Top by Lauren Conrad; Jeans by Jayime Jean; Necklaces by Shari Wacks
As a student at Chapman University, Wilson majored in Television Production and Broadcast Journalism and was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. An avid dancer, Wilson’s showbiz experience mainly revolved around her dance talent, and she would occasionally take dancing gigs on TV and film sets when given the chance. It wasn’t until her mother came across an intriguing opportunity for her daughter to participate in KTLA’s Morning Show broadcast journalism competition that Wilson learned her talent for speaking was just as strong as her knack for movement. After getting her application in just under the wire, Wilson was selected as one of 16 finalists to compete for a $25,000 prize by doing live reports from their college campuses. Week-by-week, Wilson gradually beat out the other 15 competitors and eventually won the competition. “It was hard because I graduated a semester early so this was my last semester of school. I was doubling up on credits and trying to get everything done before graduation. It lasted from the beginning of October until the end of November. It was a crazy couple of months,” she recalls.
Romper by Dolan; Shoes by Marc by Marc Jacobs; Necklace by Shari Wacks
Thinking her 15 minutes might be up, Wilson concentrated on graduation and her future career aspirations, but it wasn’t long before destiny knocked on the door (or in this case, called) yet again. Wilson received a call from a CAA agent requesting a meeting with the bright-eyed Hollywood newcomer. “I got a call from someone a CAA who was an assistant to one of the broadcasting agents who went to Chapman. I actually didn’t know much about CAA at the time. When I researched on Wikipedia I was like, ‘Of course I’ll take the meeting!’”
Wilson scrambled to type out a resume, throw a reel together and grabbed a headshot that was about three years old. Luckily the meeting went well enough to score her a second meeting and eventually got her signed with CAA’s broadcasting department. Wanting to explore the acting world a bit more, Wilson soon managed to talk the agency into signing her as an actress.
It wasn’t long before she landed her first role, playing a parody of Lindsay Lohan in the comedy spoof Meet the Spartans. Wilson enjoyed the filming experience immensely and has fond memories of her first taste of life as a movie star. “They flew me out and put me up in a hotel in New Orleans — I guess that’s normal, but I had no idea. I walked into my own hotel room and there was this fruit basket. I was like, ‘What is going on? I’m nobody!’”
Top and shorts by Dolan; Necklaces by Shari Wacks; Shoes by Velvet Angels
Wilson can be seen next as a sorority girl (not too far of a stretch for the DG alum) in August’s The House Bunny. The film is about a group of misfit sorority girls who eventually gain popularity on campus thanks to their new house mother, a former Playboy bunny. Wilson plays a member of the rival sorority. “We filmed at USC so it was cool and very over the top in terms of portraying college life,” she says noting she really enjoyed working with a group of actresses her age. “I got really close with the girls on set. I loved going to work every day,” she recalls. “It was 15 hour days, but it was worth it. It was like getting to hang out with sorority sisters all day.”
Wilson hopes to continue building on her acting career and would love to work with stars like Keri Russell and Jake Gyllenhaal who, she jokes is “taken — but there’s plenty of men in Hollywood!” For now, she’s just living in the moment and enjoying the work as it comes. “It has its ups and downs,” she says, “but I’ve loved every second of it.”
By Jillian Gordon
Photography: Bobby Quillard
Styling: Jocelyn Alvarez
Clothing provided by: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jayime Jean, Lauren Conrad, Shari Wacks, Dolan and Velvet Angels.
Hair/Make-up: Kristen Browning
Location: Delta Gamma House, UCLA
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