As promised, here’s my interview with Melissa Schultz (aka Miss Awkward), from this season of Tough Love! As I mentioned, she and I are friends in real life (well, her older sister is actually one of my really good friends, and I know Melissa through her), so she let me pick her brain about what was happening during the premiere episode.
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| Melissa Schultz – aka “Miss Awkward” (credit: VH1.com) |
Last night we learned two majorly impressive things about Melissa: she can stick her whole fist in her mouth, and she’s a virgin. We also learned that she is super awkward in an awesome way, and thinks girls should hold out for a “vagina whisperer” (uhm, what?!). In-so-far as the other castmates are concerned, we learned that Tiffany (aka Miss Phony) doesn’t know when to shut her mouth, and that Donna (Miss Ticking Clock) cries… a lot.
Click “read more” to see what was going through Melissa’s head when Tiffany (aka Miss Phony) let her deep, dark secret out of the bag, and what possessed her to whip out the catch-phrase heard round the world.
Did you like the episode? What did you think of Miss Awkward? Let me know in the comments, or on Twitter!
- First off, congratulations for being selected for the show! I know when you were first called out for the interviews you were really excited, so can you run me through what that whole process was like?
- Thank you! I sent a short bio and a few pictures to casting and that night I got a call from one of the casting guys saying that he “love love LOVED” everything about me and called me for a callback, before the actual open call. A few days later I met up with a couple people from casting, sat in front of a camera, and talked the most I’ve ever talked about my dating life. I felt like I was sitting in a psychiatrists office, I felt so relieved to tell these strangers all of my deep dark dating secrets. I told them about all my steamy and passionate…make out sessions, all the guys I’ve dated, and I even put my fist in my mouth! They were cracking up and I felt good about this interview. I was told to pack 10 weeks worth of clothing, even though I might be sent home, yikes!
- We saw in the first episode that you were picked up in a cab by someone working “under cover” for Steve. (We also saw you pick your nose, on camera!) When you found out that you were being filmed/critiqued even then, what was your first reaction?
- Ugh…you noticed me picking my nose? haha. My first reaction was, “pff I figured.” During the interviews we were told not to tell anyone about what we were in New Orleans for, these productions are very secretive. I go into the cab and the driver is asking me all these questions that I feel like I’m not allowed to answer! So…I make up everything. I tell the cab driver that I have a boyfriend who’s an engineer and just go along with my fantasy life, might as well…right?
- When you were on the boat and Tiffany (Miss Phony) blew up your spot with the virginity thing (she announced to a large group of people on the boat – guys included – that Melissa is a virgin!), you seemed genuinely embarrassed. We saw you walk off deck and off camera – what was happening then?
- It was a little embarrassing. I knew that I might have to go on dates with some of these guys and I don’t typically like the person who I’m interested in to know that I’m a virgin off the bat. I feel like they’ll judge me for it. I felt as if Tiffany ruined everything and I would just have to start with a new batch of men.
- I know you’ve got a sister in real life, and your sister definitely knows what it’s life to live in a house full of girls (she and I are sorority sisters), but how was your experience living with six girls you’d never met before?
- Every girls personality was so different. We’re on a television show so of course we’re going to have big and crazy personalities. The first scene when we’re sitting on the couch and Steve’s telling us our nicknames, I felt like I was going to have the most miserable time, these girls did not seem like my friends from back home! Stay tuned to see if we all get along though 😉
- The world wants to know… Vagina Whisperer – seriously? Knowing you, it seems like something you would definitely say, but what compelled you to say it on national television?!
- Why wouldn’t I say it?! Saying “vagina whisperer” is nothing new to me, I say it to my friends all the time! They’re well aware of this phrase…might as well spread it to the women of this world. Why would anyone settle for a man who does not whisper to her vagina?
- When we were first being introduced to all of you, it seemed like Donna (Miss Ticking Clock) was seriously grating on Danielle’s (Miss Low Standards) nerves. And Donna seemed to be a bit overly sensitive about … everything. Was Donna being ridiculous, or were there some things going on that we didn’t get a chance to see that made her so emotional?
- Everything you see is pretty spot on. Donna is just a very emotional person, with awesome energy!
- When you were all getting told how you did on the boat, it seemed like Steve was being super harsh with some people. I was nervous when your turn came up, and when you started crying I felt terrible, but it didn’t seem like Steve was that hard on you (he was definitely worse on some others!) But then – Steve whipped out a huge surprise, the guy you were speaking with on the boat was “smitten” with you, and gave you an 11 out of 10! So – I guess that’s a two-parter:
- Why were you crying?
- Steve can be a really intimidating person, and it didn’t help that I was tired and PMSing.
- What did you think when you found out you were an 11?! (I texted your sister & asked why you didn’t come home with an engagement ring… or did you? Haha)
- Who says I don’t have that ring?! I was shocked to find out that he liked me so much that 1 outta 10 Chris rated me an 11! He really wanted to see me that bad?! holy crap, we might be on to something here!
- On Twitter the next morning you said the most awkward thing after the show aired was going into work after you talked about the “vagina whisperer” on national TV – so how did that go? I know your co-workers were pretty supportive when you left for filming, but how do they seem now that you’re back and they’ve seen just how awkward you really are?
- I’m trying to just ignore the situation at work. Even though I aired all my dirty laundry on national television, it’s not appropriate to talk about most of it in an office. So when they ask me something, I will chuckle, stare at them, and make them feel awkward (what I do best)…and then they’ll leave me alone about it? Hopefully!
- I was super proud to see that when you were all being critiqued, you sat with your ankles crossed, not your legs crossed (when wearing a skirt, crossing your legs at the knees can be dangerous – just ask Britney Spears, who Steve would probably call Miss Panty Flasher!) – did you go into the show consciously thinking about all the things like that that you should/shouldn’t do on TV, or are you just naturally that classy?
- I don’t even know where that came from! Maybe I self consciously knew I had to redeem myself from putting my fist in my mouth. I remember later that week in group, my legs were crossed and Despina told me to cross at my ankles. Those girls always have my back!