Vanna White: Constant as the Northern Star
Everything changes — except Vanna… How she’s endured 37+ years in ever-changing times…
I rediscovered my forgotten Vanna White story — something I’d written fresh out of college. The very next morning, there she was again, discussing her 37-year modeling gig.
Vanna White seems immortal. I feel like me — and the whole wide world — have changed a lot in the 33 years since I last wrote about her. Other famous people of that 1980s era (Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci come to mind) have changed (or at least aged a bit) to lesser degrees. Massive change is now roaring all around us at warp speed.
But Vanna, now 63, is as steady and constant as the Northern Star. And that seems incredibly comforting right now.
What I learned living in “Vanna World’’
I arrived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina four and a half years after Vanna White started her job on “Wheel of Fortune.’’ Her home turf was suddenly my new home. Beach lovers come and go to this beautiful travel destination, a corner of the South that keeps pulling people back (including Vanna).
“Vanna-Mania” was still strong when I arrived in 1987. Her home town changed its welcome signs to say “Welcome to North Myrtle Beach, the home of Vanna White.’’ The Grand Strand was — and remains — the source of her better way of living and loving life. The signs remain today.
“During her high school years, White was a cheerleader,’’ I wrote in an article for the Chicago Tribune. “Last summer, she returned to her hometown to serve as Grand Marshal of the Sun Fun Festival parade, an annual event that is known for its numerous bathing beauty contests.
“With her golden tan and sun-streaked hair, White still fits in well with the area’s other beach natives. There are many indications that the tourist-oriented area might be producing many women ready and eager to follow in White`s footsteps.’’
We are taught to plan for five careers over our lifetimes…
Thirty-three years after my last Vanna story, no one has toppled her. She hasn’t really aged. Vanna still endures and excels: still doing the same thing she’s been doing for a living since 1982.
As a fashion model, she is part of an industry where jobs, popularity and careers are intensely short. Models and movie stars come and go. Beauty fades. But Vanna’s Wheel “modeling gig’’ will last at least four decades.
Merriam-Webster declared her a verb, saying “To Vanna White’’ means “to clap.’’ She’s worn more than 7,000 different dresses since coming onto the national airwaves, a different outfit on each episode.
“I touch letters and they light up,’’ she says, explaining her job. “I feel like I hold my own on that show.’’
The reason Vanna White remains a fixture of American culture
In the current global crisis — as in every crisis — she has been there every night, taking Americans through:
- The last four recessions.
- Three wars, 9–11 and the financial meltdown.
- The service of six U.S. presidents.
Vanna’s connection to her audience is the key. The contestants represent us, the American people. When any contestant messes up, she feels what they’re going through, showing she genuinely cares.
She understands suffering: Her fiancé, actor John Gibson, was killed in a 1986 plane crash. Six years later, she was married to George Santo Pietro when she suffered a miscarriage, adding: “I’m a Christian and have always had my own personal relationship with God… I don’t preach about it, because everyone’s entitled to their own beliefs. But I pray. I pray every day.”
Last December, she filled in for host Pat Sajak for three weeks, stepping in and doing a stellar job as solo host. Her contract runs until at least 2022, 40 years after she first went to work on the nationally-syndicated show.
The Way of Vanna: Identity leads to mission
“It was wonderful back then, we didn’t have to lock our doors, we left the keys in the car,’’ she told CBS, recalling her South Carolina days.
The South Carolina friendliness, Southern style, charm, and determination remain. She’s always known what she wanted:
- At age 10, she decided she wanted to be in show business.
- By age 12, she took a trip with her family to New York City, visiting the set of the TV game show “Concentration.’’
- She studied at Atlanta’s School of Fashion and Design.
- By 1980, at 23, she moved to Los Angeles “with $1000 to my name.’’
- While waitressing, she applied to replace Susan Stafford, the original “Wheel of Fortune’’ letter turner, and won the role in 1982.
Wheel host Pat Sajak didn’t recommend her because he thought she seemed “nervous’’ but producer Merv Griffin said he instantly saw:
“The camera loves her face,’’ Griffin said. “I told her ‘You and Pat make a great brother and sister team.’ … She turned the letters better than anyone else.’’
The Myrtle Beach secret that Vanna knows by heart…
Soon after arriving in Myrtle Beach, a fellow journalist was writing about the large number of bathing beauty contests held weekly in Grand Strand bars. Contestants would strut around, winning cheers while competing for $500.
My colleague asked me to review the contestants and guess who would win. The winner would know a secret that is second nature to our beloved Vanna.
Being 22 at the time, I chose the contestant who appeared to be the most attractive. I was wrong. My colleague laughed, shook her head and pointed to the eventual winner, predicting exactly who would. How did she know? Because the winners of those contests knew what Vanna knows:
“The winner was the one who made the most eye contact with the audience, the one who made a true, personal, loving connection, looking right at you — who seemed to genuinely care the most. That’s who always wins.’’
