Ready to win: Alumni share their reality TV experiences and advice
Reality television has been entertaining the world for decades now and whether you knew it or not, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) alumni have been competing front and centre, sewing, baking, traveling, conniving, guessing and selling, all in hopes of winning!
We spoke to past alumni competitors to learn about their experiences and memories on reality TV shows, as well as gain some valuable advice for those who may wish to apply and compete in the future.
Nella Brodett (external link, opens in new window)
Law and Business ’15
Strategic Lead, Integrated Markets — Communitech (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for The Amazing Race Canada — Season 6?
My sister, Franca, and I have always wanted to achieve something together that blew up all of our individual accolades. We’re both super successful in our own right, but The Amazing Race Canada seemed like the perfect challenge that would leverage our skill set as a pair. Also, who wouldn’t want to travel across this beautiful country with your best friend?! Team Franella (external link, opens in new window) taking on Canada — what better TV is that?
What is a favourite memory from your experience?
Wow, there are so many memories it’s hard to choose just one. I think overall I will remember this experience so positively because I was able to witness Franca and me compete and push through things I didn’t think were possible. It was such a rewarding experience — also winning Legs 2 and 6 were pretty memorable!
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
It’s hard to say. If I could go back, I’d spend more time on the one riddle that cost us the race! That’s always going to haunt us, but overall we ran the race the best we could. We made some controversial moves and played strategically. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Has being on reality TV positively impacted your career or life since the show aired?
Since being on The Amazing Race Canada, Franca and I have connected with so many people, from youth to the Filipino community. It’s been incredible to know we were able to represent who we are and what we value to so many Canadians. During the airing of the show, we hosted watch parties weekly and raised funds for local charities and organizations. For the Franale (what we call the Finale) we were able to raise over $2,000 for TMU Bold’s Mental Health Resiliency Award (external link, opens in new window) (Rams Talk), which I founded in 2014. I would say we weren’t in it to positively affect our lives specifically, but more so we wanted to spread the love to as many people as possible. It also helps that we’ve secured a few gigs and trips along the way!
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
Franca and I have discovered that The Amazing Race Canada has so many parallels to life and how you can approach it. We’ve been able to do some speaking engagements around our learnings, but the biggest advice we give is to trust. Trust in your partner, trust in yourself. Don’t overthink and have so much fun with it! Even on our worst days, Franca and I always sang a song or had a laugh, because we trusted in who we are and our capabilities regardless of the outcome.
Image credits: CTVBell Media
Neda Kalantar (external link, opens in new window)
Fashion ’13
Personal Stylist, The Look — Styled by Neda (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for Big Brother Canada Season 2 and 5?
I applied for Big Brother Canada because it had been a family tradition for us to watch the show together since I was 10! My friends definitely made fun of me for my obsession because I was such an extreme superfan of the show. I’m not sure what it was about being locked in a house with a bunch of strangers, under constant surveillance, with no privacy or contact with the outside world that intrigued me so much. But I’m glad it did! It was such a unique experience.
What is a favourite memory from your experience?
Meeting my best friend Heather!
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
I never won the game, so I’d probably do every single moment differently.
Has being on reality TV positively impacted your career or life since it aired?
Before going on TV, I was extremely shy and reserved. The experience was amazing because it brought me out of my shell. It also completely changed my mindset and gave me the confidence to try new things and embrace opportunities that I may have shied away from before.
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
Invest in some earplugs — sharing a bedroom with 15 people isn’t easy. And remember, you’re not going to summer camp, you’re playing a game on TV. Don’t be afraid to be ruthless.
Image Credits: Image 1. GlobalTV/Big Brother Canada; Image 2. Neda Kalantar
Kyle Moore (external link, opens in new window)
Radio and Television Arts ’20
Mental health advocate and podcaster, Life’s a Wreck (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for Big Brother Canada — Season 10?
When the cast of Big Brother Canada Season 9 was announced, I was mistaken for the ‘Kyle Moore’ who participated in that season. The online fandom found my social media accounts and I played into the Kyle 2.0 narrative that was created. I’ve always loved to challenge myself and the idea of experiencing something as competitive and unique as Big Brother was something I instantly bought into.
What is a favourite memory from your experience?
