A beloved game show icon faced scandal and the potential loss of her career after making a controversial decision to secure her financial independence.
For four decades, America has cherished Vanna White‘s presence on the beloved game show Wheel of Fortune, where contestants spin a wheel to earn money while solving word puzzles. As contestants guess letters, Vanna gracefully reveals the correct letters on the puzzle board, a task that has become digital in recent years. Her captivating charm has been a staple of the show since 1982.
Co-starring with host Pat Sajak, the duo’s reign on Wheel of Fortune has spanned forty successful seasons, endearing the show to American audiences and earning the title of America’s Game. Before Wheel, Vanna was a beauty queen and even competed in Miss Georgia 1978 pageant. Born in Conway, South Carolina, in 1957 as Vanna Marie Angel, she would eventually move to pursue her dreams.
Following high school, Vanna attended the Atlanta School of Fashion in Georgia. After completing her studies, she headed to Los Angeles to chase a career in the film industry. In the early 1980s, she took on a few acting roles in projects like Gypsy Angels, Graduation Day, Looker, and Star of the Family.
In 1982, Vanna White auditioned with 200 other hopefuls for the hostess role on NBC’s Wheel of Fortune. Her charisma and talent shone through, securing her the position alongside Pat Sajak. Both have since become Game Show Hall of Famers. Beyond Wheel, Vanna starred in the NBC movie Venus: The Goddess of Love, was mentioned in Weird Al Yankovic’s song “Stuck In A Closet With Vanna White,” and appeared as a minor character in Paper Mario for Nintendo 64.
However, viewers were stunned when Vanna White appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine in 1987. Fans struggled to reconcile her wholesome image with the provocative photoshoot. In reality, Vanna had agreed to the shoot to make ends meet and pay her rent.
At sixty years old, she shared with Fox News:
“I was young and I wanted to do it on my own. So, I did these lingerie shots and from the moment I said I would do them, I thought, ‘I shouldn’t be doing this, but I’m not going to ask my dad for money, so I’m just going to do it!'” After the Playboy cover, Vanna expressed her regret to Johnny Carson, saying, “I’m so sorry… I made a mistake, I’m sorry and I just hope I don’t lose my job over it.”
Vanna even sued Playboy for $5.2 million, claiming the magazine had damaged her “family audience” reputation. Fortunately, Wheel of Fortune chose to keep her, allowing Vanna White to continue captivating audiences for decades to come.
Source: AWM