Coral Smith

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Coral Smith
Image:Replace this image female.svg
Birthdate: January 19, 1979 (1979-01-19) (age 29)
Birth location: San Francisco, California, USA
Birth name: Coral Jeanne Smith
Height: 5'6"
Eye color: Dark Brown
Hair color: Dark Brown
Ethnicity: Mulitracial

Coral Jeanne Smith (b. January 19, 1979) is an American reality television personality known as a cast member on MTV's The Real World: Back to New York, and for her appearances on various seasons of The Real World's spinoff show, Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Her most recent Challenge appearance was on Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet III, which aired in early 2008.[1] On April 2, 2008, Smith appeared on the first ever Real World Awards Bash as a nominee for "Roommate You Love To Hate".[2] She won and accepted the award for this category.

Contents

[edit] The Real World: Back to New York

Smith was a 21-year-old part-time student and nanny living in San Francisco when she decided on a whim to audition for MTV's two long-running reality TV series, The Real World and Road Rules.[3] She and two dozen finalists were housed together for a casting special leading up to the selection. During her stay at the casting house, Smith came into conflict with finalist Ellen Cho. Smith was ultimately selected as a cast member for The Real World, which would be set in New York, the first season of the show since 1992 to be set there.

During Smith's season on The Real World, which aired in 2001, she came into conflict with Mike Mizanin over views he related to Smith from his uncle, who opined that African-Americans were slow and uneducated. Although Mizanin attempted to disown the comments as merely those of his uncle, Smith and their other housemate, Malik Cooper, who are both African-American, were offended. Coral and the other housemates went on to teach Mizanin about African-American culture, such as the life of Malcolm X.

Observing that every season of The Real World features cast members in archetypical roles, Smith asserts that she was the "bitch" of her season, though she insists that her use of this label is meant to connote her assertiveness and outspokenness, and not lack of likeability.[4]

[edit] Other work

After filming The Real World, Smith went to work at a rape crisis center.[4]

[edit] Reality television work

Smith has appeared on six seasons of the spinoff Real World/Road Rules Challenge, and has made it to the final stage of four. During Fresh Meat, Smith sustained an injury to her knee, but after treatment, she was cleared for competition by her doctor. However she and her partner Evan were eventually eliminated because Evan developed an abdominal hernia, which progressed to a serious stage with internal bleeding, which he had kept secret from Smith during the challenge.[citation needed] Because this was a partnered event, Smith was left without a partner and disqualified from continuing with the competition. Evan has since had two surgeries to correct his hernia and has gone on to compete again in a subsequent MTV challenge.[citation needed]

Much curiosity and speculation has arisen over Smith's relationship with Abram Boise from Road Rules: South Pacific during Battle of the Sexes II. In response to a question by an MTV rep, Smith said:

“ I wouldn't expect Abram to invest his time or pursue a woman like myself, that's so mouthy and such a feminist I believe that I'm a strong woman and I believe that a lot of my morals and how I live my life was completely opposite than his. I really feel like he has come into a reality about meeting new people with me and I'm happy to be in his life, and I'm happy to teach him and help him, but it's not hard. We're going through this weird racial thing. He doesn't bring it up and it's not an issue with us, which makes it even more wonderful. It's just right and it's something that happened naturally. He didn't have to fight against this racist thing. I give all the credit to Abram for his changes, and for who he is now. I believe that it was his ability to learn and be open to other people's words. We both get really angry and we both are really sensitive and we both put up this front and inside, I believe Abram is one of the kindest and most gentle people I've ever met. And I think it was his ability to get in touch with his own kind, gentle side that allowed him to like me anyway, despite my big giant mouth and how bitchy I can be. And I think that we found a common ground there, and because I was open to him, I feel like he was able to open up to me. And when Abram and I opened up to each other, it was a beautiful, beautiful friendship that I've never experienced before, ever. I've never met anyone like Abram. Never, and people underestimate him all the time."[5][6] ”

However, Smith indicated in another interview that she and Boise were not involved in a romantic relationship, and that any appearance to that effect was engineered through the use of selective editing on the part of the show's producers in order to elicit ratings.[7]

In 2005 Smith appeared on Battle of the Network Reality Stars.

In January 2007 Smith appeared on the Fox network reality show, Camp Reality.

In January 2008, Smith appeared on The Gauntlet III.[8] She voluntarily left towards the end of the Challenge. On The Gauntlet III Reunion Special, Smith explained that she left because she was unwilling to tolerate what she perceived as the disreputable behavior of her teammates, an observation that was corroborated by teammate Katie Doyle.

On April 2, 2008, Smith appeared on the first ever Real World Awards Bash as the winner of the "Roommate You Love To Hate". The other nominees were Beth Stolarczyk of the Los Angeles cast, Puck Rainey of the San Francisco cast, Trisha Cummings of the Sydney cast, and Tyler Duckworth of the Key West cast.[2]

[edit] Personal life

Smith was present at a gay pride event at Paramount’s Bay Area theme park, Great America in the Spring of 2007. Smith reportedly answered questions, concerning why she was present, with the comment that her sexual orientation was "very cloudy", and that she was "venturing toward [her] lesbian qualities".[4]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Television and videos

[edit] Movies

  • The Real World - Decade of Bloopers (2006)
  • Reality TV Secrets:How To Get On The Show! (May 1,2003)
  • Real World: Hook-Ups Coral hosts with Dan Renzi (2003)
  • The Wedding Video (2003)
  • The Real World You Never Saw: Back to New York (12/04/2001)

[edit] Radio/Podcast

  • KNGY Energy 92.7FM San Francisco Morning show DJ (November 2005-March 2006)
  • Fishbowl Host (Wednesday November 3, 2004)

[edit] Print publication

  • King Magazine w/ Arissa (2006)
  • King Magazine "Who you callin' a …" (2006)
  • GQ Magazine w/ Mike Mizanin and Melissa Howard (June 22, 2005)
  • Sexiest Women of Reality TV Calendar (2005)
  • MTV's Real World NY 24/7 by Alison Pollet (Author) Publisher: MTV (October 30, 2001)
  • TV Guide Magazine cover (Fall 2001)
  • TimeOut New York Magazine - cover (Fall 2001)
  • Fitness Magazine (January 2000)
  • Fitness Magazine (February 2000)
  • Fitness Magazine (March 2000)
  • Fitness Magazine (April 2000)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Preview video of Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet 3 at mtv.com
  2. ^ a b The Real World Awards Bash: Nominees: Hottest Female at mtv.com
  3. ^ Aurthur, Kate; "Reality Stars Keep on Going and Going . . ." October 10, 2004
  4. ^ a b c Pratt, Paul E.; "'Real World' Regular Coral Happy Exploring Her 'Lesbian Qualities'"; OUTlook magazine'; July 1, 2007.
  5. ^ Real World/Road Rules Battle of the Sexes 2: Episode 3. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
  6. ^ Coral Smith. TV.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
  7. ^ Interview With Coral Jeanne Smith from Battle Of The Sexes and The Real World. Reality Reel (2004-12-23). Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
  8. ^ Preview video of Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet 3 at mtv.com

[edit] External links