List of ''Kid Nation'' participants

Kid Nation is a CBS reality show which revolved around a society essentially run by kids. The cast included 40 children aged from 8 to 15 years old, and from a variety of backgrounds.

All 40 kids shown according to their final district with the last 4 town council members all on the left. Those with a small gold star won a 20,000 dollar gold star, those with a larger star won a 50,000 dollar gold star, and those with a red heart left early.

Alex

Alex Wade was a 9-year-old blue district member from Reno, Nevada. He won a gold star on day 37 in episode 12. He was shown to have great intelligence in many episodes, often offering a fact or two to his companions did not previously know. Alex is a three-time Nevada geography champion, and represented Nevada in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 National Geographic Bee (previously called the National Geographic Geography Bee.)^[1] Alex is also a International Linguistics Olympiad medalist, having earned a silver medal in 2011 and a gold in 2012. He is now studying at Stanford University.

Anjay

Anjay Ajodha was a 12-year-old from Pearland, Texas. He was introduced in episode one as a council leader, and remained there until the second election in episode 10 when he was replaced by Greg in a 2-7 vote.

He has won multiple spelling bees.^[2][3] He placed 18th overall in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in 2006, and was the youngest kid to ever compete in the National Spelling Bee, at age 8, in 2003. When he was seven years old, he was judged "the best young speller in the Senior Spelling Bee category".^[4] Anjay was homeschooled until the third grade and has remained an accelerated student since.^[5] He became an Eagle Scout in 2013. He graduated from the Honors College at the University of Houston in 2015 with a degree in computer science. He now works in the Cloud and Enterprise Division for Microsoft in Seattle, Washington.

He has been a commentator for the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee for several years, along with host Ernie Manouse. ^[6]

Blaine

Blaine Wise was a 14-year-old from North Palm Beach, Florida. He is not related to Sophia Wise despite sharing the last name. Blaine was originally assigned to the blue district and became close friends with Greg. In the ninth episode, Blaine was transferred to the yellow district, where he was able to excel outside of Greg's shadow of influence. He promptly won a gold star in episode 9 for his performance and ability to motivate his new team. In the tenth episode, Blaine was elected to the town council, narrowly defeating incumbent Zach (5-4) who had brought him into the yellow team.

Brett

Brett Norstom was an 11-year-old yellow district member from Edina, Minnesota. This mohawked kid only spoke three times on the show. He became friends with the yellow district boys easily.

Campbell

Campbell Beadles was a 10-year-old green district member from Thomasville, Georgia. He was quite upset after his friend Cody left on the 13th day.

Cody

Cody Mendenhall was a 9-year-old yellow district member from Newport, Ohio. He left the series on day 13 in episode 4, due to homesickness. He is famous for his chicken noodle soup.

Colton

Colton Blake was an 11-year-old yellow district member from Reno, Nevada. He helped the yellow team finish in first place for the first time.

Divad

Divad Miles was an 11-year-old red district member from Fayetteville, Georgia. She nominated herself multiple times for the gold star while the council thought she worked only enough to get noticed for the gold star.

DK

Daniel Kyri "DK" Simmons (born October 10, 1992) was a 14-year-old red district member from Chicago, Illinois. He won a gold star in the sixth episode for his hard work and ability to solve conflicts involving other kids. He came very close to not winning the gold star, however, as he volunteered to leave just before the announcement because he had grown tired of all the constant bickering; Guylan convinced him to stay and he was awarded the gold star. He replaced Guylan as town council member during the second election without contest.

He is an aspiring writer and actor, recently appearing in West Side Story, 13 in downtown Chicago, and Godspell, and is currently a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he starred in The Laramie Project .

Emilie

Emilie A 9-year-old Nevada girl from the red district had very strong opinions about whether or not to kill the chickens for food, as the Pioneer's Journal told them to do. They eventually killed the chicken anyway, with much objection from Emilie. She got traded to the blue district from the red district in episode 9 because Anjay felt that she doesn't work hard from the red district and doesn't like her district mates.

Eric

Eric Sturm was a 14-year-old green district member from Morristown, New Jersey. In the talent show he played the piano and sang Leaving New Jersey, an original composition. He was also friends with Zach who was on the yellow district, Hunter and Michael who were also on the green district. He enjoys playing piano, guitar, bass and singing.