Honestly, I have a ton of amazing memories from the experience, but my favourite memory was not having access to my phone for an extended period of time. It sounds kind of ridiculous, given some of the other elements of the show, but the detox from technology was amazing. I remember feeling more focussed and less stressed. It definitely made me re-evaluate how much screen time I’m getting in the course of the day. From the show itself though, I would absolutely say the setup for the competitions. When you walk out into the backyard and there are these giant structures and set pieces, it’s like you’re in the world’s biggest board game.
What, if anything, would you do differently in the competition?
Regret will never serve you. I wouldn’t change anything about how I competed. One of the best parts about playing the game hard is that regardless of what people thought, you’re able to say you stepped up to the plate and took a big swing. A lot of people get this rare one in a million opportunity and never make any waves and still find themselves in the same position I did. That being said, I’d love to make future players aware of some very eye-opening aspects of the competition.
In a very stressful environment like the Big Brother House, there are cliques, and sometimes people will choose to keep around people they like versus people they think increase their chances of winning. An example of this was when I nominated Josh for eviction in week three. The house decided to keep Josh and he ended up being the reason that five or six of them went home and he almost won the game. He was one of the biggest threats in the house, but he was likable, noble, easy to trust and got along with everyone.
You also need to be very wary of who is getting called to the Diary Room and at what times. If someone is acting very sheepish and shy but is getting called to the Diary Room more than anyone else, there’s a good chance this person is influencing the game in ways you may not be expecting (i.e., Kevin, the winner from my season).
Finally, in a house where survival is everything, you’re dead in the water when you give people a unanimous person to root against. When everyone is able to feign cooperation, they’ll take that opportunity every time because it ensures their safety. Learn from my mistakes, and if you want to take a big swing, make sure you have ways of keeping people pointing at each other instead of all pointing collectively at you.
Has being on reality TV positively impacted your career or life since the show aired?
Big Brother hasn’t impacted my professional life post-show much. It’s given my mental health podcast, ‘Life’s a Wreck’, a bump in listenership, but apart from that my professional life has stayed relatively the same as it was pre-show. It did, however, give me some perspective on how I wish to proceed with my career.
Before the show, I wanted to focus on content creation. But after being exposed to a number of influencers, that lifestyle, and seeing how amazing I felt the longer I was away from technology, and the stress that comes from social media, I realized my true passion in the mental health space is not in creating content but in helping people and de-stigmatizing mental health conversations.
Now my plan is to pursue my master’s degree in psychology and, hopefully one day, my PhD. I’d say the area of my life that has been impacted the most is my personal development.
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
Have fun. That’s the biggest piece of advice I can give. I mean, honestly, at the end of the day, if you get on a show like this, don’t go into it with the expectation it’s going to change your life. It will, but not in the ways you may think. Go into it to play the game, not to change your life. Embrace the moment and appreciate that you are getting to experience something many people dream about. Have fun.
Image Credits: GlobalTV/Big Brother Canada
Charith Perera
Accounting and Finance ’14
Co-founder, TDot Performance (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for Dragon’s Den — Season 10?
We believed that our story was something that would resonate with everyone, a true grassroots tale of starting from the bottom.
What is a favourite memory from your experience?
To be honest, everything happened so quickly during filming that it’s hard to pinpoint just one memory. However, watching it with my family and friends when it premiered was a standout moment.
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
I think if we had focused on promoting just one product instead of multiple ones, we would have seen greater sales during the airing period.
Has being on reality TV positively impacted your career or life since the show aired?
It definitely had a positive impact on our business. The national exposure it provided was invaluable and it also helped to improve traffic to our website.
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
Share your story and be as genuine as possible. Producers, audiences and investors can all recognize when someone is being insincere. Being yourself will go a long way.
Hala Bissada
Hospitality and Tourism Management ’91
President and CEO, Hala Events & Communications Inc (external link, opens in new window) .
What inspired you to apply for Family Feud Canada — Season 3?
During the pandemic, I was on my exercise bike early in the morning watching the news and a commercial came on for auditioning for Family Feud Canada. I thought to myself that might be fun to do with my family! I have a crazy, loving and big personality family, so I thought we would be perfect for the show!
What is your favourite memory from your experience?
My favourite memory is the time spent with my family preparing for it. Laugh out loud moments clapping loudly to ‘good answer, good answer’! I now have my family and my Family Feud family.
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
Win! Ha ha!
Has being on reality TV impacted your career or life since the show aired?
