Photo By Staff Sgt. Alex Broome | DCSA Program Analyst, Dr. Tamika Starr recently had the opportunity to be a contestant...... read more read more
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Dr. Tamika Starr, a program analyst at the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) never imagined herself on the glitzy stage of Wheel of Fortune. Yet, a twist of fate led her to submit an online application, and to her astonishment, she was chosen to be a contestant.
Her journey began casually about two years ago. A dedicated Wheel of Fortune viewer, Starr decided to take a chance and apply.
“I just thought, why not? I’ll try my hand at it,” she recalled. She kept her fingers crossed and hoped for the best.
To her surprise, Starr received an email inviting her to participate. At first, she thought it was a scam because no one says “Hey, Congratulations. You’re a winner!”
“I thought, no way, this isn’t real,” she said laughing.
After she realized the offer was real, Starr began her preparations for the show. Her approach was methodical — a binder filled with show rules, strategies and even wardrobe advice became her constant companion.
“I had a ‘magical’ pink binder, and I just went through page by page, making sure everything was accurate and in the right place,” she said. The binder helped calm my nerves and really helped me to focus on the task at hand.” Her husband had a binder too, a blue one, and they studied the details together.
The producers of Wheel of Fortune held practice runs through Zoom. Starr and the other contestants practiced virtually before even being allowed on set. After getting to California, an additional practice run was held to confirm that she did indeed qualify to be on the show.
She faced a huge challenge when she was asked to record a video stating why she wanted to participate on Wheel of Fortune. She came up with the catchy phrase of “the only three words in my household other than ‘I love you’ is Wheel of Fortune.”
Taping was fun for Starr. “My favorite part was just meeting the people that worked on the show behind the scenes. Everyone was so welcoming and made sure we had everything that we needed,” she said.
However, the long hours and the constant hustle were not without their challenges. The taping began early and stretched long into the evening.
“The hardest part was just the endurance — it was a full day. But I knew why I was there,” she said, chuckling about her footwear choice. “I had to wear flats instead of my fancy shoes and that was a real challenge for me.”
When Starr finally got her turn to spin the famous wheel, which was a lot smaller than she thought it would be, the nerves kicked in. As a left-handed contestant, she tried to spin with her left hand, which caused some awkwardness.
“It just looked ridiculous” she admitted. “But after some practice, I finally got the hang of using my right hand and it ended up feeling quite graceful when it was my turn to spin the wheel.”
Despite the initial struggle with the wheel, Starr was ready to face the pressure of solving puzzles in front of the studio audience and the millions of viewers at home.
“I just took deep breaths and relied on the process of elimination,” she said.
Starr’s friends and family were extremely supportive while she undertook this endeavor. She described how they organized watch parties, wore Wheel of Fortune merchandise and even used their creativity to make their own themed treats like Wheel of Fortune burgers and, of course, Vanna White wine.
One of the most memorable moments of the experience was the opportunity to meet Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest.
For Starr, White was more than just a TV personality. “Vanna White is from the same hometown as my parents, so meeting her felt extra special,” she said. “And Ryan Seacrest, he’s a star in his own right. I’m an American Idol fan, so just to have that stardom right in the same circle, was sort of epic.”
Starr has already dreamed about how she will use her winnings, which was a combination of cash and prizes. She has earmarked some funds for savings and a family vacation. Of course, she may also splurge a bit. However, she’s also mindful of her responsibilities, joking that she’s set aside some money for Uncle Sam.
For now, the excitement of being on the show remains fresh in Starr’s mind. As she reflected on the experience, she summed it up perfectly. “It was a joy, from beginning to end.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2025 12:31 |
| Story ID: | 491280 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DCSA Program Analyst Shines Bright on Wheel of Fortune, by Laura Driskell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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