Who is the most memorable reality TV star from Cleveland? Tell us in the comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio --€" Earlier this year we checked in with reality television star Marisa Saks.
The Shaker Heights native moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career and landed a role on Bravo TV's popular reality show "Millionaire Matchmaker."
Saks has also made appearances on TV shows like "Entourage" and films like "Scary Movie 5." Here's hoping Saks' does better than a few other former reality TV stars from Cleveland.
Here's a look at 17 individuals from the area that got their big break on reality TV and what they did with it afterwards:
Jason Mesnick
The Cleveland native first appeared on the fourth season of "The Bachelorette." He was then featured on Season 13 of "The Bachelor," handing out roses to women. The season concluded in memorable fashion. Mesnick proposed to one contestant, only to change his mind during the reunion show and choose someone else. It all worked out for Mesnick who married his final choice, Molly Malaney. The couple welcomed a daughter last year. Mesnick recently started a podcast called BacheloRadio. Earlier this year, New York Magazine ranked Mesnick's season of "The Bachelor" one of "The Best Reality Seasons Ever."
Mike "The Miz" Mizanin
You know him now simply as WWE star "The Miz." However, Mizanin began his television career as a cast member on MTV's "The Real World: Back to New York" in 2001. Mizanin, a life-long professional wrestling fan, then competed on the fourth season of WWE's "Tough Enough." The reality series gave hopefuls a chance to land a WWE contracts. Mizanin finished in second-place, but worked his way up in the organization to become one of its stars. The Miz is now a former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion, Tag Team Champion and United States Champion. He recently competed at WrestleMania XXX in the first ever Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Ashley Spencer
Massillon girl Spencer competed on NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want!" reality series looking to cast lead roles in a Broadway revival of the musical. She finished second on the show, but did eventually play Sandy during the musical's Broadway run. Spencer has gone on to star in productions of "Priscilla, Queen of The Desert" at Palace Theatre and a Broadway production of "Rock of Ages" in 2012. She's married to fellow stage vet Jeremy Jordan.
Margaret Bobonich
Bobonich competed on "Survivor Guatemala," which aired in 2005. She was voted out in sixth place. According to Survivor Wiki, the Chardon native works as a nurse practitioner in Northeast Ohio.
Scott Savol
The Shaker Heights resident finished fifth on Season 4 of "American Idol" (won by Carrie Underwood). Savol made headlines during the season when it was revealed he plead guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges in 2001. Producers allowed him to continue in the competition. Savol recently tried out for NBC's "The Voice" and currently sings in popular Cleveland wedding band The Avenue.
Jen Schefft
Schefft caught the eye of bachelor Andrew Firestone on the third season of "The Bachelor," but their love was short lived. Schefft got another chance when she became "The Bachelorette" for the show's third season. But that didn't work out either. Schefft eventually found love. She is now married with two children and works as a public relations specialist in Chicago, according to her Twitter page.
Danny Kastner
Kastner, a North Olmsted-native, didn't last long on the third season of "The Apprentice." Donald Trump fired him during the third episode. Something tells me Kastner will be fine. He is an active jazz musician and composer in Los Angeles, and a founder of Crowdjammer, a software tool that attracts backers for crowd funding projects on platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
Michael Cardamone
Cardamone is a co-host of WKYC-TV's "Live on Lakeside" show, but before that he was just an "Average Joe." Cardamone went on WKYC's morning talk show to plug his appearance on "Average Joe 2: Hawaii." The station went on to hire the hometown boy.
Charles Grigsby
The Oberlin, Ohio native made it to the top-11 on the second season of "American Idol" before being eliminated after singing "You Can't Win" from "The Wiz." It's hard to find out much about Grigsby these days. He hasn't posted any new music to his Reverb Nation or tweeted since 2011.
Alfred LaPonza
Like Cardamone, LaPonza appeared on "Average Joe." However, LaPonza didn't come away quite as satisfied. He sued NBC, alleging that the network stole concepts and storylines from him (and two other contestants) without compensation. LaPonza, a Cleveland-area construction contractor, has remained out of the public eye ever since.
Frank Ippolito
Ippolito, a special effects artist from Cleveland, appeared on the first and fifth seasons of Syfy's reality series "Face Off" in 2011. Ippolito recently worked with Tested.com on "The Zoidberg Project," where he created a life-size costume of Zoidberg, the character from "Futurama."
Beth Stolarczyk
Many people remember Stolarczyk as a polarizing figure on "The Real World: Los Angeles." The former Garfield Heights resident was ranked as one of the most annoying cast members in the history of MTV's reality series. Last year, Stolarczyk appeared on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," where she talked about her controversial reality relationships. Since her reality TV career ended, Stolarczyk has gotten married, become a mother and dabbled in TV production.
Valerie Mayen
It's not hard to find "Project Runway" vet Mayen these days. The Cleveland resident, who finished seventh on Season 8, can be found in the Gordon Square Arts District at her popular boutique Yellowcake.
Caryn Groedel
Groedel lasted 36 days on the island during "Survivor: Palau" before being voted out. Groedel, who first moved to Cleveland in 1992 with her husband, is now an attorney in the area.
David "House" Greathouse
Cleveland native Greathouse competed on the fourth season of Syfy's "Face Off" and finished fifth. He's continued his career as a makeup artist, working on indie films like "John Dies at the End" and "Fun Size.
Melody DeLong
DeLong is a bit of a serial reality-show contestant. The actress/model from Cleveland got her start by applying to RealityWanted, a website that casts people for reality shows, talk shows and game shows. She's been a cast member on the TLC reality show "Happily Ever Faster," Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva," Oxygen's "Snapped" and TNT's "72 Hours." According LinkedIn, DeLong is self-employed as a hair stylist.
Danielle Pastorino
The Cleveland Heights native made a splash on the VH1 reality show "For the Love of Ray J" thanks to her unusual personality. After the show aired, Pastorino said she planned to work as a freelance correspondent and create TV shows. However, her website, OfficiallyUnique.com, is no longer active. It appears she may have started a talent agency, but the company's Facebook page hasn't posted anything since 2012.
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