Jeff Lipsky/E!The show premiere of Escape Club is almost upon us and we can't wait to see what happens when you put twelve sexy singles on an island, then open the door to their past that they thought they had escaped from...
You've met the guys and now it's time to meet the girls: From the former model and nursing assistant to the Vegas party girl, there's a lot more to these ladies than meets the eye. Watch out, boys...
Tune-in to the Escape Club series premiere this Sunday, June 8 at 10/9c on E!
Lisa Tursini
Why did escaping from your life appeal to you?
As a sheltered, small town girl, I want the chance to meet new people, especially men (wink-wink), and escape to a tropical paradise filled with experiences that take me out of my comfort zone. I want "my toes in the water, a-- in the sand, not a worry in the world" (Zac Brown Band). Bikini...check. Sunshine...check. Muscles...check. I'm there! It doesn't get much more appealing than that.
What is your greatest fear?
Falling in love with Mr. Right only to find out he's Mr. Right Now.
What was your job before leaving for the island?
Unemployed and confused. I am in a period in my life that I like to call "lost in transition." I have no idea what I want to do! Many tears have been shed over this stressful, HUGE decision. Ideas come and go and then I am back to square one trying to figure out the next step of my life. Ugh!
What's the most money you've ever spent on one thing?
Rent in LA! I had to pay the full amount for one year's rent upfront because I was an unemployed new tenant and, needless to say, that made a huge dent in my savings.
What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
Lying is not in my vocabulary. I believe in karma. However, in my past there were two guys who I was not always honest with when it came to my feelings about the other one or my whereabouts because my heart was on an emotional roller coaster. Shhh...
Why do you think you deserve to escape?
I am having a quarter life crisis and need to escape from my reality! I moved back home to Jersey from Los Angeles and boy, it is such a different lifestyle! As nice as it is to be in my hometown, it is extremely BORING here!! I live at the Jersey Shore, near Seaside, but local life here, especially off season, is a ghost town. Hurricane Sandy has left an aftermath of endless amounts of construction and devastation. My home is still completely gutted and needs an enormous amount of repair, leaving us to rent with the help of FEMA. I had to move back home mostly for financial reasons and to reevaluate my life! Being back under "Mom's roof" is tough after living on my own. (Sorry, Ma, no hard feelings.) I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. I have no desire to further my education at the time. I have been looking online trying to figure out what I can do with my life and what direction to go in...and yet, I have NO IDEA!!! It is very stressful, frustrating and overwhelming! None of my friends are around anymore because they all moved out of state. Therefore, my life is lacking in the social department and I just want to have FUN! At 25, I should be living a life full of excitement, adventure, making good mistakes and not worrying about what I will do for the rest of my life.
What is your greatest regret?
Not being bold enough to seize the moment and take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. I never want to look back on life and say, "Could, woulda, shoulda." Woulda you?
What's a secret talent that you have?
I am Mrs. Inspector Gadget! (*cue music..duh dah duh dah duh Inspector Lisa duh dah duh dah duh oh ohh!) I am quite the detective when it comes to men, which, let's be honest, is every girl's secret talent! I am a mastermind at reading between the lines and getting down to the nitty gritty clues of figuring out what my guy is up to.
What was your worst job?
Working retail in the summer months at the Jersey Shore and having to rerack all the clothes that "Bennys" (non-locals) tried on after they were greasy and sweaty from the beach...what a disgusting mess! Ew. Gross.
What is your motto?
Listen to your gut but follow your heart.
Elly Kho
Why did escaping from your life appeal to you?
I wanted to get out of the monotony of daily life and to feel the way I did when I traveled the world by myself. That sense of wonder, enlightenment and self-exploration is what made me grow so much as a person, and as you get older, responsibilities can kill your creativity. I needed a new perspective to solidify my decision to switch careers, become a kick ass wifey and how to take on my 30s by the balls!
What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is to be old and have regrets and say, "I wish I...when I had the chance." Along with blindness, sharks or ever becoming fat.
What was your job before leaving for the island?
Cardiological, Neurological and Psychiatric Pharmaeutical Sales Specialist with a Fortune 500 company.
What's the most money you've ever spent on one thing?
$160,000
What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
Most were from my hellish teen years. I told my mom in middle school that I was going on a school field trip for the weekend. And I had a phony "permission slip" to give to her. I really went snowboarding and partying all weekend with my girlfriend, sister and a bunch of super HOT older guys who were PROs touring! Sorry, Mom!
Why do you think you deserve to escape?
I have always done the sensible thing. Go to school, get a good job, save money, start a family, act like a lady, etc. My dad taught me to work hard...all the time. Even when I traveled to Australia, Europe and Hawaii, it was always for school. When I traveled to NYC or the Bahamas, it was for work. I have never dropped everything and taken off on a trip, especially when I had so much going on in my life. I gave up a prestigious high-paying position and paid $15,000 to learn cosmetology only to find I'm in class with people who don't have the same opportunities and education as me. Also, planning a wedding is hard to be excited about when my career is doing a 180. All the doubts get to me and I truly feel like I need to get away from myself to gain insight and create specific goals and stop questioning my decision! The end of my 20s is not as fun as I thought it would be. All my friends are dropping off, getting married, broke or plain boring. When did life become all about responsibilites???!! Ew.
What is your greatest regret?
Not surrounding myself with more quality people and mentors in my younger years. I should have been hanging out with the nerds instead of the cool kids!
What's a secret talent that you have?
Essay writing complete with citations and detailing cars like a pro.
What was your worst job?
In high school I took inbound sales calls from people calling on weird infomercials to enhance their lives and other "things." I sold testosterone pills to an 87-year-old woman! I had too big of a heart to do that.