It brought me even closer to members of my family especially during a really trying time with the pandemic. It made me realize I need to spend more time with my amazing family and how much I love them. Career-wise, not really, although when we posted about it, many of my clients were excited to watch the episode.
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
Just have fun and enjoy the moment! Our family motto is TAKE FUN SERIOUSLY!
Image credits: CBC/Family Feud Canada
Kunal Ranchod (external link, opens in new window)
Theatre Performance ’13
Choreographer, Compagnie Kunal Ranchod (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for The Great Canadian Baking Show — Season 5?
I’ve always been a big fan of the show and baking has always been a part of my life thanks to my mother! Although I’ve always baked, during the pandemic lockdowns — like many folks — I started baking exceptionally more. I had the time to attempt difficult baking challenges and as a result was able to grow my baking expertise. I auditioned for the show on a bit of a whim, but one thing led to another and before I knew it I was in the auspicious Great Canadian Baking Show tent!
What is a favourite memory from your experience?
My favourite memory from this experience was without a doubt meeting and bonding with my fellow contestants. To this day, we speak with each other daily, support each other whether it be in baking or in life, and truly are a family. I feel privileged to have met nine kind-hearted souls who inspire me on the daily.
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
If I were to do it again, I would let go of the nerves and prioritize sleep.
Has being on reality TV positively impacted your career or life since the show aired?
It certainly has impacted my career in a positive way; it’s expanded my network exponentially and provided me with numerous career opportunities both in and out of the baking world.
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
My advice to future applicants would be to be 100 per cent authentically yourself and simply go for it. You have nothing to lose and an experience of a lifetime to gain. Season 7 applications are now open! Do it!
Image Credits: Steve Carty/The Great Canadian Baking Show
Marian Castelino (external link, opens in new window)
Fashion ’05
Grant Proposal Writer, Freelance Designer, Apparel and Accessories Product Manager
What inspired you to apply for The Great Canadian Baking Show — Season 5?
I have always been a huge fan of the show! When people started suggesting I apply for the show, at first I laughed it off because I did not think I would be good enough to get on and they were just being courteous. Being a naturally shy person, I just thought I wasn’t tough enough to handle it. I imagined that I would probably cry a lot, be clumsy and a mumbling mess on TV — all of which turned out to be true! One day, the family and I were watching the show and my husband mentioned again that I should really apply. My daughter started jumping on me, begging me to apply, and I thought ‘Yeah! I will! I pushed aside all the insecurities I had, and I focused on the fact that I was a good home baker and I really did want to be on the show!
What is a favourite memory from your experience?
There were so many good memories and experiences. If I had to pick just one, it would be filming on the last day. All the bakers were together, and we were just goofing around and having so much fun and being very, very loud! I am close to all the other bakers, who are the kindest, loveliest humans ever, and we are in communication almost every day! They are my baking soulmates.
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
There are a number of things I would definitely do differently if given the chance again. I would make my cakes a little less complicated and I would try to handle my nervousness a bit better. After being in the tent and watching the other bakers, I saw how some of them handled the cameras, the stress and how they were able to block out distractions. I definitely would want to emulate that. Also, I would try to stay extra hydrated due to all the crying!
Has being on television positively impacted your career or life since the show aired?
Being on the show has definitely positively impacted my life in many ways. Before I applied to be on the show, I was in a place in my life where I had stopped challenging myself — which was odd because I have always been a go-getter. I think life got comfortable and, in some sense, I also started doubting myself and my abilities and my talent. I am a fairly creative person. I had been drawing blanks when it came to my creativity and the only thing I was being artistic with at that time was my baking. When casting called me to audition and when everything started snowballing very quickly afterwards, I really proved to myself that I still am that ambitious person. Since the show, I have found a confidence in myself that I hadn’t seen in a very long time, and I find myself continuously challenging myself and not shying away from new experiences. I also think it has had an extremely positive impact on my daughter’s life. She is young, but it makes me so proud to see her take risks and put herself in challenging experiences. I’d like to think I had something to do with it.
What advice would you give to other applicants and/or contestants?
If you have watched The Great Canadian Baking Show, you would know it’s a very different sort of cooking competition. It is a high stress, high pressure competition, but it is also a very feel-good show. They not only highlight the talent but also the friendships and stories behind each baker. My advice to those who want to apply is just make sure you are applying as your true authentic self. Highlight your unique story. Make sure your application draws in the reader from the first sentence, because they go through quite a lot of applications!