Gianna

Gianna Clark was a 10-year-old blue district member from Chicago, Illinois. She was naturally quiet, and was seen speaking only twice on the show. She was well liked by her teammates because she was friendly and was a dependable, hard worker.

Greg

15-year-old Gregory "Greg" Pheasant of Reno, Nevada, was a blue district member and the oldest participant on the show. He was the oldest and strongest kid in the town. Often temperamental and, at times, even seemed to bully and tease his counterparts which he referred to as "tough love". A hard worker, Greg was nominated for gold stars in three of the first four episodes, but was voted down against because of Mike's suspicions about Greg's motivations. Depicted as very bossy and bullying to the younger children who became fearful of him, Greg won a gold star in episode 5 for being a genuinely hard worker, improving his attitude, and for comforting some of the younger participants who were dealing with homesickness. In the tenth episode, Greg was elected to the town council for the blue district, defeating Anjay 7-2.

Guylan

Guylan Qudsieh was an 11-year-old red district member from Upton, Massachusetts. He became a member of the town council at the first elections on day 16 (episode 5), taking Mike's place as leader of the red district. He was overwhelmed with the responsibilities and criticizing that as leader he had to endure and at the second election on day 29 (episode 10), he asked the town to vote him off.

Hunter

Hunter Jeffers was a 12-year-old boy and was a green district member from Martinez, Georgia. He received a gold star on day 34 in episode 11 for his hard work. Hunter was also shown leading some of the town in prayer.

Jared

Jared Goldman was an 11-year-old red district member from Dunwoody, Georgia. He was known for making quirky quotations that didn't always fit the situation such as "Holy Banana Bread!". After the show had aired, Jared sold several leftover "Bonanza 2007" necklaces on eBay. During the Kid Nation talent show, he recited a passage from Shakespeare...which he had practiced earlier by reading to the chickens. He expressed satisfaction that his performance "wasn't the worst one. "He was close winning the gold star in episode 12 day 36 but lost to Alex.

Jasmine

Jasmine Robinson was an 11-year-old red district member from Atlanta, Georgia. She is the subject of a confessional-style interview and sang during episode 8.

Jasmine started acting and singing at the age of 4. She landed her first commercial with Volvo. Although they did not have a part for a 4 year old after she auditioned they wrote her in. She has been in the Toys R US, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Back to School, Halloween and Valentine commercials. She is in the movie The Gospel. She was the co-host for a TV Show called The Fun Farm on The Black Family Channel (BFC Kids TV). She is also co-hosting a radio show at 97.9 WIBB Clear Channel in Macon GA along with her brother. Jasmine is also working on a singing career. As a singer, she is known as QT Jazz of the group QT Possie.

Jimmy

James "Jimmy" Flynn was an 8-year-old member from Salem, New Hampshire. He was the youngest participant, and left the show in the first episode on day 4 due to homesickness.

• Jimmy at CBS.com / Kid Nation

Kelsey

Kelsey Liu was an 11-year-old yellow district member from Furlong, Pennsylvania, a small town east of Doylestown. She made friends easily with the other yellow team girls. She appeared in every episode and also in several publicity interviews for the show since filming was complete. Kelsey is a talented pianist, as seen in the talent show segment of episode 8, Starved for Entertainment. She is also best friends with Leila, Taylor, Randi and Sophie, her fellow district members. Kelsey also modelled for a summer camp magazine after attending the camp.

Kennedy

Kennedy Peyton Womack was a 12-year-old green district member from Ashland, Kentucky. She was awarded a gold star on day 25 (episode 8) for her hard work, social demeanor, and outgoing personality, and also for convincing Savannah to stay with the community in spite of homesickness. Kennedy is a very gifted poet, and is also a nationally ranked tennis player in her age group.

Laurel

Laurel McGoff (born January 12, 1995) was a 12-year-old green district member from Medford, Massachusetts. Laurel was appointed to the first town council and was re-elected in the first election. She was defeated by Michael in the second election on day 29 (6-3) (episode 10). She subsequently received a gold star on day 31 for her work on the council and as an effective overall leader for the entire town. In Kid Nation she appeared significantly in every episode as well as publicity interviews for the show after filming. She also appeared at a younger age on the PBS Kids Go! show, Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman in episodes "B.L.T. for Breakfast?" and "Tryin' Chef" because her elder brother, Brian, was a contestant on the show. She did not participate in the talent show, but at the town meeting later that episode, she was convinced to sing "Amazing Grace" after being prompted by D.K

Leila

Leila Mallouky was a 9-year-old yellow district member from Charlotte, North Carolina. She was known for being Taylor's best friend/follower on the show and, like her, has done some child modeling in the past.

