In February, one of the absolute coolest experiences of my life happened - I got to be a contestant on the legendary Wheel of Fortune!
While I filmed in February, my episode didn’t air until June 5th - so I had to keep it a secret for about three months but I’m so excited that I can finally share everything about it!
This whole experience to me was just proof that you never know what cool, amazing thing might just pop up out of nowhere for you - because I truly had no idea this was in my future!
One night, I was literally watching Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune when my bestie from college, Tami, texted me a link that said Wheel of Fortune was looking for Star Wars fans for their upcoming special Star Wars week and that I should apply.
I instantly was filled with so much excitement - I should apply! It felt so right, so exciting, and like it would just be the coolest thing ever … so I did it!
That’s one thing I honestly do appreciate about myself, I don’t know where it comes from within me, but I’ve always been the type of person who goes for it. I’ve seen so many people in so many scenarios in my lifetime say “I wish I could do that” or “that’d be so cool!” or “I’d love to!” but then they don’t actually act upon it …. and I’m just very proud of myself that when something seems like it’d be awesome, I actually go for it. (So here’s your little inspiration to actually go for things! Because it just might happen for you!)
So, I made my video explaining why Wheel should pick me - it was filled with costume changes and lightsabers and talking about how Star Wars inspires me to manifest my dreams … and I submitted it. And that was it. I thought it’d be months maybe until I heard anything - if at all. But deep down for some reason I felt I had a really good chance of getting picked.
The next day, literally, the actual next day, I saw I had a missed phone call - from Burbank. My heart dropped … it couldn’t be??? I saw I had a voicemail, too and it was from - Wheel of Fortune.
I instantly called them back, had a chat, and then they set up a virtual addition for me later that week.
I was super nervous, but was able to compose myself and went into the audition letting my true self shine through.
The producer I auditioned with was so nice and I had a feeling she liked me! There were a few others in my audition and we each had collective chances to solve puzzles and then individual chances to solve and then we had an individual interview. The producer told us they’re moving quickly with Star Wars and at that point they only had a few spots left so we might here soon and if we didn’t hear by the end of the month, they might still call us for regular Wheel or not at all.
I let it go… I left it up to the Universe. Of course, I really, really wanted it - but I also knew the Universe knew best. This came into my life out of nowhere so it was also kind of the vibe of “easy come, easy go” if I didn’t get it. I knew if I didn’t, the Universe had a reason - maybe it would save me from embarrassing myself on TV or something.
But then a few days later, one night, I was face-timing with my now Fiancé (still boyfriend at the time) and I saw an email pop up … it was from Wheel of Fortune saying Congratulations I had a tape date … and it was in 10 days.
Another magical part too was that it was on what would’ve been my Grandma’s 90th birthday. It already seemed kismet and special.
So, with that, I made arrangements and luckily my fiancé was able to take off work and come with me, and we were off across the country, 3,000 miles away to California! (I believe out of the Star Wars group I actually traveled the furthest! One other contestant was from Connecticut - so the two of us definitely had the longest journey!)
We got there the day before and didn’t leave our hotel room. Since on the date our call time to be at the studio was around 630am, I had the genius life hack to stay on New York time. I didn’t let myself adjust to California time (aka I went to bed at like 800pm West Coast time) so that way being at the studio at 6:30 really felt like the more doable 9:30am.
I got up extra early that morning and I meditated for a straight hour. I set all the intentions that everything would go well … I visualized myself getting to the bonus round and I felt lots of gratitude … but I also let it go and told the Universe once again “Whatever you want is fine!” I’d love to win, but even if I didn’t I knew the experience alone was amazing enough.
So I went off to the Studio by myself (my fiancé and my best friend were going as my guest and were told to arrive later on!) and when I got there I was greeted by all the other contestants all dressed up in amazing Star Wars gear.
It was really fun we all bonded so much right off the bat. Our common bond of Star Wars definitely gave us something to talk about … plus we were all SO excited just about being on the show and how it was insane how fast the whole processs was.
We spent the morning on the Jeopardy stage as the producers went over the rules again (Vanna popped in and said hi to us!) and we had make-up artists and hair stylists touch us up. The producers did an amazing job of keeping us calm and confident - we even popped into the Wheel stage several times to practice spinning, calling letters, and to practice our pre-game chat. It truly was a surreal experience. It’s wild to see something you see on TV every single day right before you! It was a magical dream.
We taped 6 shows that day - our pairings and episodes are chosen by a random generator … and I was put in show 6 of 6 (so it was going to be a longggg day! LOL) with Robert and David, who were two amazing souls and really great guys. All the contestants were great and I would’ve considered myself lucky to be on a show with any of them, but I’m definitely especially glad to have been with Robert and David - we were such a fun trio; we all had great energy and being in-between them with their support and encouragement definitely made me calm.
We sat through the tapings of all the shows and it was so fun to watch one after one every episode! We had a break for lunch in-between episodes 3 and 4 … and the food was catered by Wolfgang Puck and it was honestly amazing. I had one of the best chocolate chip cookies I ever had in my life!
