Memphis native, former Murfreesboro Police officer competes on 'Wheel of Fortune'
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Since childhood, Memphis native and former Murfreesboro Police Officer Skyler Harris dreamed about appearing on ABC's "Wheel of Fortune."
At age 7, she wrote in her diary that she was going to be the next Vanna White — the long-running show's hostess.
"(As a kid) we had a Super Nintendo and my mom got me the 'Wheel of Fortune' game," Harris said.
Her dream came true when she competed on the show, which was filmed last September at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. The show aired Jan. 5.
Harris won $5,000, although she didn't win the match.
Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights at 6:30 p.m. on WKRN Channel 2.
Although Harris called her game show experience thrilling and exciting, Harris gained much more than money.
Each show groups residents from the same states. So Harris competed with Doug Michael from Spring Hill, who she called "a hoot," and Thallen Brassel of Nashville, who graduated from the same Memphis high school as Harris.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, audience members were contestants filming other segments.
"We just hung out and laughed and talked and cheered each other on," Harris added.
Harris — a self-avowed "game show nerd" — has also be a fan and follower of the late Alex Trebek, the longtime host of the game show, "Jeopardy." So she was elated to learn "Jeopardy" shares a studio with "Wheel of Fortune" and her makeup artist worked with Trebek.
"I told her, 'Tell me everything,'" Harris said.
She she did.
"I cried and I cried," recalled Harris, who carried an Alex Trebek magazine article with her to the filming of "Wheel of Fortune."
Previously on 'The Voice'
This isn't Harris' first foray into television. She auditioned on NBC's "The Voice" in 2017. She didn't make it to the next round, but she used the appearance as a platform to share her story in hopes of inspiring others.
Just a week before Harris auditioned on "The Voice,” her sister was killed at work by a boyfriend during a murder-suicide in San Diego. Losing her sister in such a horrific way was immensely painful and dredged up memories of her own struggles with an abusive relationship.
"After 'The Voice,' I got home and realized I wasn't fully healed," Harris said.
So in 2020, she left her job as a school resource officer at John Pittard Elementary to join the Bud George Team at Bob Parks Realty in Murfreesboro.
"There is ministry in everything," Harris said. "I wanted to be able to touch people coming from my heart and it didn't look like it was coming from a badge."
She's also jumped into another public forum with her TikTok account, @Reaching4Sky, where she gives inspirational talks through her new passion of roller skating. Harris continues to work with youth as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes character coach for the Blackman High Lady Blaze basketball team.
Wheel of Fortune: How to compete
Fans can submit applications at wheeloffortune.com/join/be-a-contestant for a chance to be invited to a virtual audition.
Wheel of Fortune: How to compete
Fans can submit applications at wheeloffortune.com/join/be-a-contestant for a chance to be invited to a virtual audition.
'Wheel of Fortune' competitors in recent years with Tennessee Ties
Doug Michael, Spring Hill, 2022
Thallen Brassel, Nashville, 2022
Marquita Johnson, Clarksville, 2021
Emily Keeton, Decatur County, 2021
Molly Rodabaugh, University of Tennessee Knoxville, 2019
Darby McCarthy, Murfreesboro MTSU student, 2019
Lanre Adeola, Spring Hill, 2019
Kristen Shaw, former Middle Tennessee resident, 2019
'Wheel of Fortune' competitors in recent years with Tennessee Ties
Doug Michael, Spring Hill, 2022
Thallen Brassel, Nashville, 2022
Marquita Johnson, Clarksville, 2021
Emily Keeton, Decatur County, 2021
Molly Rodabaugh, University of Tennessee Knoxville, 2019
Darby McCarthy, Murfreesboro MTSU student, 2019
Lanre Adeola, Spring Hill, 2019
Kristen Shaw, former Middle Tennessee resident, 2019
More: A Wheel of Fortune technicality cost her a trip to Nashville. So Nashville gave her a new one.
Know of another Tennessee "Wheel of Fortune" contestant? Email reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com to add names to the list.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Meet Skyler Harris of Murfreesboro, who competed on 'Wheel of Fortune'
