Vanna White Opens Up About Her 40-Year Gig: ‘I’m Not Playing a Character. I Am Who I Am’

Here’s something to make your wheels spin—would you recognize Vanna White in a sweatsuit?

Keep in mind that she doesn’t really look like Vanna White when she’s not filming Wheel of Fortune. Though White exclusively wears gorgeous evening gowns on the job, she’s the opposite of a designer clotheshorse in her day-to-day life. She says she prefers lounging in a casual sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. She doesn’t get her hair and makeup professionally done as she runs out the door, either.

Jumping on a Zoom for her Parade interview from the set of Wheel of Fortune, she insists, “I did not look like this two hours ago!”

And yet, White says she’s often stopped by adoring fans.

“It’s actually surprising to me,” she says. “I think when you’ve been on TV for 40 years, people do see you and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, she looks familiar!’”

That’s because White is more than just familiar. From the moment the pageant contestant and aspiring model started turning letters on the syndicated game show back in 1982, she single-handedly lit up television screens across the country. Her supernova status in the 1980s led to a Wheel of Fortune name-check in Billy Joel’s history-lesson classic “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Even now, a bad day can be instantly erased by watching her stand by the letterboard, smiling and looking glam as she cheers on the contestants trying to solve a puzzle.

In fact, the North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native remains such a reassuring presence that it’s all too tempting to just refer to her by her distinctive first name.

But White, 67, recently helped usher in a new era of Wheel of Fortune. Legendary host Pat Sajak retired earlier this year; Ryan Seacrest has been tapped to fill his sizeable shoes. Now in the opening moment of each episode, White walks out to the set arm-in-arm with the congenial American Idol host and later banters with him just before waving goodnight.

“Ryan just stepped right in,” she says. “He did so much rehearsing and really cares about the show. Hopefully that’s what America sees.”

When we spoke in August, White had already filmed with Seacrest for a few weeks. She tapes six episodes a day, 34 days a year, for a total of roughly 195 episodes a season. (“It’s a well-oiled machine,” she says.) In her off-time, she and her longtime boyfriend, building developer and construction company owner John Donaldson, enjoy traveling and playing golf. She’s also a proud mom to son Nicholas (“Nikko”), 30, and daughter Giovanna (“Gigi”), 27, from her previous marriage to restaurateur George Santo Pietro.

In short, life is good—and she’s appreciative of it.

“I want to thank all the people out there who watch and enjoy Wheel of Fortune,” she says. “I would not be here without them.”

Before filming her episodes, White answered all our questions for this week’s Parade cover story—and she didn’t even have to buy a vowel!

Mara Reinstein: So how is filming going so far?

Vanna White: It’s going well; it really is. Ryan is a professional. We all know that he’s well-liked. He’s a kind person, he’s down-to-earth, and he’s hard-working. He’s doing a good job.

What was that first day like?

It was obviously very different after working with someone for 41 years. But I don’t compare the two. I just think of it as a new era, because we also have a new set and a new puzzle board. But I’m so happy that they hired Ryan because he does not want to replace Pat. He said, “I’m here to just do a good job.”

Did you two know each other at all beforehand?

Yes, he and I met about 20 years ago. It’s not like we were good friends, but we’d run into each other occasionally. Obviously now that we’re working together, we have become better friends and gone to dinner a few times. I wanted him to meet my family, and I wanted to meet some of his family. And we work together well when we’re here at the studio.

And how is Pat doing? Have you talked to him?

Absolutely. We’re friends, and we’ll remain friends, and we’ll still go out to dinner and hang out for sure.

He seemed ready to go, no?

Everybody chooses when it’s time to retire, and that’s his choice. I wasn’t ready to retire, so that’s why I’m continuing on. But Pat will be continuing with Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. We haven’t recorded those episodes yet, but the shows will be airing this fall.

Why weren’t you ready to retire?

Because I enjoy it. I love coming to work. I love watching people win. I love changing people’s lives. There’s a lot of stuff on TV that is so dramatic, and this is a half-hour of family fun and escape from so much. It’s such a positive family show. I love being part of that. So I’m not ready to leave.

Do you get jitters at all before a show?

I don’t get nervous before a taping. I’ll tell you, though, sometimes I get nervous because I have on really high heels or stilettos. Or sometimes I think, Am I going to trip on my dress? So I wear things that make me nervous.

The show’s essence has stayed the same, but it’s gone through a few changes. Remember when contestants had to shop for prizes with their winnings mid-episode?!

I do not miss that! Now it’s so energetic. It’s so exciting to have $1 million on the wheel. And my role on the puzzle board has changed. When I first started, I had to physically turn every letter. Then they switched to TV monitors, so I just had to touch the letters and they would light up. Now the board is operated by a laser. It’s like a flat screen. And when I go to touch the letter, the laser catches my movement. It’s crazy, right?

So if the letters can light up automatically …

I’m telling you right now, don’t say it. They need me!

But seriously, why do you think your presence is so important after all these years?

Well, with all the electronics today, obviously they could do it without me. But people love watching what I’m wearing. I’ve worn over 8,000 outfits. So I think the audience likes to see if I’m wearing red today or blue. Is it going to be elegant or short? Young people think, Could that look be good for a bridal shower? My wardrobe is a big part of it.

