Salt Lake Magazine Q&A: Utah’s Reality TV Star Brooke Mangum

From the producers of Big Brother, USA Network brings us an all new reality competition—Summer Camp. Sixteen contestants will head back to summer camp in hopes of bringing home a cut of the $250,000 grand prize.

One of those contestants is Utah’s own Brooke Mangum, 23, of Salt Lake City. Known as the “The Model,” and raised in a large Mormon family, tomboy Brooke says she surprised everyone when she shed her ugly duckling exterior and started a modeling career. We sat down and chatted with Brooke about the show and what she hopes to gain from the experience.

Reality TV is a big step for a Salt Lake City girl—what inspired you to audition for Summer Camp?

“When I was given the opportunity to go back to summer camp I thought. Why not? I knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I had to take the chance and just go for it. Also, what truly inspired me to do this was a shot at redemption. It is not often in life we are given the opportunity for a “do-over” and that is what summer camp was for me. Growing up, I was an ugly ducking through and through. I was very awkward and shy. I was chubby and even had a mullet! Summer camp gave me a chance to make new memories as a confident and strong adult.”

You’re up against sixteen other campers. What advantages do you have over the competition that will help you make it to the end?

“I am strong athlete. I played sports all through my childhood. I knew that I may not be the very best at everything, but I was confident in my abilities to make it work and be pretty solid at whatever came my way. Also, I am extremely competitive and will not go down without a fight.”

Summer Camp is a once in a lifetime experience—what do you hope to get out of your time spent on the show?

“I was so blessed to have been apart of this show. I made some true life long friends and I learned so much about myself. I learned that I am capable of much more than I even imagined.”

If you do win, what do you hope to do with your split of the money?

“Start my life. I just graduated college and am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up—$250,000 dollars would help me on the road to achieve my dreams.”