By VOICE-TRIBUNE Photos by Matt Johnson
You might recognize Alexis Lete from her time at WWE or as former Miss Indiana USA. These days Alexis is riding the reality TV roller coaster with big ambitions to win big money on Deal or No Deal Island, airing on NBC. Her multifaceted background and competitive athletic experience make her a perfect fit for the show’s unique physical and mental challenges.
Growing up in Southern Indiana shaped her in many ways that prepared her for anything—including the twists and turns of Deal or No Deal Island. “The Southern Indiana values are something that I have taken with me everywhere I go. I am an incredibly outgoing person, and my parents joke that I’ve never met a stranger. I think this honestly helped me get booked on the show because I’m so open with who I am and authentic to myself. Producers love to cast people that aren’t afraid to be them,” Lete shares. That authenticity, mixed with her competitive edge from years in sports, made her a natural fit for the island.
When she got the call that she had been cast, she knew she was about to embark on an unforgettable adventure. “I was so excited! I’ve always wanted to go on a reality show. I just never knew which one, and Deal or No Deal Island is honestly the perfect show to go on because it’s like a mixture of Survivor, Big Brother, and Deal or No Deal!”
But reality TV is never as simple as it seems. The game threw some unexpected curveballs her way. “The show had some tricky challenges where we would have to do things for other people rather than competing in the challenge for ourselves. This made things very complicated and dynamic because you would have to think of what your actions for somebody else would end up doing for you in the long run.”
Pressure is nothing new to Alexis. Her time as Miss Indiana USA and her experience with WWE helped her navigate the intensity of reality television. “Being Miss Indiana USA helped me communicate with different people in different walks of life. There are all different types of people on the show, and I think that my experience of being Miss Indiana USA helped me be able to make connections with every different contestant in a different way,” says Lete. As for keeping her head in the game? “The WWE prepared me an immense amount for this. The training environment there was incredibly intense and incredibly competitive, sometimes in a toxic way. Going on Deal or No Deal Island just felt like another day on the job at the WWE Performance Center. Also, millions and millions of dollars are pretty motivating.”
That prize money was no joke, and Alexis played to win. “I’m going in all or nothing, burning the boats, putting my all into every decision, every night, every challenge. I had to act like there’s no tomorrow because if I get voted out, then there really is no tomorrow.”
Her Midwestern roots kept her grounded throughout the experience. “I mean, I am who I am because of where I grew up. My morals and values are very much based on the Midwestern belief system. Probably my biggest attribute from growing up is playing sports, especially at Kiva! They instilled a competitive nature in me, a go-getter mentality, and a crazy sense of determination to reach my goals.”
One of the biggest takeaways from the show? The way reality TV reflects real life—just with higher stakes. “There are so many different lessons I learned. Something big that I noticed is that everything on the show is a reflection of life, just amplified. I think a lot of people like to get lost in a crowd rather than standing out or going for something that is the biggest prize– and that happened quite a few times on the show. I was always trying my best and going for the highest cases even though I knew that would put a target on my back sometimes.”
Now that the show is airing, Alexis is watching her own journey unfold along with the rest of us. “The show is currently airing! It’s been so much fun to see what they end up putting in the show versus what they don’t put in the show and to see how I am portrayed, which honestly is exactly how I feel like I am in real life. I might be a little bit more reserved on the show because there’s strategy and contemplating and planning things out. I’m excited for my friends and family to see the adventure that I went on while being on Deal or No Deal Island. I’m incredibly proud of the way I presented myself, and I know Kentuckiana will think the same—and if not, then they’re not my people,” she laughs.
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