Madison

Madison Rae Taff was an 11-year-old red district member from El Paso, Texas. She is an avid guitar player. Though a hard worker on the show, she was quiet and was seen speaking only three times on the show.

Maggie

Margaret "Maggie" Levie was a 14-year-old red district member from Evansville, Minnesota,.who is now 21 Her birthday is November 5 .

Maggie attended Evansville Public School until 8th grade where she started homeschooling. She currently is home schooled in Minnesota. Maggie has done various amounts of theater work and has a passion for music. She recorded her first demo CD at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, MN. Her mother Patty Kakac is a singer songwriter and introduced Maggie to the performing arts when she was very young. .Maggie now resides with her friends in Rochester, Minnesota

Mallory

Mallory Cloer was an 8-year-old blue district member from Indianapolis, Indiana. She won a gold star on her 9th birthday (day 10) in the third episode. She is Olivia's younger sister. Both Mallory and her sister, Olivia did interviews for Radio Disney, a local news station, and several other radio stations.

Markelle

Markelle Gay (born September 24, 1994, in Chesapeake, Virginia) was a 12-year-old red district member from the East Cobb area of Marietta, Georgia. While interviewing in NY after Kid Nation, he landed a spot on the KidzBop World Tour, along with 5 other kids from around the nation and a full band. He has toured in professional productions of Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and The Music Man, as well as commercials and industrials for McDonald's, Country Crock, Ford Motor Company, and Cartoon Network. He appears in the 20th Century Fox film Dirty Laundry, playing the young Eugene. Markelle has continued his Broadway aspirations since Kid Nation and became a member of Actors' Equity Association, the esteemed performing arts union. He was admitted to Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts in 2011 and booked a recurring co-starring role in the Cue Box on Studio 252 TV. Markelle studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA and is now a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.

Michael

Michael Thot was a 14-year-old green district member from Sultan, Washington. Michael was awarded a gold star on day 7 for his motivational speaking and rationality (episode 2), and was elected to the town council in the second election on day 29 (episode 10), replacing Laurel. He turned 15 years old during episode 11.

He later recounted his experience with the show in an interview with Cracked.com.^[7]

Miglė

Miglė Drąsutavičiutė was a 13-year-old blue district member from Downers Grove, Illinois. Miglė won a special gold star at the conclusion of the final episode, having been selected as the most improved participant.

Miglė (pronounced "ME-glay") immigrated to America from Lithuania. She is an aspiring actress and is represented by Charlie's Talent Agency. She performs under two stage names "Otilija Venckus",^[8] which is her mother's last name, and "Meglea Drasa".^[9]

Mike

Michael "Mike" Klinge was an 11-year-old red district member from Bellevue, Washington. He was introduced in episode one as a town council member. He was replaced by Guylan during the first election on Day 16 (episode 5) in a 1-9 vote.

Mike has competed in orienteering through the Washington Interscholastic Orienteering League and Cascade Orienteering Club.^[10][11] In November 2007, Mike was cast as Louis Leonowens in Village Theater's Production of The King And I.^[12] Prior to that, Mike understudied the role of Randolph in the previous season's Bye Bye Birdie. Mike's past Village Theatre Kidstage roles include JoJo in Seussical and Gavroche in Les Misérables.^[13]

Morgan

Morgan Wood was a 12-year-old green district member from Indianapolis, Indiana. She was one of only two participants to receive two gold stars. The first was a $20,000 gold star awarded on day 13 (episode 4) for successfully establishing a no-pressure time of spirituality and prayer for the kids. The second was a $50,000 gold star awarded at the conclusion of the series for her positive helpful attitude and for working hard to unify the community.