What is your motto?
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathe easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whitney Coulas
Why did escaping from your life appeal to you?
I just recently left Tampa with my fashion dream that I put on hold in hopes of finding myself in the city of Houston. I will also hop on any chance I get to travel and try a new adventure!
What is your greatest fear?
Bleeding at my wrists (almost had a panic attack getting my "Live free" tattoo on my right wrist!)
What was your job before leaving for the island?
Promo model and part-time assistant to an entrepreneur.
What's the most money you've ever spent on one thing?
$2,600 on the transmission of my car. Not cool because I'm a cheap b----!
What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
I don't lie about anything important. I'm a very blunt person.
Why do you think you deserve to escape?
I'm in a great transition in my life with trying to figure out where I want to live so I can settle down and launch my fashion retail site, SOULLESS.
What is your greatest regret?
I don't have regrets. I learn from everything that enters my life, good or bad!
What's a secret talent that you have?
I'm a computer nerd. From drafting house plans on AutoCAD to designing logos in Photoshop, I enjoy anything creative.
What was your worst job?
Never really worked a bad job. I did, although, have some extremely difficult boys for a summer back in high school when I was a nanny that loved to play pranks on me!
What is your motto?
Living a life true to myself, not the life others expect of me.
Petra Davis
Why did escaping from your life appeal to you?
I need to escape my life to relieve some stress. I need some time away from my day-to-day life and time to regroup. I've been really confused about my career choice. I started off majoring in nursing and then switched my major to fashion merchandising to become a buyer. I realized even though nursing is high in demand right now, it's just not something I really had a love for. Fashion merchandishing is more fun for me and allows me to be creative and more myself. Even though I have my degree in fashion now, it still has been a struggle trying to find a job in my field of study, not to mention being in LA makes it even more competitive. People think just because you have a degree it's easier to find a job but in fact it's not and I'm a witness to that. I'm hoping this trip to paradise would help me decide whether I should keep searching for my dream job or reconsider my career choice.
What is your greatest fear?
Right now, my greatest fear is wasting time and being unsuccessful. I'm young right now but I don't want to waste too much time trying to figure things out. I also don't want to make the wrong decision and end up unsuccessful because of it. It doesn't matter how much you plan and how much you think things are in order; you never know how things will end up in life. So I'm hoping to get things in order so I won't waste time and end up successful.
What was your job before leaving for the island?
Before leaving for the island I was a bartender and server at a restaurant/club.
What's the most money you've ever spent on one thing?
The most amount of money I've ever spent on one thing was $10,000 and that was on my car. It was very much worth it. I rather not make payments if I can pay in full. Hello, somebody!!!! Can I get an amen? LOL
What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
The biggest lie I've ever told was about breaking my mom's side mirror on her brand new Mercedes. I tried to get it fixed before she got home but it was way too expensive and wouldn't be done in time. I lied until the end that I didn't know what happened because I was scared as hell. The truth is I made a mistake and broke it pulling up in the garage. I had my license for a few months and had screwed things up already. She knew the truth though; all moms know when their kid is lying. I finally told her when I made 21. ;)
Why do you think you deserve to escape?
I think I deserve to escape because I'm a hard worker. I grind and I'm constantly on the go when it comes to my career. I don't know many 22-year-olds who work as hard and are as independent as I am.
What is your greatest regret?
My greatest regret is not having a healthy relationship with my father. Now that I'm older I realize it affects how I treat and deal with other people. We're slowly moving in the right direction as far as repairing our relationship, so we'll see how that goes.
What's a secret talent that you have?
Most people don't know that I can dance. I was co-captain for my high school and my all-star team.
What was your worst job?
My worst job was a marketing job. The job was based on selling products for a cosmetic line and we were paid on commission. Thing is, it was door-to-door work which was horrible because most people don't like you knocking on their doors to sell anything. At the time I really needed a job and settled for this for a month. That was my first and last time! Never again!!! That experience was so nasty and so rude...
What is your motto?
Keep God first!!!
Lisa Baldassarre
Why did escaping from your life appeal to you?
Escaping appealed to me because I'm over this Vegas life! Been here 4 years, dying for something different.
What is your greatest fear?
Greatest fear would be not finding my true calling in life—I have no direction! AND spiders!!!!
What was your job before leaving for the island?
I work as a bottle service cocktail waitress for the Light Group in Vegas.
What's the most money you've ever spent on one thing?
I bought a Mercedes at 22 and boobs in the same month! 20k
What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
I said I was 21 when I was 18 to a guy I was dating, got away with it for a little while! Haha
Why do you think you deserve to escape?
I deserve to escape because I hate my job, dating, and life in Vegas! I'm desperate for something new!
What is your greatest regret?
I don't live my life with regrets.
What's a secret talent that you have?
A secret talent is that I read people incredibly well when I first meet them.
What was your worst job?
Worst job was a Chinese restaurant when I was 18!
What is your motto?
My motto is to live my life to the fullest until I find my calling. And never lose your integrity no matter what :-)
Meagan Reedy
Why did escaping from your life appeal to you?
Who wouldn't? Everyone needs a break from their everyday life to reflect and grow.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing the love of my life.
What was your job before leaving for the island?
Model.
What's the most money you've ever spent on one thing?
My first car.
What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
Not telling.
Why do you think you deserve to escape?
Everyone can say they have had a rough life, most the time it is self-induced, but for me, I am truly an unlucky person with all the situations that have occured in my life. I have always truly meant to do the right thing.
What is your greatest regret?
Spending more time with loved ones that have passed.
What's a secret talent that you have?
Making people smile.
What was your worst job?
Escape Club JK ;-)
What is your motto?
One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure it's worth watching.