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A spirit that is not afraid

Auburn grad competes for love of a royal

"Harry" rows Andrews along for one of their dates on the show. (Contributed by Kelley Andrews)
"Harry" rows Andrews along for one of their dates on the show. (Contributed by Kelley Andrews)

What started as a promising royal plan has ended as a royal pain. Auburn University graduate, Kelley Andrews competed for love against eleven other women in the FOX television show called "I Wanna Marry 'Harry.'"
As a part of the show, 12 American women are taken out of their comfort zones and placed in a completely new- and royal world.
The women go on a series of dates, as well as compete for the affection of a man, whom they believe to be Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales.
With impersonation lessons and his similar looks with the Prince, Matt Hicks, 25, takes on the challenge of convincing the women that he truly is fourth in line for the British throne, although he works as an environmental consultant in Exeter, England.
Andrews, who graduated from Auburn University in 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications, was approached at her hostessing job in Los Angeles about the show.
At the time, she was single and had met no one whom she wanted to bring home to her family, so she was up for the adventure.
"There are no southern gentlemen in L.A.," Andrews said.
According to Andrews, during her time on the reality show, she made friends, gained a strong backbone and learned how to handle herself in a professional manner.
"It was one of best life experiences I have ever had, and as a person I felt like I grew tremendously," Andrews said.
However, the show had a record low amount of viewers and has been taken off its primetime showing.
Alex Denny, senior in psychology, believes that the show is based on flawed morals.
"I find the show to be entertaining, one of those you can't stop watching," Denny said. "In general, I don't believe that a relationship should be built on dishonesty, and this show is based solely upon the dishonesty of the lead man."
Sharing the same view, Jessi Chambliss, senior in graphic design, believes the show's values are flawed, but not surprised it was created and aired.
"It really poses the question of 'what are people really watching and why are they ok with watching it,'" Chambliss said.
Denny feels Andrews represented the Auburn family well.
"She is sweet, loveable, and classy," Denny said. "Definitely in the parts of the show that I have seen she comes across as a just being a woman of character, which I feel like shows what it's like to be a girl raised in the Auburn family."
After graduating, Andrews started a company called Button Up Sunshine, which sells headbands and wraps and donates them to children battling cancer.
As a survivor of cancer herself, Andrews hopes to get access into hospitals across the country to encourage children, but all of the funds raised by Button Up Sunshine are currently going to her family's organization called "A is for Africa", which works to increase access to education, heathcare and safe spaces.
Andrews tried to bring southern class to the show and represented the Auburn family.
Although now off the air, the show's eight episodes can be viewed on fox.com/i-wanna-marry-harry/ for a limited time.


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