Natasha

Natasha Goenaga was a 13-year-old blue district member from Miami, Florida. Natasha was friend with Migle. Natasha has been acting and modeling since age 7, she is currently represented by Stellar Talent and Wilhelmina Models. She has done commercials in both English and Spanish for Publix, Coca-Cola, Toys R Us, Miami Children's Hospital and several clothing catalogs. She is also a dancer and was a hip hop dancer for Pop Starz kids production. Natasha is in the gifted program at her middle school.

Nathan

Nathan Gibes was an 11-year-old boy from Mount Prospect, Illinois. He received a gold star in episode 7 for his hard work and dedication, even having to be told to relax on occasion by council members. In episode 9, he was drafted from the blue district to the red district because Guylan felt his team was lacking hard and smarter workers.

Olivia

Olivia Cloer was a 12-year-old blue district member from Indianapolis, Indiana. She ran for district council against Anjay in the first election on day 16 (episode 5), but lost with 3 votes to 7. She appeared to carry a grudge against Anjay after this, often picking on him, but reportedly, apologizing afterwards. She is Mallory's older sister. Olivia came close to getting a gold star in (episode 8) and was praised highly for her stand up comedy act in the talent show.

Pharaoh

Pharaoh Williams was a 12-year-old yellow district member from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He came close to winning the gold star in episode 7 but lost to Nathan.^[14]

Randi

Randi Buchanan was 11 but turned 12 in an unknown episode.She was a yellow district member from Sparks, Nevada. She left the show on day 28 during episode 9 after becoming homesick.

Savannah

Savannah Sergent was a 10-year-old green district member from Partridge, Kentucky, a small town northeast of Cumberland. She considered leaving the show due to homesickness during episode 8, but was persuaded to stay by Kennedy who was subsequently awarded a gold star.

Sophia

Sophia Wise was a 14-year-old green district member from Winter Park, Florida. She is not related to fellow contestant Blaine Wise, despite sharing a last name and home state. She was one of only two participants to win two gold stars. The first was a $20,000 gold star won on day four in episode 1 for her work ethic in running the kitchen. Then in the final episode, Sophia was awarded the first of three bonus $50,000 gold star, for her consistency in her hard work. In episode 11 she was appointed town sheriff to help with enforcement of rules, as certain kids continued to shirk their duties to the town.

Sophie

Sophie Mittelstaedt was a 10-year-old yellow district member from Issaquah, Washington. She is a very talented writer and soccer player. She and Mallory became extremely close friends, and collaborated in running a free "daycare" for stuffed animals in Bonanza City.

Taylor

Taylor DuPriest (born April 22, 1996, in Albany, Georgia) was a 10-year-old yellow district member from Sylvester, Georgia. Taylor began the show as a town council member, but was removed from the council during the first election, when she was replaced by Zach with a 4-5 vote. Her catchphrase on Kid Nation was "Deal with it!" Taylor was infamous for being incredibly lazy and defiant from the beginning to the end of the show, once stating that "beauty queens don't do dishes." Even as a council member, Taylor encouraged fellow district mates not to participate in chores through example and lack of leadership.

Taylor has entered and won a number of beauty pageants. Winning Miss Georgia Sweetheart 2005,^[15] Hall of Fame winner at the Junior Miss Georgia Forestry pageant,^[16] 4th Runner-Up 2006 National Sweetheart Miss American Coed Pageant (as well as 3rd Runner-Up Model),^[17] and an online store's model search.^[18] She has done several prints and appeared on Disney Channel's Show Your Stuff.

In an Entertainment Weekly article on a number of different controversial reality show participants, Taylor reveals that one of her most outrageous lines, "Ugly chickens DESERVE to die" was fed to her by the producers.^[19]

Zach

Zachary "Zach" Kosnitzky was a 10-year-old yellow district member from Miami Beach, Florida. He was nominated for a gold star in episode 4 for his hard work and dedication, but lost to Morgan. Zach became a council member after the first election on day 16 (episode 5) when he narrowly defeated Taylor by a margin of 5-4. Zach arranged to obtain Blaine from the blue team in episode 9 in order to gain some strength in the challenges because his team had the youngest participants. He was subsequently defeated by Blaine by a margin of 4-5 in the second election in episode 10. He finally received a gold star in the last episode for his hard work and attitude toward making Bonanza City a better place.

After Kid Nation, Zach played the role of Lewis in Beethoven's Big Break, the sixth installment of the Beethoven film series. This movie was released as a "Straight to DVD" film.

References