September 25, 2025
Celebrating Talent: Wendell Holland
We caught up with Wendell Holland, iconic Sole Survivor of Ghost Island, who we cast as one of the experts for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Wendell is someone who embodies passion leading to purpose- and he talked to us about his journey and how his passion led him to Survivor and Extreme Makeover!
On his journey from Survivor to Extreme Makeover:
“Survivor put me in the national spotlight, but Extreme Makeover felt perfectly suited for me. I feel at my best when I’m building and designing on TV — that’s the career I’m meant for. Extreme Makeover allowed me to give back to families in need, uplift whole communities, and do work I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. It was the perfect job and mission.”
Most memorable moment on Extreme Makeover:
“One that really hit me hard was the Elrod family in Texas. They lost their home in a fire — just like my family did back in 2007. The parallels were so strong. When I showed them the workshop I built for them, I felt such a deep personal connection. We cried at every house, but that family especially touched me.”
Advice for aspiring reality TV contestants:
- Dream big — don’t make small goals. If you think it up, you can achieve it by staying the course.
- Follow your heart and passion. I hold a law degree, but choosing a career in building and design changed my life. That’s what led to Survivor and everything after.
- Say yes to opportunities. When you step outside your comfort zone, doors start to open.
- Remember it’s a marathon. If you quit on the 10th lap, you’ll never know what could’ve happened on the 11th or 12th.
Let’s all follow Wendell’s example, and for anyone who is passionate about design, make sure you go to MysticArtPictures.com and submit to the show we just announced!