ABC Family’s latest entry into the reality genre is America’s Prom Queen, in which contestants compete in front of a panel of judges for the title.  Later episodes will involve public voting to choose the eventual winner.  In every reality game show, someone has to be the first voted off.  For this show, that was Torree Whitney, of Anaheim California.  Torree spoke with MediaBlvd Magazine and other publications about her experiences on the show, and how her portrayal  in the episode differs from who she is in real life.

Question>   It’s my understanding that all of you contestants were close contenders in high school to be prom queen, but didn’t quite get there.  Is that true?

Torree Whitney>  For most of us, yes.  I think for some of us it was and some didn’t even have a prom.  They didn’t get a chance to be a prom court.  So, there is a little bit of both.

Question>   So now, you’re out of high school and you’re not in college, but are you pursuing a career in acting after this show?

Torree>  No, I’m not.  I don’t think I like the whole TV scene.

Question>   Oh, so this will be your only television experience would be this particular reality series?

Torree>  Yes, I think so.  Then again, something else could come up.  But as of now, this is my only one.

Question>   What was the most fun moment for you in this particular series?

Torree>  I think the most fun for me was making our dress actually.  It’s always kind of like been my dream to make a dress, and I finally got the chance to do it.  So, that’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had.

Question>   Did you get to keep the dream dress that you designed and if you did, have you worn it since?

Torree>  Yes, we got to keep our dresses, but I have not worn it since I think I’ve gained pounds and I can’t fit in it anymore.

Question>   Do you think that the show accurately portrayed who you are as a person, or is there anything that sort of didn’t get in there that you wished had?

Torree>  Actually, I was really surprised to see that most of what happened while I was there was the experience of being in a house.  They really didn’t show a lot of what was going on in the house as far as us eating, us hanging out in the rooms.  I was kind of disappointed not to see it.  But actually, I felt like the mean girl on the show.  They edited it show much that I looked so mean and I felt so bad. 

Question>   The show made it seem like you were really into the prom, but what other things interest you?

Torree>  I’m not really into anything special.  I just do normal things - go shopping, to the beach and stuff.  You couldn’t really get that or get who I am from the show because I was only there for a short amount of time.  Some people don’t really know anything about me.  I’m pretty general – hanging out, watching movies.  I pretty much like to sleep all the time and eat.  That’s about it.

Question>     How did you get involved with this?  How did you go through the audition process, or what led you to being on the show?

Torree>  Actually, I was with my mom.  We were walking around the Block of Orange, just shopping.  This woman comes up to me and was like, “Oh, my God.  Have you ever been a prom queen before?”  I was like, “No,” and I told her the situation.  She was like, “You have to audition for this new reality TV show we have called America’s Prom Queen.”  I was like, “All right.  I’ll just do it.”  My mom kind of pushed me into doing it because she loves this stuff. So, I filled out this big questionnaire form.  I went to an interview and they filmed me.  They called me back to go for some more interviews and they told me that they picked me.  That was pretty much how it happened, kind of unexpectedly.

Question>     I assume you had to keep it secret that you were the first one taken off the show.  Was that hard to keep secret from the family and friends?

Torree>  Not really, because they knew from the start that I really couldn’t say anything about it.  So, when they’d asked me, I would say, “You’re going to have to just wait and see.”  They understood that I really couldn’t say anything.  I didn’t want to because I was so embarrassed.  It wasn’t that hard.  They were good sports about it.

Question>     If you had been a judge, whom would you have sent home on the show last night?

Torree>  I possibly would have sent home either Macy or Lashell, but probably Macy [is who] I would have sent home.

Question>     Since you’re not going to be exploring any options with TV, are you going to pursue going to college?  If so, are you formally stepping off the beauty queen train?  Your bio seems to list you as a career beauty queen.  Are you were putting an end to that.

Torree>  As far as college goes, I was going to a JC college before this show.  I’m not in college right now, but I’m going to go back.  As far as the beauty queen, I don’t really consider myself to be that.  That was kind of more in my high school life that I considered myself that.  But now, no, I think I would just move on.  I’m actually thinking about being a teacher and beauty queens are not teachers.

Question>     Did you do anything special to watch the show last night?

Torree>  Actually, yes.  My sister actually had a party at her house with all of her friends.  I went over to my grandmother’s house and my friends came over and my family was there and we all just watched it and ate food.  It was pretty fun.  I recorded it. 

Question>     Could you talk just a little bit more about how your part was edited down because it seemed like they basically sent you off because you weren’t that enthusiastic, but I didn’t really notice that much difference between you and the other girls in the part that they showed on the show.  Was there more to that or behind the scenes stuff?

Torree>  Like you mean on the interview parting when I was talking, how I was portrayed?

Question>   Yes.  Well, was it really just the catwalk, do you think?

Torree>  Oh.  I really think it was.  On the catwalk when I was watching myself, I wasn’t as enthusiastic as most of the girls. I think they based it off of that because the judges weren’t around watching us make the dress and everything else.  I don’t really know how they based their decision off of. As far as me going into doing interviews and stuff, oh, my God, there was so much edited that I could not believe it.  I was so embarrassed.  I felt so bad because that’s just not how I am at all. 

Question>   So what’s the one thing that you take from this experience?

Torree>  Throughout my high school, I was the one that was always nominated for homecoming princess or homecoming queen or prom queen.  I always just thought, “Oh, the prettiest, most popular girl.”  But coming to the show, it just proved that anybody can be a prom queen as long as you have the desire and the drive.  You have to want it.  Some of those girls, you never would imagine them being prom queen at your high school just because everyone else would nominate the cheerleaders, the popular ones.  Some of those girls, I can see them being prom queen because of their heart.  Some of those girls, you could tell they really wanted it.  I’ve learned that looks are not everything.

Question>   On one of your confessionals in front of the camera had you saying something like along the lines of friends come and go, but a crown is forever.  Did you change your mind?

Torree>  Usually, when you’re going in to win something, usually you’re not there to make friends.  What I meant to say was -- I know this sounds so bad -- I wasn’t there to make friends with everyone.  Yes, I got to know people and I like them, but I knew that I would not be long-time friends with them just because we don’t live around each other.  The crown is forever - I cannot believe I said that.  Some of these things I say, I don’t even know why I said them.  I guess I’d want the crown to be mine forever, but I have my own crown.  I guess I should just say that to myself.

Question>   Even though you were only there a short time, is there anyone you are secretly pulling for to win?

Torree>  There is, and it’s going to sound totally weird because I kind of bashed her on TV.  But honestly, I want Carmen to win so bad.  If not Carmen, I want Katelyn to win because those girls are the nicest people.  They’re there for the right reasons and I just want them to win.