UNVEILED: HOW THE LITTLE GIRL FROM SOUTH CAROLINA BECAME TV LEGEND VANNA WHITE!

Think you know Vanna White? Forget the sparkling gowns and the Wheel of Fortune! We’re peeling back the layers to uncover the surprising journey of the 59-year-old star before she ever touched the spotlight of Wheel of Fortune!

The Life-Changing Name and the Fateful Phone

Few people know that the icon of American television wasn’t born Vanna White. She entered the world in February 1957 in Conway, South Carolina, with the name Vanna Marie Rosich. Her childhood witnessed a major turning point: her biological father, Miguel Angel Rosich, left, and she bravely took the last name of her stepfather, Herbert Stackley White Jr.—the name that would go down in television history.

The “throwback” (TBT) photos Vanna has shared are a portal to her sweet yet quiet past: a family moment in 1961 with her mother Joan Marie, stepfather Herbert, and younger brother Chip White. Furthermore, a picture from 1972 reveals teenage Vanna, sitting beside her brand-new Princess Phone and her cat Cece—proof of the non-stop “phone hours” familiar to every teenage girl.

From Failed Contestant to Colleague of a Legend

Before becoming the queen of fate on the Wheel, Vanna struggled to find her footing in Los Angeles.

In a twist of irony that’s hard to believe, in her early 20s, Vanna helped out with run-throughs to test new game show ideas! Notably, she worked alongside a man who was also struggling for his big break: none other than Alex Trebek—who would later become the legendary host of Jeopardy! Who knew these two icons once crossed paths on a project that went nowhere!

And Vanna’s first televised appearance? It was a memorable “near-miss”! In June 1980, she appeared as a contestant on The Price is Right. Although she didn’t make it onto the main stage, the camera managed to capture the moment she sprinted down to Contestants’ Row after being called from the audience by host Bob Barker.

Age 25: The Sudden Rise Instead of the Wait

After years of hustling, fortune finally smiled on Vanna.

When hostess Susan Stafford left Wheel of Fortune in October 1982, producers went searching for a replacement. At age 25, Vanna White was selected as one of three substitute hostesses. After just two months, her undeniable charm and appeal won over the production team. She was officially named the show’s regular hostess, and as the saying goes: The Rest Is History!

From the little Rosich girl in South Carolina, through game show tryouts and a failed bid on The Price is Right, Vanna White wrote her own real-life fairy tale.