Parkchester native and social worker La Shell Wooten is set to appear on season two of NBC’s reality series “Deal or No Deal Island,” competing against 14 contestants for the largest jackpot in TV history. The show premieres Tuesday, Jan. 7, although the competition took place last year.
Wooten is in her 50s and was born and raised in Parkchester, keeping the same family apartment into adulthood where she raised her two sons, now in their 20s. Though she moved to North Carolina in 2021, she still visits NYC often, and her decades as a native New Yorker helped her hone the mental toughness needed to survive on an island surrounded by intense competitors.
Wooten ended up in the cast of “Deal or No Deal Island” somewhat by mistake. She was bored at home one evening, with bags packed to travel for her son’s graduation, and with nothing else to do, she decided to catch up on TV shows. She had previously recorded season one of “Deal or No Deal Island” and found the concept intriguing, as a fan of the past version of the show hosted by Howie Mandel. But while Mandel hosted from a studio stage, “Deal or No Deal Island” was on another level. “This show was a little bit of ‘Survivor,’” Wooten said.
During a commercial break, a promo came up in search of season two cast applicants, and Wooten was curious to see the required questions. On her phone, she found the application and casually filled in answers just to advance to the next question. She didn’t even know if the application was still active, since she was watching a months-old recording of the show.
“I didn’t really robustly answer any questions,” Wooten said, and she assumed her answers would disappear “into the internet abyss.” But days later, Wooten was shocked to get a call from casting, who said they loved her sense of humor. They quickly started the process of interviewing her and getting her on the show.
“I was completely in shock,” she said. “Most of the prior cast members seemed to be young, hot people, some of whom had participated on other reality shows, including ‘Survivor.’ This can’t be true. I’m in my 50s,” she thought.
Wooten realized that something in her subconscious must have led her to the experience and jumped in wholeheartedly. Before long, she was living among 14 strangers on a tropical island where she said the accommodations were luxurious — totally unlike the rest of the experience.
She and others competed in various physical and mental challenges to increase the total prize money, but there could only be one winner. In the show, hosted by Joe Manganiello, some teamwork is required, but it’s generally every person for themselves, said Wooten.
The group dynamics were complicated. The cast bonded over nighttime conversations, but they were careful not to reveal too much about themselves, as it could be used against them, Wooten said. As a social worker and life coach for over 25 years, she naturally tried to help people get through challenging times on the island — but she also had to hold back, because if other players were in peak form, they could beat her.
“There’s so much dynamics to this game,” she said. The unfamiliar environment added more complexity to the challenge. “We’re in the wild,” and the show put them up against fears both known and unknown, said Wooten.
Although the group was in heated competition, Wooten said she became friends with her castmates and felt uniquely bonded to them. After filming, she and some others took a trip to Los Angeles, where they went to a Lakers game together. Despite the high stakes of the show, “I feel like we kind of came together like family,” she said.
Wooten will travel to New York City to watch the Jan. 7 premiere with friends and family, which will be her first time seeing the show in its entirety. Throughout her time on the island, she had limited knowledge of what everyone else was going through. “I only lived my experience,” she said. Now, she can’t wait to see the bigger picture — how she and others reacted to challenges, the things people said behind each other’s backs and all the drama. “The camera won’t lie.”
Although Wooten never imagined being on a reality show, she said the experience was life-changing. She always had Bronx-born toughness and confidence, but the show took her to new heights. “Now I feel like I can take on a lot more,” she said. “It almost felt like this was chosen for me.”
Over 24 million people reportedly watched season one of “Deal or No Deal Island,” and Wooten said she is excited for the possibilities that come with reaching such a large audience. She plans to write a book about her experience on the show, may launch a speaking tour and hopes to use her “Abandon Ordinary Wellness” brand and coaching skills to help many more people whom she never would have known if not for the show.
Wooten’s life is about to change, and she welcomes it. She was the only Black woman and oldest woman on the show, and the competition tested her physically mentally and emotionally. But having survived the ordeal (without having to get airlifted off the island!) and gained positive connections from it, she feels even more open to life’s surprises. “I feel like I’m 22 again.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
