MU student chosen for reality show

MU student Mindi Emanuel’s friends and family thought they were getting “punk’d” when she told them she had been chosen for Ashton Kutcher’s new reality show, “Beauty and the Geek.”

“I found out she was on the show when she called me over Christmas break and was like, ‘I’m in California!’ I couldn’t believe it,” said Alissa Voran, Emanuel’s roommate.

The show, led by Kutcher, actor and host of the MTV show “Punk’d,” will have its premiere at

7 p.m. on The WB.

While filming in California for 2½ weeks last December, Emanuel wasn’t allowed to speak to friends and family. Under the terms of her contract, she cannot give interviews until after the show’s six episodes air.

Emanuel, an aspiring actress, performed in a low-budget film in high school and acted in her sorority’s skits during MU homecoming and Greek Week. Her agent in Kansas City brought the reality show audition to her attention, and Emanuel sent in a tape and application in September. After that, she had to survive numerous rounds of interviews before she was selected.

“She just would tell us every day that ‘Hollywood’ called back again asking her some more questions,” Voran said.

The show, which was taped in December, brought together two social stereotypes: the socially-awkward “geek” and the intellectually challenged “beauty.”

Seven males from the first group and seven females from the second competed in pairs in various events.

The women participated in academic challenges such as spelling bees and rocket building, and the men competed in fashion designing and in a dance contest. At the end, the most-improved couple won a $250,000 prize.

Emanuel, a special education major from Lee’s Summit, and member of Alpha Delta Pi’s chapter at MU, is billed as the show’s “sorority girl.” She was paired with Richard, who the show noted for never having kissed a girl.

Friends hope Emanuel is portrayed fairly.

“I think that sorority-girl type is what they were looking for and that’s just how they’re going to edit the show,” a friend, Jacquelyn DeBonville, said. “I hope they portray her as a good person, because that’s what she is.”

According to friends, Emanuel enjoyed her reality TV experience and hopes it may lead to something more.

“She’d really like to move to L.A. and become an actress,” Voran said. “With all the friends she made with the cast and crew, I can tell that she’s really glad that she did the show.”