Photo courtesy of Carol Kaelson. Christel Tucker, a Renton resident and flight attendant, stands at the wheel at Wheel of Fortune. Her episode airs Monday, Jan. 20.

Photo courtesy of Carol Kaelson. Christel Tucker, a Renton resident and flight attendant, stands at the wheel at Wheel of Fortune. Her episode airs Monday, Jan. 20.

Rentonite spins the wheel of her dreams

Local finds herself winning thousands on Wheel of Fortune

Christel Tucker was shaking when she received the letter in the mail. She dropped the other mail on the floor. After watching the show with her family her whole life, she would be on Wheel of Fortune.

Now the Renton resident, a flight attendant and graduate of University of Washington, is excited as her episode aired this week, where she won several thousand dollars and a trip to Southern Italy, a combined $27,398 valued prize.

Wheel of Fortune has always been a nightly routine with her parents, grandparents and siblings. She said they all try to be the first person who figures out the puzzle, and shout the answer. Tucker also told her college roommate and others that she’d always wanted to be on the show.

Over the summer, the Wheelmobile had an event in Tacoma. Tucker went with her grandmother on their day off, who both filled out forms and didn’t get called to try out. She thought that was the end of the road, and never imagined it would work out. Then she randomly got an invite-only audition in Seattle, and two weeks later was selected to be a contestant. During these auditions, you introduce yourself, spin a fake wheel, call letters out and attempt practice puzzles. Having watched it her whole life, she felt confident but was “very sure” they weren’t going to pick her.

Tucker was a contestant during the show’s “British Landscapes” week. The week will also be featured on a “Behind the Wheel” webseries that gives an inside look at how the shows came together, available to watch at youtube.com/user/wheeloffortune.

The set was really beautiful and colorful, Tucker said. The “British Landscapes” theme also made her feel oddly comforted and as if she was “made” for that theme, she said. She’s frequently vacationed to London, and enjoyed seeing the displays of scenic destinations. She also enjoyed getting to go through professional hair and makeup.

What most surprised her was the size of the puzzle board. Vanna White is tall, but even seeing it in person is double her height. Tucker said she felt she had to turn her head to see the whole board. The wheel is also heavy and required a few practice spins. Watching on TV, she said you don’ realize all the things contestants need to look at, like a used letter board, the puzzle board and the other contestant’s prize amounts.

Even though it’s a game show, Tucker said the contestants were encouraged to think of each other as possible winners instead of adversaries— what they really compete against is the wheel. But she was the contestant who ended with the most money and moved on to the bonus round. She was very close to winning a green Mini Cooper. She really wanted to win a car, and can’t believe how close she got.

She admitted most of time while filming she can barely remember, from excitement and shock, so she’s excited to learn more about what she won when she watches it at home this week. Tucker filmed her episode in late fall and had to keep her participation under wraps for months, so she’s purposefully not looked at her paperwork of her winnings to help her keep it under wraps.

She said she’s going to be moving soon from her family home in Renton to Austin, Texas, and will use the winnings to help with the costs. She is also excited about her trip to Italy— she’s visited Rome once briefly but this will be a new experience for her. Now she has to decide who to bring with her.

Tucker also said her grandma, the same one who auditioned for the show with her, is a lovely person, and hopes viewers know that even though she forgot to smile and wave when she gets introduced on camera. The show airs weeknights at 7 p.m. on KOMO 4.

More in Life

Photo by Haley Ausbun. The International Lion Dance & Martial Arts Team performed in honor of Lunar New Year at the event, Jan. 28 at Renton Technical College 2020 Celebrity Chef event. RTC President Kevin McCarthy and Advanced Sommelier Christopher Chan participated in the demonstration, offering heads of lettuce to the lions. The Lion Dance is meant to bring good luck.
A tasty Lunar New Year

Renton Technical College got a tasty start to the new year with… Continue reading

PHOTO BY HALEY AUSBUN
Tommy the Turtle returns

Historic, interactive art placed at Kennydale Beach

Photo by Haley Ausbun. On Jan.22 about 60 St. Anthony’s students put together gift bags with school supplies for their sister school in Haiti, with the help of the WE and NFL Huddle for Good initiative. The schools connected after the devastating earthquake in Haiti killed a young missionary connected to the parish in Renton.
Students volunteer for sister school in Haiti

St. Anthony’s Parish works with WE, NFL for students

Casey Pearson, Natalie Schlappi and Oliver Taylor are Renton Rotary Club’s January 2020 Teachers of the Month.
Teachers of the Month for January

As part of their commitment to education, and to celebrate teachers in… Continue reading

Photo by Haley Ausbun. Have you visited the Highlands new brewhouse? The new Bickersons Brewhouse opened on Nov. 9. Two months later, Jan. 9, business leaders and the Renton Chamber of Commerce celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting, featuring owners Frank Castro and Shaunn Siekawitch. Go bicker with the “Bickersons” at 4710 NE Fourth St., Renton.
Ribbon cut for new Renton brewhouse

Photo by Haley Ausbun. Have you visited the Highlands new brewhouse? The… Continue reading

January’s Rotary Youth of the Month

Rotary members recognize three Renton School District high school students each month… Continue reading

Photo courtesy of city of Renton. Future Mayor Armondo Pavone talks to Mayor Denis Law during his final council meeting, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Law looks back on legendary career

Local leaders express warm wishes for Mayor’s retirement

Our top clicked stories of 2019

What were readers interested in most last year?

Renton’s biggest stories of 2019

Election 2019 This year Renton said goodbye to longtime community leaders, as… Continue reading

Photo courtesy of BRAGG Project
                                REACH Center of Hope Volunteer Coordinator Kinza Shafir and BRAGG Founder Ezra Lucien, 9.
For this local kid, Christmas is like running a nonprofit

Nine-year-old Ezra Lucien runs BRAGG project to help other children

Council gives Persson long, duly earned goodbye

Don Persson retires long Renton career

Photo courtesy of Handsome Devil Ink. Owners Maggie and Ryan Hammond with Bad Santa (center) at their annual Bad Santa Food Drive.
Bad Santa’s good charity

Local tattoo shop collects 800 pounds of food