You also bring your personality. What was it like when you became a TV breakout star?

It was fun! The whole reason I wanted to be on TV since I was a little girl was because I wanted to give people a good feeling—try to show them kindness, be a good person and be a good role model. I feel like by playing myself on TV, I’m able to do that. I’m not playing a character. I am who I am, so let me share it with you.

How did you get this job in the first place? Pat started with a different hostess.

I was in the audience at a taping of Dance Fever, which was a Merv Griffin show. He also owned Wheel of Fortune at the time. And I was friends with a dancer on the show. I said, “I hear they’re looking for a replacement on Wheel of Fortune. Who do I need to talk to?” She introduced me to Merv’s right-hand man, and he said, “Here’s my card. If we haven’t made the decision by Oct. 5, 1982, you can come in and audition.” So I called him at 10 o’clock in the morning on Oct. 5.

Then what happened?

I auditioned along with [1975 Miss USA] Summer Bartholomew and [former model and author] Vicki McCarty. It was between the three of us, and Vicki is actually a good friend of mine and the complete opposite of me. She was a brunette, spoke so clearly, and she was prim and proper and just perfect. And I was so nervous when I auditioned, I just thought, There’s no way I’m going to get this job. My knees were shaking. My mouth was quivering. I just could hardly do it. I wanted the job so bad. A week or so later, Merv made the final decision. I found out the day before Thanksgiving in 1982 that I got the job.

What did the audition entail?

I got dressed up in a pretty dress, and I walked out, and I did my twirl, and I turned the letters, and then, of course, Pat and I spoke at the end. After I got the job, I asked Merv, “Why did you choose me?” And he said, “You turned the letters better than anyone else.”

When you moved from South Carolina to Los Angeles, what did you set out to do?

I just wanted to be in show business. I wanted to be on TV. I wanted to be a star. I’ll never forget this: I was in the third grade and I just had my appendix out, so I’m lying on the sofa watching TV. This TV show called The Rat Patrol comes on, and my mother is in the kitchen cooking and she says, “That’s your uncle, [actor] Christopher George on TV.” I had an uncle on TV! I want to be on TV! That’s really when it started.

Did you take classes? Was it a tough go?

When I moved to Los Angeles in 1980, I started immediately taking acting classes and went on auditions here and there. Back in the day, you would go into an audition and there would be 50 other people in there. It was hard because you’re thinking, I’m not going to get this part. But I never gave up. And that’s what I tell everybody—never give up. You can do it. If I can do it, you can do it.

Now you’ve taped thousands of episodes. Which ones stand out?

Wow, gosh. Watching a person win a million dollars, right? That’s happened a few times. But there is one story I remember now. It was after the bonus round, and the guy won a brand-new car. And he turned to Pat and said, “I don’t have to take the bus anymore.” That kind of says it all about how we change people’s lives.

What about the really embarrassing attempts at puzzle solves?

I feel bad for them! People are under so much pressure, and they’re nervous. It’s a different world when you’re up there with cameras and an audience. You’ve watched it on TV for so long, and now you’re just standing there and thinking, Oh my gosh, this is really happening. I give the contestants a lot of credit because they have to go through a lot to be there.

What’s your life really like when you’re not working?

I’m a simple person. I dress up only for work. I love to crochet, and I do it as often as I can. Both my kids moved back to Los Angeles when COVID hit, so I spend time with them and my boyfriend.

Want to talk about your kids for a minute?

Yes, I love bragging! My son works at a real estate agency, and he does a great job. He is dedicated and he’s hungry to make deals close. My daughter went to New York University and graduated with an art degree. Now she’s a very good tattoo artist. She loves putting her art on someone’s body that will be there forever. The work she does is beautiful.

Vanna White, do you have a secret tattoo?

Not yet, but I’m seriously thinking about getting a little heart right here on my wrist so I can look at it every day and have a piece of her with me.

Your bonus round is a series of quick Wheel of Fortune questions. First one: Do you always know the puzzle solve in advance?

Yes.

Is the host chat at the end really that quick?

Oh yes. Sometimes the producers will say, “We need exactly 18 seconds.”

Favorite on-location destination?

That’s tough. We’ve been everywhere, from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle.

Where are you going this year?

Ryan and I went to Nashville, Salt Lake City and Hawaii. You’ll see the locations throughout the season.

Do you ever interact with the contestants off-camera?

Well, here’s what happens: When I get to the show in the mornings, I’m without hair and makeup. So I immediately go over to where the contestants are and I wish them luck. I tell them, “I am rooting for each and every one of you.” So they get to see the real me and hopefully feel a little more comfortable and not as nervous. Then I don’t see them again until they’re on the show.

Is being all dressed up as glamorous as it seems?

We have fittings every two weeks, and I probably try on 40 or 50 dresses every two weeks. So for the 8,000 dresses that I’ve worn, I’ve tried on about 100,000. They’re all so pretty, but to me, that’s a job. So when I’m at home, just put me in a comfortable sweatsuit and I’m happy.

Do you stash any dresses at home?

No, but sometimes the designers let me borrow them for an event or an awards show.

When you were watching your uncle on TV in third grade, did you ever imagine this kind of success?

No, no, absolutely not!

This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.