Originally published on 4/10/26
Vanna White has been a fixture of TV for over 40 years. Known for her grace, poise and lovely outfits, the 69 year old is truly one of a kind. And now, the Wheel of Fortune co-host is opening up about her time on TV exclusively with Woman’s World. From the instant when she accidentally messed up a puzzle to the on-air items she’s now donating to charity, she’s holding nothing back. Read on for more.
Vanna White opens up about ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and working with Ryan Seacrest
White joined Wheel of Fortune in 1982, when Pat Sajak was already hosting. Her role was simple but instantly recognizable: standing at the puzzle board and revealing letters as contestants solved the game.
Over the years, the show has evolved—introducing theme nights, special rounds and even a new host—but one thing has remained unchanged: White, at the board, turning letters and anchoring the show with her steady presence.
“In all these years, it really hasn’t changed. I show up in the morning, around seven o’clock. We normally do a little fitting to try dresses on, not necessarily for that day, for future shows; I go into hair and makeup, then we start our first show—we do five or six shows that day—and I go home,” White says.
Currently, she’s co-hosting the show with Ryan Seacrest, who took over after Sajak retired in June 2024.
“Ryan and I have been friends for over 20 years, so when he stepped into this position, it was like a good friend,” White shares. “We’ve never worked together, but we’re both from the south, and we both are the same kind of person so we have just bonded. We work off of each other. He’s professional, he’s kind, he’s hard working and it’s great to work with him.”
Vanna White reveals that she messed up a puzzle
Any Wheel of Fortune fan knows that when the show airs, it normally goes off without a hitch. And while that’s mostly true off camera as well, White did reveal that there was one time she completely messed up a puzzle.
“I turned a wrong letter one time and the puzzle was either Dr. Spock or Mr. Spock. I can’t remember which. I turned the M or the D and it was not the letter they called,” she explains. “I did it one time, and what they [the producers] did was throw the puzzle out and put another puzzle in. But I only did it once.”
Vanna White reveals which ‘Wheel of Fortune’ items fans can own
White recently teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Wheel of Fortune WishMaker, an initiative designed to help grant wishes to children facing serious illnesses. To support the effort, she’s offering a number of personal and show-related items, including a show-worn Bob Mackie dress, her “Glamjamas,” signed wheel wedges alongside Sajak and Seacrest, and even a VIP Wheel of Fortune taping experience.
“It was such an honor to work with Bob Mackie, and he was so nice and kind and so talented. t’s actually the dress that I wore on the show that we’re auctioning off, so it’s very special. He is one of the most incredible designers I feel I’ve ever worked with,” White says. “And then we have the ‘Glamjamas.’ I always wanted to wear pajamas on the show, and finally I did. But, of course, they had to glam them up with all kinds of sequins and fluffy things. That’s going to be in the auction as well.”
“I think it’s really important because it’s such a great cause, and it’s so heartwarming and fulfilling to be part of. Everybody wants to feel good about something, and this is so special. That’s why we have made this campaign, to try to get more people interested and involved. That’s what it’s all about,” she continues.
For more on the campaign and an opportunity to bid on White’s clothes, click here!
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Carissa Mosness 