The final segment of the interview begins with Melissa and I discussing other seasons of Real World, who she has met, and what they told her about life after the show.
Kim: I've heard that there's an informal network of people who've been on the Real World and they have barbecues. Who you have met, and did they have any advice for you on dealing with the whole "fame of the Real World" thing?
Melissa: Well, we go on these college tours and they put a hodgepodge of cast members together. So I've met Colin and Amaya, and Heather B., and David from Seattle, and Rebecca. As a Real World person, you go through this rite of passage. Like when I met Colin, I was still on cloud nine, like, "Whoo-whee, I'm famous!" But then I was also getting to the point where I didn't deal well with people coming up to me and telling me who I am and what I was doing, but having to smile through it. So I'm in a hot tub with Colin at a hotel, and we're talking about it. And these people that have been on the show and lived their lives a year now, two, three, four years after it -- they're so jaded with the whole Real World thing. They're such normal people except that they have their lives on television. I mean, they straight give you the raw deal. Because I was like, "I answer ten fan mails a day." Colin's like, "Are you crazy?" I was like, "Why?" He's like, "Melissa, Real World becomes your life when you do that." I was like, "But it is my life." He's like, "No, but it's not your life." And so they tell you exactly what's going to happen. They tell you that in a month's time, you will be nobody. But they're not doing it to be mean. They're just like, "No, it happened to me."
Real World really invites depression. I have never been a depressed person in my life. But when you have three-hour interviews about who you are, what you said, who you don't like, who you do like, analyze facial expressions, analyze time and place -- and you're constantly in your own head. And then, you're dealing with the fact that you will say something in an interview, and then you'll be like, "Oh my God, are you going to put that on there?" You're constantly stressed out about it. It invites depression. I won't lie -- after the show was over, I went right to my doctor in Florida and was like, "Dude, I have never felt so paranoid in my life." He put me on Paxil for three weeks and it made me throw up, so I just quit and decided to deal with my depression. It's like the best and worst time in your life.
The New Orleans Melissa Interview, Part IIIKim: Really?
Melissa: We all deal with the public differently.
Kim: And she's had a year.
Melissa: Oh, totally, and I've had three months. So I'm really nice, and she said to me, "Wow, you're really nice." [laughs] She was just blown at how nice I am. But she was eating a taco, and someone came up and asked her for a picture, and she said, "No, not right now, I'm eating." And for me, I was just like, "[gasp] You just said no!" and she was like, "So?"
Kim: Well, she got a lot of shit too. I mean, people really had a lot of problems with her. So I'm sure she gets a lot of negative reaction.
Melissa: People will come up to you and try to trivialize and water down your fame. They'll be like, "Oh my God! You're my absolute favorite! What's your name again?" Or, "I don't really watch your show. I just saw a commercial and you look like that girl." Whatever. It's like the show people love to hate, and they will not admit that they watch it. I watch it! Shit, I will not lie. I watch me some Real World. I was all over Kaia like flies on doody.
Kim: How did you meet [Amaya]? Did you meet her through BMP?
Melissa: I met her in New Orleans, actually, at our wrap party, because she did our promos.
Kim: Oh, she did the promos -- she and Nathan.
Melissa: Yeah, so she and Nathan were there, and they're like, "Welcome to the family," and they were really sweet about it. Amaya is teeny tiny.
Kim: Everyone who has met her in person says that: "You would not believe how tiny she is!" She's just a petite little package.
Melissa: She's my height, with just big old titties! She's so cute too. She is so cute. And Colin is FIIINE, okay? I met him and I was like, "Don't make me rape you." I love him! David from Seattle is fine. Just fine. The two different-colored eyes, and he works out every day? I was straight trying to French kiss him. You meet these people and -- don't get me wrong, I've passed judgment on all of these kids. I used to sit at home and be like, "Oh, fuck you, Kaia!" I was like, "You're just evil! You're just mean!"