A Niagara Falls girl won YTV show last season - can lightning strike twice? By JOHN LAW, NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW Updated 9 hours ago
Before she started filming Season 3 of YTV's competitive reality show In Real Life, Niagara Falls teen Ashley Hawkins asked an expert for advice.
That would be Tea Vlatkovic … the Niagara Falls teen who merely won the show last year.
"She just told me to focus and be yourself," says Hawkins, 13, who realizes she has a tough act to follow. "Just do what you need to do. (She said) you're going to have a great time, and just have fun while you're at it."
It certainly was fun for Vlatkovic, who overcame several obstacles (including some in the first episode) to walk off with the show's grand prize last December: College or university tuition and a family vacation.
If Hawkins wants to be a repeat Niagara Falls winner, she'll have to get past 17 other youths from across Canada in a series of real-world challenges which tests their endurance as well as their friendships.
But the biggest challenge may be keeping quiet. Every contestant and their families signed nondisclosure agreements before filming started, which means they can't reveal any details – especially who won. Filming took place over the summer.
"It's kind of fun," says Hawkins, a first-year A.N. Myer student. "(They'll ask) who's your partner? How long were you there for? Did you win?"
"We can only talk at the end of each episode," says mom Robin. "I'm very proud of her for being so professional throughout this whole process of keeping it secret … for a 13-year-old to be quiet!"
During filming, players could contact their parents through Skype just once a week, under tight supervision. The hotel had their internet access blocked, and cell phones were a big no-no.
Season 3 premieres next Monday at 7 p.m.
Once again hosted by comedian Sabrina Jalees, the show pairs up the kids in colour-coded teams of two as they endure challenges which have yet to be revealed. Last season saw the players tackle things like wilderness rescues and lobster fishing.
Hawkins was a huge fan of the first two seasons, and pounced on the chance to audition for Season 3 in March. The fact a Niagara Falls player had just won didn't faze her.
"I love challenges, and it just seemed like so much fun," she says. "I'm very spontaneous and I love being on TV."
Three weeks after she sent her resume in, she had an initial phone interview. Three week after that, she met the producers in Toronto. Days before filming was set to begin, she finally got the call saying she's in.
The aspiring model and actress has already appeared on the MTV teen drama Skins, which was canceled after one season.
She has an audition Tuesday at the Rogers Centre in Toronto for the upcoming season of Canada's Got Talent.
Her mom and dad (Wally) are trying to arrange a viewing party for the first episode … and hopefully a bigger one for the finale. In December, Vlatkovic's family and friends gathered at her school (Forestview Public School) to watch her win it all.
"I was pretty ready," says Hawkins. "It was better than what I expected, actually. It was amazing – all the challenges and the people I met. You could not meet a better group of people."
Three of her competitors have already slept over, says Robin. Now that the show is done filming, they've all become close friends.
"They've never actually seen the Falls before," she says. "We've met their parents, and they said we're all welcome at their places any time. They slept over and it was like they were siblings."
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