A Chat With Mandell Anthony, One of Popularity Contest's Most Popular Contestants

While checking out the CMT Popularity Contest message boards during the airing of this show, I had the opportunity to mingle with a few of the contestants and many of the Vega residents. A shining star during his six episode stint, Mandell's outgoing personality and engaging manner made it easy for me to seek him out for bit of online chat. He graciously agreed to answer a few questions for me, his fans and for the RNO readers.

RNO: I was very surprised when you left Vega during Episode 6. There were certainly a few contestants more deserving. Jason was gone with Jose getting the heat and Ali was starting to show her true colors by being less than thoughtful to her host family. Calling a few of the Vega girls plus-size model types during your fashion show may have bruised some teenage egos. Do you think this helped to lead to your departure?

Mandell: No, I don't really think that had anything to do with me leaving, because even though the editing made it appear that I called someone obese, I really didn't. The comment of the plus size modeling was said in another setting.

RNO: What inspired you to go on the show? How did you hear about it and what kind of auditions were held?

Mandell: Hmmm, what inspired me? Well, I needed a vacation, and was interested in seeing a different culture. I read about it on an audition board. The audition was really just me being silly and enjoying the conversation with one of the producer of the show.

RNO: Unlike most reality shows, you and the other contestants did not share living quarters. The plus side was you got to know the residents; the minus was that you didn' t get to form bonds or strategize with the other contestants. Did you become friends with the other contestants during the competition?

Mandell: I pretty much got along with all of the contestants. A few of us bumped heads at times, but I didn't dislike any of them. I keep in touch with Alex and Marthia on a constant basis. I talk to Angela, Leyla, and Rory on occasion also.

RNO: Even though you sport a lovely praying hands tattoo, I didn't see you using religion to win over the town people. Angela, Ali, and even Jose used the religious studies to secure votes. Do you think it worked or were the town folk dubious?

Mandell: No, I was not going to use the Lord to simply get votes. My love for the Lord is true. I am not a very religious man, but I am very spiritual. I can’t speak of the faith that any of the other contestants have. I can only say, I hope they were sincere in the way they portrayed themselves as far as religion goes, because they will have to answer to the Lord in the end. I attended church while I was there and also attended a couple of bible studies. It just was not shown.

RNO: Some of the other contestants had slogans ("Alex is the real thing"), while others gave away popcorn (Ali corn) and (Airhead) candy. Did you ever feel the need to resort to any of that kind of campaigning or regret that you didn't?

Mandell: I did a little bit of campaigning, like putting my picture up, but I wasn't running for any public office, so the whole campaigning thing was not me. I have always felt that true popularity comes from who you are, not who you can pretend to be. I decided to stay me, and only be me.

RNO: You seemed unhappy with one host family's housekeeping. After that episode aired, was there any discomfort between you and the family?

Mandell: No, not at all. I was not unhappy. I just stated that we have different hygiene. The episode put more emphasize on the negative portion of what I said. It didn't show everything, which is cool, because I know what I really said. These folks are wonderful people.

RNO: Rumor has it that Ali refused to shower in this same host family's home during her stay. Is that true?

Mandell: Ali refused to do quite a bit in this home. She wouldn't even sleep there, but the emphasis was put on what I said, not what she did during her stay with this family. To each his own though.

RNO: As the contestants were donating their challenge winnings to local charities and events, were their any repercussions from your keeping the challenge money?

Mandell: I didn't keep all of the challenge money. I have no idea, why they showed everyone else giving their money away and did not show me giving SOME of mine away. It really put me in a negative light on the show, but there were no repercussions in town, because they knew the truth.

RNO: On that same note, very little was made of the challenge money during the later episodes. Did any of the other contestants also keep some of their winnings?

Mandell: Yes, I am sure some of the contestants kept some of the money, but I really don't care what they did with their money. I didn't give what I gave, because other people did, but because I felt very strongly about what I contributed to. Even if no one had given anything away, I still would have given to the prom effort. I am not going to pretend like I have $500 to give away, so I didn't give it all away.

RNO: Leyla was the first contestant to be escorted from Vega. Did she stay in contact at all with you contestants? What were your impressions of her?

Mandell: No, while we were on the show, we had very little to no contact with anyone outside of Vega. When I returned to L. A. she called me and we met up. I think she is a very lovely woman who has a lot going for herself. I mean, I think we would clash if we were to pursue something, but she is still an astonishing woman.