Ogunquit News
Ogunquit woman writes book about being reality-show runner-up three times
By C. Ayn Douglass
Sue Pollard's book "The Alternate Survivor" tells the story of how she was a runner-up for reality television not once or twice but three times.
Courtesy photo
Born and raised in Ogunquit, Pollard zips from being a wife and mom to shouldering the responsibilities of being the chairwoman of the Wells Ogunquit School Board to managing her home business, Suzi-Poo products. Pollard never stops and, more importantly, never quits.
Pollard's energetic lifestyle does not go unnoticed in Ogunquit and when a friend recommended she channel her enthusiasm and vigor into a shot at becoming a contestant on the popular television program Survivor she immediately enlisted the assistance of her daughters to submit a three-minute tape telling the producers all about herself.
"I applied for Survivor in July of 2002 and got a call three days later telling me I'd made the cut to the top 300 out of 75,000 applicants," Pollard said. "I went to Boston and met with the producers and directors, did a half-hour interview and got a call in two weeks and one day congratulating me on making the cut to the top 38. I went to L.A. for 11 days and made it to the top 20 and missed the opportunity by one."
Pollard then found herself being flown out to L.A. again to participate in the series Big Brother, missed that cut, and then applied for The
Amazing Race.
"Now to be called up for one reality show is rare, but to be called by three is unheard of," Pollard said. "Clearly they saw something in me, but why was I always the bridesmaid?"
After missing out on the chance to grab the reality show brass ring, Pollard is taking an alternate route to the competition. She is taking her story nation-wide through her book, "The Alternate Survivor" in the hope that reality show producer Mark Burnett will give her another chance. The ultimate goal? To challenge Burnett to a game of Survivor, which Pollard says she is confident in winning.
Pollard will be signing copies of her book on Saturday, May 27, at 11 a.m. at the Village Food Market in Ogunquit and has been told national media will cover the event. She will also be at the Kittery Trading Post on Sunday, May 28, at noon.
Ogunquit reporter C. Ayn Douglass can be reached via e-mail at cayndouglass@yorkindependent.net
