America's Next Reality Star
America's Next Reality Star
by Laura Heffernan
Life after college isn't as seen on TV: Jen's low-paying job is uninspiring, her boyfriend won't commit, and she just got evicted. The most exercise she gets comes from dodging debt collectors. Then she sees an ad seeking competitors for a new reality show with a $250,000 prize. She desperately needs money and the lottery isn't looking good, so she applies, never expecting
to get the call.
Until she does.
With nothing to lose, Jen packs a bag and heads for the Hollywood hills to star in The Fishbowl. Most of the contestants want to create drama to gain viewer votes, but Jen is all about the joy of the game. Unfortunately, she becomes embroiled in a love triangle and battling another woman for the attention of a fellow contestant. It's tricky balancing act to hold onto viewers without lying, cheating, or backstabbing—things that don't bother her opponents. When Jen discovers that she's on the verge of elimination, she must decide whether "winning" means sacrificing the money, love, or her sense of self.