like unlikely contenders. They're still willing to use everything at their disposal, particularly their wit and intelligence, to make some waves and stir things up a bit.

Clearly, these are two young women who are looking forward to the fun and the adventure of The Amazing Race Asia - particularly being able to share it with a friend.

The Amazing Race Asia 1[]

Race History[]

Joe Jer & Zabrina's Race History
Episode	Leg	Destination(s)	Detour Choice (underlined)	Roadblock Performer	Placement	Notes
1	1	Malaysia	Paint / Pot	No Roadblock	3 of 10
2	2	Malaysia → Indonesia	Push / Sell	Zabrina	4 of 10
3	3	Indonesia	Wet / Dry	Joe Jer	5 of 9	^[1]
4	4	Indonesia → Australia	Elevation / Crustacean	Joe Jer	6 of 8
5	5	Australia → New Zealand	Rugby / Rigging	Zabrina	3 of 8
6	6	New Zealand	Ledge / Luge	Joe Jer	3 of 7
7	7	New Zealand → Singapore → Thailand	Bacon / Eggs	Joe Jer	6 of 6
8	8	Thailand	Smash / Grab	Zabrina	5 of 6
9	9	Thailand → India	Carry / Count	Zabrina	4 of 5	^[2]
10	9	Thailand → India	Deliver / Donkey	Joe Jer	4 of 5	^[2]
11	10	India → United Arab Emirates	Hack / Hike	Zabrina	3 of 4
12	11	United Arab Emirates	Ride / Seek	Joe Jer	2 of 4
13	12	United Arab Emirates → Malaysia	Brain / Brawn	Zabrina	1 of 3
				Average	3.75
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 > The team used the Yield < Recipient of the Yield
Notes: 1: Joe Jer & Zabrina initially arrived 1st, but was issued a 4-hour penalty because Joe Jer quit the Roadblock. Four teams checked in, dropping them to 5th. 2: Leg 9 is a double-length Leg with two Detours and two Roadblocks, shown over two episodes. The placement listed in the top row reflect the order teams arrived at the leg's halfway point.

Post-Race[]

The two friends were the Pit Stop greeters on Leg 3 of The Amazing Race Asia 5 in their home country of Malaysia.

Trivia[]

Franchise Records[]

Joe Jer & Zabrina are the first all-female team to win The Amazing Race in any version.
First team to win the race without using the Fast Forward or the Yield.
First team to win the race without winning any of the previous legs.
First all-female team to win the race beating co-ed teams.
First team from Asia to win the race.
- Also, the first (and only) team from Malaysia to win the race.
First interracial team to win the race.

Asia Records[]

First all-female team to reach the final three.
First team to reach the final three without winning any previous legs.
First team to cross the Finish Line first and win the race.

External links[]

Zabrina's Wikipedia page: Zabrina Fernandez

Interviews[]

The Star Online (02/02/2007): "Malaysian duo are champs in Amazing Race Asia"
Jerry Donato at Phil Star (02/23/2007): "The amazing girls of Race Asia"
Sandra Low at The Star Online (10/16/2010): "Colleagues & chums"
S. Indra Sathiabalan at The Sun Daily (10/03/2016): "Bitten by racing bug"