For anyone who is a fan of or heavily addicted to MTV reality shows (such as The Real World or Road Rules), the name Aviv Melmed might ring a bell. On Episode 16 of Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat, Aviv and her partner Darrell Taylor beat the last remaining teams in a grueling race toward victory and a $250,000 prize. In the end she was victorious, but she hasn't let the fame and fortune go to her head.
Having served in the Israeli air force when she was 18, Aviv learned how to turn the difficult tasks and challenges in her life into positive experiences. On the show she represented a strong Jewish woman and after speaking with her, it's easy to see how hilarious, easy-going and friendly she really is. She gave us the break down on how she got on the show and what she's been up to since.
What compelled you to join the Israeli air force?
I grew up in a very Zionist home, and my mom always told me stories about her army experience there. And it was something that I felt that I really wanted to do. And so I did it!
What was the transition from American to Israeli life like?
Very difficult—probably one of the hardest experiences that I've ever had in my life. I have family in Israel but it wasn't my parents, so I was pretty much living on my own. I was paying for everything on my own and the army in itself was very difficult. Israel's so different and I was very young and naive. I ended up having a lot of financial issues while there, and a bunch of emotional issues in the army. I wasn't placed where I was told I would be placed, but once you're in, you're in, and you can't just leave.
I ended up back home in Ohio with 200 dollars in my pocket and no place to live. I had to basically start my life over, owing my parents a lot of money and starting school. So it was very interesting—definitely a character-building experience, but a very difficult one.
How did you end up on Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat?
My younger brother found out about Real World: Key West auditions. He wanted me to go with him because he needed a ride and said, “We should convince them to take a brother-sister duo on ‘cause they've never done that.” So I said, “Ok, whatever.”
So I pick him up and we probably got there an hour before the whole thing ended. We barely got in. But they started asking us questions and we were very nonchalant. And we both made it to the next round. We had to fill out these 70 page packets and barely had time to do it. It was so stressful; we were thinking, “Oh my God, what is going on?!”
Then they called me, but... they didn't call my brother. They said I had made it to the next round, and it was one interview after another and then I made it to the finals and they flew me out to L.A. for a final interview.
Afterwards, I got a call and they said, “We have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is we don't want you for Real World: Key West,” and so I took a deep breath and then they said, “But we want you for another show. It involves physical activities,” and I'm thinking, oh that's awesome cause that's the type of person I am! I'm totally competitive, I like to have fun, be active and so, that's how I got on Fresh Meat.
It seemed that some cast members felt that there was a lot of racism on the Fresh Meat. Did you feel any of that as a Jewish cast member?
Not at all. I think that I'm very open about my faith and my religion and if anything, people seemed intrigued. We were doing “L'Chaim (to life)!” toasts at the bar and embracing it. I always get a lot of questions about the army and the air force in Israel. For the most part, although Jews are a minority, I don't think we are the most picked on.
I know when they were interviewing me they asked, “What would you do if there was an Arab in the house who didn't like Jews?” and I thought they were going to put me in that situation. But I didn't feel like there was anyone who was anti-Semitic and actually, Evan, who was on the show with me, is half-Jewish.
How did being in the air force help you with the show?
I became much stronger mentally in the air force. I think that once you're tested—your strength, your will power and your faith—I don't want to sound dramatic, but your reason to go on becomes so much more powerful. You rise from that. You pretty much feel like you can do anything and you can get your self out of situations because life is going to throw crap at you and you can get up from it.
Are you still friends with any of the cast members?
Yeah. I still talk to Darrell every once and a while. I talk to Ryan and Linette from Fresh Meat a lot and I talk to Melinda.
Melinda—really? The way they portrayed it on the show was that Melinda didn't have any friends there and just stayed with Danny the whole time...
Well I didn't really start talking to her until after the show because on the show it's really hard when you're “fresh meat” and you don't know anyone. You're thinking, “I don't want to say anything. I could be voted off any day and if I open my mouth, I'm just putting my self out there.”
So you returned to your normal life at home just fine?
Yes, and I think some people lose that. They get what I'd like to call “MTVed out.” It's funny, I was just talking to Ryan from the show and we'll be like, “Oh yeah, he's so MTVed out now.” It's the little term we coined.
How did you use your prize money?
I invested a lot of it. I also paid off my car and school...all the responsible stuff. Went on a little shopping spree with my boyfriend, and I got a dog—he's so cute! And then I gave some money to [fellow cast member] Diem and her charity.
Are we going to be seeing you on TV again anytime soon?
Well....I don't know what MTV's crazy plan is but as far as I know, the winners always come back. I don't know when and where, but what I'm assuming is they'll do some sort of all-star challenge. If I have the opportunity and my life permits me, then I'll definitely come back.
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