While roaming campus and listening in on the latest buzz, some students may feel like they have been hit with a case of déjà vu. But, eyes and ears do not deceive. Freshman Cami Edwards, featured on seasons two and three of the MTV show “Laguna Beach,” is among the second generation of the hit reality program’s cast members to come to Pepperdine.

Just two years ago, Edwards’ high school friend Casey Reinhardt, also a former cast member on “Laguna Beach,” started at Pepperdine. Word of Reinhardt’s arrival on campus made its way quickly through the Peppervine, and it has is not been much different for Edwards.

Since her debut on the show, Edwards said she receives a lot of attention. She added that she appreciates her fans.

“I have no reason to be rude to people who actually enjoyed the show or like me and want to get a picture or have my autograph, which I think is cool,” Edwards said.

“Laguna Beach” is a reality program that shows the antics of high school life in a wealthy town. It is popular among high school and college students.

“I like the show because it’s cool being able to relate to people my age,” said freshman Sam Gonzalez.

Edwards got her first taste of fame on the show when she was featured on season two, debuting in some of the show’s smaller scenes. Fans of the show may recognize Edwards as Jason’s prom date in season two. Jason was one of the show’s more recognized cast members.

After appearing on season two and talking with the show’s producers, Edwards said she was able to take on a larger role during the third season.

“Second season, it was kind of word of mouth who would be good on the show,” according to Edwards. “They interviewed a bunch of people for the third season, and I was on second season a couple times.”

Despite the fact that “Laguna Beach” is seen as “The Real Orange County,” Edwards said the show goes through so much editing, adding and re-shooting of scenes that reality becomes blurred.

“The editing is a huge part of their show,” Edwards said. “They just twist your words around.”

She added that the first episode of season three was scripted and that many times she was cued to say certain things in a certain way. According to Edwards, this often gave people the wrong perception of who she is, especially as she was called “The Queen of Mean” on the show by season three’s narrator, Tessa.

“I look at it like I was a character on a show, rather than myself, because, they needed two mean girls…and that’s what they chose for us,” Edwards said of her and her friend Kyndra, also on the show. “I got a lot of negativity from the show.”

Despite the fact that she believes her joking was often taken too seriously, Edwards said she is thankful for the opportunities MTV gave her and her friends.

“I look at is as positive, because I know that I will never get to have another experience like that,” Edwards said. “I know I could have said no and not done it, you know, but how many times can you say you had the junior year of your life filmed so you don’t forget?”

Edwards was featured on the show during her sophomore and junior years with friends like Reinhardt and incoming Pepperdine freshman and “Laguna Beach” co-cast member Candace Siegmund, who was featured in season three as cast member Cedric’s prom date. Siegmund declined to comment, but Edwards said she and Reinhardt helped influence her decision to apply to Pepperdine.

Edwards said she had been disconnected from Reinhardt until about 6-months ago, but now they and their friend Kyndra are working on creating a clothing company for babies. Edwards is majoring in business at Pepperdine to help with these entrepreneurial efforts.

“Business, I’m thinking, is going to help with actually running the business,” Edwards said.

She said she hopes to get involved with community service at Pepperdine. In high school, she was involved with the Red Ribbon Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, two organizations promoting breast cancer awareness. She also participated in volunteer opportunities like Race for the Cure.

“I like doing community service, I really do — especially with kids,” Edwards said.

Edwards has finished New Student Orientation week, and she said she is excited about all that awaits her at Pepperdine.

She has been spending time with her new roommate, freshman Charlotte Dawson, who she met through Facebook. Dawson said she looks forward to getting to know Edwards better.

“She is really, really nice and easy to talk to,” Dawson said. “We get along.”

Dawson and many of Edwards’ peers say they wish her an easy transition onto campus.

“Personally, I hope that people don’t judge her by how she seemed on the show, Gonzalez said.

Edwards said she wants to start clean on campus, despite all the stereotypes the MTV show caused her to face, and she said she is looking forward to meeting new friends at Pepperdine to help her with this.

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posted by Lysandra @ 11:57 AM