I told myself I’d never do a dating show again, so this was something completely different.
Do you feel like that mindset stayed the same throughout or were there any changes maybe?
It was something special to me, and it worked really well.
It wasn’t what I expected necessarily, but I really enjoyed it.
Do you feel like that gave you a leg up on the competition at all?
Vanjie:Kind of, because I’m already competitive by nature.
What did I know?
Giannina, this is a very different show than “Love is Blind.”
What was that change like for you coming on?
Giannina:It was so refreshing.
Let me tell you, I was like, “You know what?
I’m not even going to think about it.
It’s not a dating show, so I don’t have to involve my heart.”
That was what really drew me to the show.
I’m going to go have fun and party.
I like being the first.
I’m just as competitive, so I want to be the first of everything.
That really made me excited to do it.
What made them feel ready to go on another reality show?
Blake:Honestly, I never thought I’d do another show.
I really didn’t.
I liked the challenge of competing against each other.
There was a lot that intrigued me about this show.
Ultimately, that’s why I decided to sign on.
Vanjie:I decided to sign on because I wanted to do something outside of “Drag Race.”
I didn’t want to go do “All-Stars” yet … it was a great opportunity.
We were going to be all the way by the motherland in Africa.
This is a blessing, and … to drink and then get paid for it?
I ain’t going to pass that up.
Giannina:I didn’t know that …
I love being in front of the camera.
It’s my happy place.
I’ve always wanted to do TV, but I wasn’t expecting to do this.
I was supposed to actually be living in Europe at the time, and I didn’t.
I was like, “How did I somehow manifest this?”
It sounds perfect exactly what I wanted to do.
It’s like, “Oh my God, I can interact with people.”
I was really excited.
It was definitely a lot of big personalities coming together.
What was that having everyone meet and blend like that?
Blake:I was a little bit shocked.
It was a little bit of shock at first.
Where am I?"
I absolutely loved it.
I loved meeting everybody and huge personalities and good people.
Everybody mostly was really good souls and stuff.
They liked to have fun, and it was a lighthearted environment.
I really enjoyed that based on what I’ve done in the past, it was very serious.
I love meeting everybody, and it’s something I would do again.
I can’t say that about all the shows I’ve done.
It was a lot to take in, and it was fun.
It was a lot, and it was fun.
It’s a kiki.
Giannina:We also started absorbing each other’s personalities.
You see us forming into a big family.
Blake:I had a British accent when I left.
What were the biggest challenges they faced on the show?
Were there any elements to the show that were more challenging than you expected going into it?
Blake:I don’t know all we can say…
Giannina:Yeah.
What can I say?
Vanjie: Probably because we were still filming, and [in the middle of the] pandemic.
I feel like that was a little bit of a challenge, because we still had to be safe.
I feel like doing that was a little obstacle.
They were trying to keep the cast and the crew and everyone all safe.
They wanted us to do whatever, but at the same time, we have to be really safe.
Giannina:The weather, that to me was the worst.
Vanjie:Oh, yeah.
Giannina:You think it’s going to “I’m in bikinis all day.
It’s going to be so nice.”
It’s either, you’re literally scorching to death, or you’re freezing.
It was very hard on your body, honestly.
The weather did not make it easy at all.
I wasn’t expecting that.
I thought I was going to be a vacation.
Vanjie:Yeah, we would stay up to 4:00 and have to get up at 7:00 or something.
Blake:Yeah, it was lot.
I’m going to be the first one."
Vanjie:Right, no hot water if you wait till 8:00.
Giannina:It’s like one big frat house.
I really liked that.
After my experience mentally [on “Love Is Blind”], it was really tough.
After this, I was like, “Wow, I’m stronger.
I’m more mentally strong.”
That’s what I took out of it, personally.
“All Star Shore” premieres on Paramount+ on Wednesday, June 29.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
