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TechnographCould 'Miss Seventeen' come from University?
By Evangeline Politis
Posted: 10/24/05 Section: Features
Jill Belsley is a regular college freshman with one exception.
This freshman in LAS made it to MTV vying for the title "Miss Seventeen."
"Miss Seventeen" is a brand new program on MTV at 9:30 p.m. that presents 17 college-aged girls who are fighting for a college scholarship, a paid internship and the front cover of Seventeen magazine.
The girls all live in an apartment in New York City and battle in different competitions and challenges to reach their final goal.
She leads a normal life now that she's back on campus, attending class and getting involved in Greek life. No one has recognized her from her appearance on the season premier of the show last Monday, she said.
"It sounds like a good concept for a show, but I think the girls on the show aren't real," said Samantha Johnson, freshman in LAS. "They all seem to have hidden agendas."
Belsley's sorority sister Lauren Baugh, sophomore in LAS, met her for the first time at the beginning of the semester.
"The first time I got to know her was through recruitment," Baugh said. "I got to rush her during open house and of the 60 or so girls I was meeting, she stuck out as being so enthusiastic. She is a very unique and approachable person."
Belsley got involved in the show after clicking on a link found in a bulk e-mail she received in the spring of 2005. From there, she filled out an application with a series of questions, and sent in photos and a 10-minute video, she said.
She was then called to do a phone interview with MTV for about 45 minutes, she said. For the final phase she traveled to Los Angeles. She went through various on-screen interviews and physical and psychological tests.
"They wanted to make sure that each applicant was both mentally and physically prepared for something like this," she said.
Belsley grew up in Morton, Ill., about 10 minutes from Peoria, and said the transition to New York City wasn't that difficult.
"It was amazing," she said. "It was my first experience ever visiting the city, so I had nothing but great expectations for it.
This freshman in LAS made it to MTV vying for the title "Miss Seventeen."
"Miss Seventeen" is a brand new program on MTV at 9:30 p.m. that presents 17 college-aged girls who are fighting for a college scholarship, a paid internship and the front cover of Seventeen magazine.
The girls all live in an apartment in New York City and battle in different competitions and challenges to reach their final goal.
She leads a normal life now that she's back on campus, attending class and getting involved in Greek life. No one has recognized her from her appearance on the season premier of the show last Monday, she said.
"It sounds like a good concept for a show, but I think the girls on the show aren't real," said Samantha Johnson, freshman in LAS. "They all seem to have hidden agendas."
Belsley's sorority sister Lauren Baugh, sophomore in LAS, met her for the first time at the beginning of the semester.
"The first time I got to know her was through recruitment," Baugh said. "I got to rush her during open house and of the 60 or so girls I was meeting, she stuck out as being so enthusiastic. She is a very unique and approachable person."
Belsley got involved in the show after clicking on a link found in a bulk e-mail she received in the spring of 2005. From there, she filled out an application with a series of questions, and sent in photos and a 10-minute video, she said.
She was then called to do a phone interview with MTV for about 45 minutes, she said. For the final phase she traveled to Los Angeles. She went through various on-screen interviews and physical and psychological tests.
"They wanted to make sure that each applicant was both mentally and physically prepared for something like this," she said.
Belsley grew up in Morton, Ill., about 10 minutes from Peoria, and said the transition to New York City wasn't that difficult.
"It was amazing," she said. "It was my first experience ever visiting the city, so I had nothing but great expectations for it.
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