Bronx mom competes in 'Deal Or No Deal: Island'
La Shell Wooten signed up for the show out of pure curiosity about what sort of questions might be on the application after she saw an advertisement on television.
More Stories
From "Survivor" to "Big Brother," competition reality shows are classic American television. There’s a new season out now of "Deal Or No Deal: Island," and a Bronx mom of two is competing!
La Shell Wooten signed up for the show out of pure curiosity about what sort of questions might be on the application after she saw an advertisement on television. Before she knew it, the Parkchester native was off on a tropical island fighting against 13 other people in physical challenges for what we’re told is one of the largest cash prizes in reality show history.
The show is a spinoff of the classic "Deal Or No Deal" where competitors are still hunting for money-filled cases but this time in physical challenges on an island. It’s as much about social game politics as it is strength and endurance. Wooten tells us her roots in The Bronx were great preparation.
“You know how it is to be on a Bronx Street. You have to be alert, and you have to pay attention and be perceptive about how people are engaging with you,” Wooten said. “The funny thing is, my competitors were like, ‘Oh, I like her strategy.’ And in my mind I'm like, ‘I'm not really executing a strategy.’ I'm just trying to be me!”
At 55 years old, Wooten said the experience taught her that you're never too old to try something new.
“I am not 22 years old, but there were parts of me that I met in these challenges and having to collaborate with these people under these wild and zany circumstances that I didn't know existed in me!”
You can cheer her on every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. on NBC.
