Charles T.

Being a lifelong Wheel of Fortune fan, finding out that I made the show was nothing short of a dream come true! I’ve been an avid Wheel Watcher for as long as I can remember, solving puzzles with the contestants on TV like it was second nature. But once I knew I’d be stepping into their shoes, I started paying attention to the little nuances: how they spun the wheel, why they called certain vowels or letters, and most importantly, what strategies they used. I even started thinking about the big moment—if I ever made it to the bonus round, what three consonants and which vowel should I pick? (Spoiler alert: I studied the most commonly used letters religiously!)

To prepare, I dove into all things puzzles! I played the Wheel of Fortune mobile game, tackled daily Wordle puzzles, and practiced solving puzzles as quickly as I could. But something I learned through this experience is that success on the show isn’t just about knowing every puzzle or picking the perfect letters. The producers picked me (and the other contestants) for who I am. They encouraged us to be ourselves, which really helped calm my nerves, even though I felt super anxious at times. That support made all the difference.

One thing that surprised me? The Wheel! It weighs 2,400 pounds, and I had to stretch more than I expected just to give it a good spin. (It’s definitely harder than it looks on TV!) The puzzles were challenging, but I was thrilled to solve a few. I even surprised myself at times!

When my episode airs, I’ll be having a watch party with my friends and family. They’re all so excited to see me on the show, and their support means the world to me. Sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience with them makes it even more special. I also want to give a special shoutout to my best friend, Kristine, who was there in the audience cheering me on. Her presence gave me the confidence I needed to remind myself, “I got this!” Thank you, Kristine, for being my rock through it all!

Wheel of Fortune has been part of my everyday life since I was a kid, and being on the show only deepened my love for it. It’s an experience I’ll treasure forever and I’ll keep spinning those imaginary wheels in my head every time I watch!