Sabrina C.

When I found out I made it on Wheel of Fortune, it was one of the wildest, most surreal moments of my life — and the journey to get there was just as unforgettable.

It all started when I saw an advertisement for auditions at the Chicago Auto Show. That weekend happened to be my daughter’s seventh birthday, so we turned it into a family outing. We waited in line for three hours — along with more than a thousand other hopefuls — for our 30 seconds to shine. Just 30 seconds to tell the producers who we were and why we’d be a great fit. And then… it was over. We enjoyed the rest of the day and didn’t think much of it.

A few days later, I got an email: I had a callback.

The next step was a live, online audition where I had to solve puzzles in real-time. Everything was going well — until my daughter came to the door mid-audition, banging and screaming! I was sure I’d blown it. But I stayed focused, kept solving puzzles, and didn’t flinch. I think the producers noticed — not just the noise, but how I handled it.

A week later, while sitting in the hospital waiting room after my younger son’s procedure, I checked my email — and there it was. The message that changed everything:
I was going to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

And I had to be in California that Friday.

Everything happened in just three weeks. It was a whirlwind.

Being on set felt like stepping into a real-life Disney dream.
The lights, the energy, the stage — it was pure magic. Sony Studios had that classic Hollywood charm, and spinning the iconic Wheel was everything I’d imagined. Honestly, the hardest part was knowing the answer to a puzzle but not getting the chance to solve it because it wasn’t my turn. I’m still beating myself up over that! But that’s the game — and it’s what makes Wheel so thrilling.

When my episode airs, we’re throwing a big watch party with friends and family. We’ll be wearing matching Wheel of Fortune shirts and serving “wheel-themed” food and drinks, labeled by category! I can’t wait to celebrate, share behind-the-scenes stories, and hear everyone cheering along.

More than anything, I want to make my kids proud — to show them what it looks like to take chances, stay present, and have fun with it.

To me, Wheel of Fortune is about joy, resilience, and being in the moment. It’s a show I grew up watching with my family — and now, it’s part of my own family’s story.

I’m so grateful for this experience and the memories that will last a lifetime.