For those who have been selected, I would say practice the baking, but also remind yourself that you need to be able to stay calm even when things go wrong in the tent. I can safely say every single baker that has had the privilege to bake in the tent will agree with me. So, you really need to be able to collect your nerves and be able to refocus.
The last thing I would say is to be kind to yourself — this goes to both applicants and contestants! Whether you get on the show or not, try to enjoy the experience and keep baking for the real reason you ever picked up this hobby: it makes you happy!
Image Credits: Steve Carty/The Great Canadian Baking Show
Project Runway Canada
Sunny Fong
Sunny Fong (external link, opens in new window)
Image Arts ’99
Creative Director, Vawk (external link, opens in new window) and Vieren (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for Project Runway Canada — Season 1 and Project Runway Allstars?
I did Project Runway Canada back in 2009. At the time, I’d watched Project Runway U.S. and I thought it would be a super fun experience. I also thought there was a chance I could win and pay off debt that I’d accumulated from launching my line in 2004. Luckily, I won! When I got asked to be on Allstars, I said yes! Why not? How often do you get asked?
What is a favourite memory from your experiences on these shows?
My favourite memory was being in front of [Project Runway Canada host] Iman (external link, opens in new window) and showing my work to her and chatting with her in the finale. I’ve followed her work since I was able to buy my first Vogue. To be in the same room with this icon was amazing and having her be a cheerleader of my runway looks was even better.
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competitions?
When I was on Project Runway Canada, I participated for the grand prize, but when we were doing the challenges on set, I didn’t think or realize the fans that resulted after the episodes aired. I would have maybe created a different design to win the ‘Winners challenge’, so my fans could get the look after the challenge aired. I didn’t think I would have a fan base, so I was focused on not getting eliminated.
Did what you learned at TMU influence your success on the shows?
Ha! Good question! I actually graduated from the Film Studies program at The Creative School at TMU. I had an idea about the filming process but the only difference was that I was on the other side. I had no idea what surprises to expect. If anything, the intensity of the TMU film program had built up my time management skills and I was able to be more agile in completing the challenges in time.
What advice would you give to other reality TV applicants and/or contestants?
I would say that once you appear on reality TV your life is going to change in every way. If you’re in a relationship during the filming, you might not be after. The fame beast is a lot for anyone and everyone around you. Privacy is no longer private. And yes, you can get lost in the filming and personality is key on set, but remember your traits are amplified on air, a little bit of bitchiness on set might make you appear to be a huge bitch on TV — so be self-aware and nice.
Jessica Biffi (external link, opens in new window)
Fashion Design ’06
Fashion and Accessories Designer, Blogger at JustBiffi.com (external link, opens in new window)
What inspired you to apply for Project Runway Canada — Season 2?
Seeing the American version, I knew it would be a way to launch my career in a major way. Toronto is a great place in terms of the industry, but difficult to get noticed. There are not many young Canadian designers that are household names, and I knew a show like Project Runway Canada would change that.
What is a favourite memory from your experience on this show?
The whole thing was a rush. It was so foreign, yet fun, and so fast that it all felt like the shortest and longest experience at the same time. I loved how each day was a challenge, some good, some bad. But it made me really push myself and create. I also made some great friends both during the show and post-show, because of being on Project Runway Canada.
What, if anything, would you now do differently in the competition?
I don’t know that I would do things differently. I think with something like Project Runway Canada, when you can’t really anticipate the next move, you just have to be open and willing to challenge yourself. I’m happy with how things happened and I personally got a lot from my season. But I think you need to know who you are and what you stand for before something like that. It’s a lot, so you need to be a little collected to manage it all.
Did what you learned at TMU influence your success on the show?
I think School of Fashion at The Creative School is fast-paced and jam-packed, at least from my experience when I attended. I think the time management and planning that I cultivated over my four years may have helped me during my season.
What advice would you give to other reality TV applicants and/or contestants?
Just be yourself. Be your own advocate. It can be the chance of a lifetime. It can make you a name or a meme, but it’s all based on what you give to the experience. I can’t say that all my fellow cast members had the same experience I had. We all had our moments, but at the end of the day it’s a TV show. Certain things make for good TV and there still needs to be a story to follow at the end of it all. Give them the real you and you will be happy with what you see in the end, no matter the outcome.
Image Credits: Image 1. Elliot Parrott; Image 2. George Pimentel