Top Ten Reality TV Stars Who Have Become Actual Stars [Slideshow]

by Steve Krakauer | 4:47 pm, August 5th, 2010

» 14 comments

We see more and more reality shows now than ever, and that means more and more reality “stars.” But which reality TV stars have become actually famous? Here’s our list of the top 10.

Note: to make the list, you had to get your start on a reality show that you technically couldn’t get famous for anyway – American Idol or Project Runway contestants, for example, don’t make the cut.

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Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has become so famous, her fourth place finish on the second season of Survivor is almost an afterthought. She has been co-host of The View for seven years, and her conservative politics has separated her from the rest of the group (and leading to some famous confrontations). She's also a best-selling author - and has far surpassed the fame of Playboy-posing fellow Survivor cast member Jerri Manthey.

Snooki and The Situation

Jersey Shore has successfully famous cast members - I'm sorry, it happened. Nicole Polizzi and Michael Sorrentino were just unknown guidos and guidettes this time last year, but now Snooki and The Situation are endorsing diets, dietary supplements and even writing a book. Sure, we're still in the first fifteen minutes - but these two (out of the eight total) are most likely here to stay.

Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port

Out of all the ladies of Laguna Beach and The Hills, Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port have separated themselves for some serious discernible talent. They are now entering the fashion world, with a clothing line each. We'll give runners-up consideration here to Audrina Patridge and Kristin Cavallari who are "actresses."

The Miz

Mike Mizanin was a 2001 cast member on The Real World's Back To New York season, and went on to participate in a few Real World/Road Rules challenges. But at the time he always talked about wanting to be a professional wrestler. Well dream come true - The Miz has racked up an impressive array of championship belts in the WWE since he joined in 2004.

Jacinda Barrett

Jacinda Barrett may be the most talented former reality star on the entire list. The former Real World cast member (fourth season, in London) has an impressive filmography, with starring roles recently in New York, I Love You, School For Scoundrels, The Last Kiss and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Runner-up: Colleen Haskell, of Survivor, and Rob Schneider's The Animal.

Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel started as a contestant on the Martha Stewart edition of The Apprentice, but since she's become a Housewife her fame as taken off. She's a natural foods chef, yes, but also an author and exercise DVD-er.

Bob Guiney

Former Bachelor Bob Guiney has moved past giving out the roses to various hosting gigs, including on GSN and TLC. He's also in a band called "Band From TV" that has Hugh Laurie in it so he has to be famous. Runner-up: another former Bachelor - Travis Stork, co-host of The Doctors.

Jon & Kate Gosselin

Jon & Kate Gosselin are famous because of their reality show with their eight kids. We'll give the edge to Kate because she's a best-selling author (really) and a Dancing With The Stars contestant.

New York

Tiffany Pollard wasn't just the runner-up to knowing what time it was with Flava Flav once - she was the runner-up twice. But that was just the beginning for New York - she has taken the lead of four VH1 reality shows herself. Now she's in the theater (seriously), including The Vagina Monologues.

Kevin Powell

Finally, let's end on an uplifting note. Kevin Powell was a Real World original - on the first season of the show in 1992. Since then he's been a writer, activist and now is running for Congress. Runner-up: another Real World alum running for Congress: Sean Duffy.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, I am the huffington post, lauren conrad, reality tv, Slideshow, Snooki, The Real World, The Situation

http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Years from now , people will speak in hushed tones of such legends as Snooki , Olby and Seacrest and wonder . Were they real or just a bad dream ?
DukeCO

Outside of Hasselbeck, I wouldn’t call any of them stars. You’re actually being quite gracious with most of them.
Jon Bershad

True fact, I continued watching the second season of Survivor much longer than I normally would have because I totally had a crush on Elizabeth and Amber.
redleaf

The word celebrity has been watered down so much that anyone who acts like a jackass on a reality show has a damn good shot of becoming famous.
And because a generation of kids has grown up on this fare, to them Snooki et al are really stars. More famous and more interesting than any actor or writer.
http://twitter.com/CRZ CRZ

Totally unrelated trivia: did you know Kristen Wiig’s first high profile gig was as Dr. Pat Lane on Spike TV’s un-reality series “The Joe Schmo Show (2003)?”

(Probably, if you caught the recent marathon)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Westover/1496648721 Tony Westover

What the hell is Lauren Conrad doing on this? I thought you said this was a list of REALITY show stars, not scripted show stars.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

I only heard of 3 out of 10.
notsofast

Conrad is hot.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Gilmore/503263848 Daniel Gilmore

I think an honorable mention should go to Jesse Palmer… ABC/ESPN College Football Analyst who was also on The Bachelor.
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Elizabeth . Hmm . …Hello darlin’ .
kit9

Lauren is also a successful author.
dirk347

I’d agree with most comments that Hasselback would be about the only one on this list that deserves to be. Perhaps Lauren Conrad but that’s about it. I guess that goes to show that you can’t expect much out of “reality” tv these days. (Which shouldn’t surprise anyone).

I’d equate it to old tv shows you liked as a kid and when you grew up and watched re-runs of them you wondered “What did I ever see in this?”

Actually I didn’t realize Hasselback was on a reality show so I guess you learn something new every day.
Jon Bershad

CRZ, I watched that show recently (mostly out of curiosity after skimming Wiig’s IMDB page) and it may have been the hardest case I’ve ever had of not being able to tell if I hate something or love it. I think the fact that I read interviews with the “victim” after where he talked about how much it ruined his life might have hurt my enjoyment.

Fascinating premise though and Wiig was a lot of fun.
Cliffy44

Comparing Elisabeth Hasslebeck to the brain-dead Joy Blowhard would be like comparing a royal dinner of steak, lobster and pheasant to a 2 pound steaming festering mound of 4 day old dog