FUSION PR
Ruthie Alcaide and her "Real World" housemate Colin Mortenson teamed up again for MTV's "Battle of the Sexes."
Ruthie’s back
and this time
she’s soberTelevision gave her a bad rap
and it will also clean her imageWhere the reality stars are
IT'S BEEN a long four years since Ruthie Alcaide spent five months in a Diamond Head beach house with six other strangers on MTV's "The Real World: Hawaii."
Yes, it's that Ruthie -- the alcoholic bisexual who simultaneously captured the attention of television viewers around the globe with her outrageous behavior and incensed local residents by, as some said at the time, misrepresenting Hawaii and its people.
Along with cast members from "The Bachelor 3," "The Real World: Las Vegas," "The Real World: Paris," and "Battle of the Sexes -- Road Rules/Real World Challenge," the Campbell High School alumnus returns home for a few days to appear at a number of nightclubs and bars around town (see schedule on page D3).
"I DON'T think I misrepresented anyone," Alcaide said last week via telephone from her Los Angeles home when asked to address the criticism that lingers around her role in the show's eighth season. "(But) it doesn't matter ... it's television. When people get to know me as a person, it's totally different. I don't take it personal."
Many of the interviews she did following "The Real World" in 1999 and over the next few years focused solely on her drinking problem, so much so that Alcaide eventually had a falling out with her publicist and refused to deal with the media at all.
"Every single article that came out from 1999 to 2001 ... was all about alcohol," she said. "I got sick of reading about myself and that was the only thing (reporters) could talk about. I got so bored!"
So forget all about the drinking and crazy antics that most college students Alcaide's age go through (just not in front of television cameras).
After the show ended, Alcaide kept a low profile, finishing her degree in journalism from Rutgers University and moving to L.A. to take advantage of personal appearance and speaking engagement opportunities that resulted from being on the show.
Then, in 2002, Alcaide decided to take part in "Battle of the Sexes -- Road Rules/Real World Challenge," a program that reunited former cast members from the two reality shows to face off against each other in a variety of physical challenges.
"You don't grow up on television until you do it again," she explained when asked why she chose to participate after being stereotyped as the alcoholic roommate by the network during her reality stint. "Everybody sees you as the same person; you're kind of freeze-framed in history until you go on television again.
"I don't think they showed too much of my personality on my first show. (But) on 'Battle of the Sexes,' they actually showed the way that I think."
The 25-year-old now spends most of her time on the college circuit discussing issues such as drug and alcohol awareness, diversity, racism and sexuality. She's also working on a debut album with producers and engineers in Atlanta and L.A. for release within six months.
She's finished recording a single with hip-hop artist Mr. Cheeks, and expects to return to the studio soon to continue working on the record.
Unfortunately, a job in the music industry and the demands of traveling around the country to different college campuses means it'll be a while before Alcaide decides to come back home for good.
"Being in Hawaii is not a really good place ... to record, especially if you want to go into the mainstream," she said. "It's so much easier, and cheaper, to fly from Los Angeles ... so I'm here for location."
With about three to 10 speaking engagements scheduled per month, Alcaide often finds herself sticking to the values that made for such riveting television on "The Real World." College students can identify with her because she is able to, as corny as it sounds, "keep it real" and share her feelings with complete strangers.
"I'm very honest and I'll just say what I feel," Alcaide said. "A lot of people censor themselves ... they'll say things they wouldn't normally say just to kind of be (politically correct).
"That's just the way that I am. I'm very straightforward."
Even though she's happy about the opportunity to meet with local fans, coming home makes her jittery.
"I can't wait to go home," she said. "I just hope the reception is warm. I've been all over the country ... but my hometown, I don't know. I don't know how people feel about me out there."
Fusion pr
Ruthie Alcaide, lower left, is pictured with some of her MTV "Battle of the Sexes" teammates.
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FUSION PR
Ruthie Alcaide, lower left, is pictured with some of her MTV “Battle of the Sexes” teammates.
Where the reality stars are
Ruthie Alcaide of "The Real World: Hawaii," is tentatively scheduled to appear at Blue Tropix from 10 p.m. today, Grumpy's from 9:30 p.m. tomorrow, at Hard Rock Cafe from 11 p.m. Friday, and Wave Waikiki from 11 p.m. Saturday.
Other reality TV celebrities confirmed to meet with fans:
>> Kirsten Buschbacher and Tina Panas, "The Bachelor 3"
>> Mark Long, Lori Trespicio, "Battle of the Sexes -- Road Rules/Real World Challenge"
>> Steven Hill and Frank Roessler, "The Real World: Las Vegas"
>> Ace Amerson, Adam Kang and Leah Gillingswater, "The Real World: Paris"
Tonight
10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Blue Tropix
Tomorrow
9:30 to 11:30 p.m., Grumpy's
10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Zanzabar
10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Hula's
Thursday
5 to 11 p.m., Dave and Buster's
10 p.m. to 4 a.m., Zanzabar
Friday
5 to 8 p.m. on Star of Honolulu
8 p.m. to midnight, Volcanoes
11 p.m. to 1 a.m., Hard Rock Cafe
Saturday
>> 1 to 3 p.m, Macy's Pearlridge
>> 1 to 3 p.m, Pflueger Acura
>> 1 to 3 p.m., Kailua Beach Park
>> 5 to 11 p.m., Dave & Buster's
>> 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., Blue Tropix
>> 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., Wave Waikiki
Click for online
calendars and events.
