Did BikiniMom Win a Spot on Oprah Winfrey Network's New Reality TV Program "Your Own Show"?

The long-awaited Oprah Winfrey Network premier of Oprah's break-out reality TV competition "Your Own Show" finals is set to premier this coming January 7, 2011 Friday at 9/8 C. This is OWN's search to find the next TV Talk Show star from their viewing audience. For several weeks in the summer of 2010 auditions were conducted in-person all over the United States. There were 5 categories from which competitors could choose to enter: traditional talk show, cooking, interior design/fashion, health & wellbeing, and wildcard. Competitors were also welcome to participate via online video submission. 8 of the finalists were determined by online voters. The final 2 slots were chosen directly by OWN staff. There were thousands of people who auditioned but only 10 finalists were selected to compete in the finale where they will be put through a series of trials to see who will ultimately be awarded the grand prize: their very own TV talk show.

I've long been a fan of "The Oprah Winfrey Show"; been watching since I was in my late teens. As a matter of fact an important bit of wisdom I'd heard Oprah state on one of her shows over 20 years ago has become one of my most important mantras. She posed the question, "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?"

Now at the age of 43 I've been a wife and mother, had a career in fitness modeling, been a certified fitness professional, appeared on several talk shows, and had a radio show. I am an entrepreneur and freelance writer. I thought, "I have just as good a chance as anybody else." For years, people have been telling me that I should have my own TV talk show. So when I saw the advertisement for the "Your Own Show" Reality TV Show competition I made the decision instantly to enter. It seemed to make total sense to me.

But I soon found out, the actual follow-through wasn't nearly as easy as making the decision to enter. I had just missed the date for local in-person auditions. I was so far behind the other online submissions that were posted many weeks earlier I felt I really had no chance to gain the votes necessary to become a finalist. I was crest-fallen. But my husband wouldn't let me chicken out. He all but forced me to make an audition video. (I really love that man.) ...and then of course, there was Oprah's mantra in my head. So I decided that I would enter regardless of the fact that I had very little chance of actually winning, because being happy with myself and my choices were far more important to me than the fear of losing. The "being right part" of that bit of wisdom I'd heard Oprah state on her show all those years ago had to do with winning.

So I put my self-doubt aside, decided which category would most effectively convey my point of view and like the Nike ad states, I "just did it". But it seemed that no matter what I did I failed to produce an acceptable submission. Whatever could go wrong, did. Then with only a few hours before the end of the submission deadline the servers were functioning at a snail's pace and would constantly crash. I wanted to scream. And I did... several times. But there was my husband, by my side. He just wouldn't let me give up. Finally, after a day that seemed like an eternity in hell, I was able to successfully submit my audition video. And then began the daunting task of trying to promote my audition hoping that I could get enough votes to feel like my efforts weren't for naught. My friends and family were very kind and supportive so that made me feel good. But the response from total strangers really made me feel like I had won regardless of the fact that I would not progress to the finals. I was able to get a little over 100 hundred votes per day in the less than 3 remaining days of competition. I knew I wouldn't progress to the finals but I was proud of my efforts.

Oprah was correct all those years ago. It is far more important to be happy. I wouldn't take back my audition attempt to win OWN's "Your Own Show" for anything because it helped me to feel like I was able to affect everyone who viewed my audition in a positive manner. Perhaps OWN will offer opportunities in the future. You can bet the house that BikiniMom will be on her game and ready.