So the shows went by, and then finally it was time for show 6 - our turn! I was not even nervous at all - I was so ready to go.
We got on stage, practiced a few more times, and then it was show time. Pat came out and he is honestly SO much closer to the contestants than he looks on screen like he is right there with you and it was just so cool to see him and interact with him!
In the beginning, if you watched the show, you know I kept hitting bankrupt - but Pat was so nice in-between the commercial breaks he was like “I’m gonna talk to the Wheel for you!”
It’s funny, I honestly was able to solve every puzzle - being a contestant is actually way cooler because you have the chance to stare at the puzzle the entire time, it doesn’t have all the cuts to the wheels and the contestants like you see on TV. So I knew the puzzles - but I didn’t get a chance to solve them with my bankrupts!
The only one that hurt was I KNEW the Prize Puzzle to Aulani instantly (I’ve been dreaming of going to Aulani forever!) and I was just going to spin, guess one letter and solve, but the universe had other plans and I got bankrupt. But it’s okay - I was so happy for Robert winning it!
Overall, that was my mindset going into the whole game. Of course I wanted to win and do my best, but I also was very neutral and I knew that I would be soooo incredibly happy if either David or Robert were to win. I knew they’d be so excited, their family would be so happy for them, I trusted that whatever was meant to be, would be. I was genuinely okay with any outcome and I know that absolutely is what helped me be calm, live in the moment, and have fun.
Finally, we got to the triple toss-up’s and I knew without having to spin the wheel I had the better chance. I so quickly saw “Bridesmaids” and I think it’s because I’m IN that era! All my friends are getting married - (I was about to get engaged a little over a month after taping the episode) so I knew the Universe was helping me out … and I even got to be one of those cool people that took a chance and guessed the 2nd one and was right with “Groomsmen!”
I couldn’t see the final puzzle of Wedding Crashers … but that’s okay, I’m so glad David got it and especially because that led him to spin for our final puzzle and he landed on the grandmaster $5,000 making each final letter worth $6,000 meaning it was anybody’s game.
But honestly, in that moment I so did not even really comprehend the gravity of that or of how much cash I could possibly rackI up. My only thought was “do your best and try to solve the puzzle!”
So I did… and I DID IT! It was a tricky one and it took a while to see…. & as a contestant, you can’t see your score or the cash you’re accumulating - it’s in Pat’s eyeline, so I genuinely had no idea how much money any of us were worth at the moment. Like I said, I was just focusing on trying to solve the puzzle.
After David called an “F”, it hit me I saw it - I saw the “Dominating Performance” - but it was Robert’s turn. I figured he saw it too and I was liek that’s okay he’s amazing I’m g'lad he’ll get more money … but then he guessed an “H”. My heart dropped. It was my turn and I exchanged a glance with Pat where he smiled wide at me with the vibe of “you got this!” - he knew I knew what it was. I called “D” and Pat smiled even wider and had such a face that expressed “let’s goooooo!” and then I said Dominating Performance and it was right and I was just SO HAPPY I GOT IT after all my bankrupts.
And then I looked to the side to look at my score. And I saw $28,000 under my name. I was SHOCKED. And then I saw David had 5k and Robert had 9k. And it hit me. I won. I WON.
Watching the episode now, I love seeing my reaction. I honestly can say I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Wheel of Fortune contestant be AS excited for winning the final puzzle. I was just SO happy. And it was so sweet and endearing to see how excited Robert and David were for me (And how happy Pat was for me too!). I knew just the same I would’ve been equally as happy for them as well, such genuinely good men!
My fiancé Justin and best friend Alyssa said they had leapt up in the audience and were so excited. It was really cute, they really bonded with the other contestant’s families and they were all excited and cheering for me too.
Since I got to the Bonus puzzle, Justin and Alyssa got to come down and be on the stage with me. I just remember Alyssa’s face was like OMG ERICA and Justin nearly had tears in his eyes.
It was so cool to get to the bonus round, but alas I did not solve it. The category was “PLACE” and I didn’t call the right letters, it was OPEN BANK VAULT … and I could only see the OPEN. But I was busy thinking of a place, like open field, open bar, open house, open water - I was not thinking of a Bank Vault….. but it’s okay, honestly in the moment I wasn’t even sad at all I didn’t get it, because 10 minutes ago I had nothing and now I had $28,000 what a comeback win.
Afterwards, we celebrated by going to Disneyland of course!
Overall, it was just one of the absolute BEST experiences of my life.
It was so fun to finally watch my episode air and to see the emotions of everyone. I knew at my watch party the first half was going to be a REAL bummer, but I knew they’d all be so amped when I won and they were!~
It was also so touching to see how many friends and family members and even acquaintances tuned into watch. It was beautiful and magical.
Overall, it taught me the lesson - you never know what’s ahead, plus you never know what could happen! I kept hitting bankrupt over and over but I WON. It just shows in life, you may keep hitting your own personal bankrupts, but it doesn’t mean victory can’t still be yours :)
