21 TV reality-show winners from Philly
Add two more winners to our gallery of area people who triumphed on a TV reality show.
Maybe it's that Philly grit and won't-quit attitude.
This month added two more winners to our gallery of area people who triumphed on a TV reality show.
Actually, one show put a lot of fantasy -- medieval costumes, a castle, ogres and a fire-breathing dragon -- into its formula, though the competition was still real.
Not in the gallery above are five who came oh-so-close.
Clockwise from top left: "Worst Cooks in America," 2012: Vinnie "The Crumb" Caligiuri of Jenkintown, who finished second, with wife and two sons. "Biggest Loser," 2011: Ex-Eagles offensive lineman Antone Davis, shown weighing in, lost more than 200 pounds but that wasn't enough to win. "Worst Cooks in America," 2010: Philly waitress Jenny Cross lost to a Brooklyn website editor. "American Idol," 2002: Doylestown-raised Justin Guarini lost to Kelly Clarkson, but did a flim with her, landed TV gigs and even Broadway roles.
Stephenie LaGrossa, who grew up in Glenolden and went to Temple, had several shots on CBS's "Survivor." Her highest finish was second in "Survivor: Guatemala" (2005), a return invitation after a seventh-place finish the season before. In "Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villians" (2010), she was second in a different way -- the second person voted out. Stephenie married Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick in 2010.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com. Follow @petemucha on Twitter.