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Tara Reid Reveals How She Was ‘Convinced’ To Join ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’

Home / Top Stories / Tara Reid Reveals How She Was ‘Convinced’ To Join ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’

By Kristin Myers on September 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT

Actress Tara Reid is opening up on her experience joining "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test."

The Fox celebrity survival series is currently in its second season. The network teases “no votes” and “no eliminations” while saying the object of the show is “just survival.”

According to the network, at least one of the challenges will involve submerging celebrities in a frozen lake while another requires contestants to make an emergency escape out of a helicopter that is submerged in the icy waters around New Zealand.

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Tara Reid Explains Why Joining ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’ Was ‘A Lot Harder’ On Her

The “Days of Our Lives” alum, 47, called participating in Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” as “one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever done.”

On Saturday, at the Project Angel Food Angel Awards, she told People magazine that filming the show in the mountains of New Zealand was “really tough,” adding, "They call it the ‘World’s Toughest Test’ [for a reason]."

Before she joined season 2, she did watch season 1 and decided that there was “no way” she would ever do it. However, she went on to say that the network “convinced” her to do it “at the last minute.”

The hasty time frame between her agreeing to participate in the show and the start of filming meant that she "didn't have the training like everyone else did” so “it was a lot harder” on her.

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Tara Took The Show As An Opportunity To ‘Challenge’ Herself

Although it seems like it might be difficult to find celebrities willing to submerge themselves in an icy lake, the “American Pie” alum revealed that the physical and mental challenge of the competition is what ultimately convinced her to participate in the show after spending a lot of time indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020 and recent SAG-AFTRA strike.

“I’m at a place right now [where] I want to do something like this,” she said before adding, “You're home so much in your own house, you get depressed.”

“So doing something like this was a great challenge for me and it was an experience I'll never forget and I would never take it back. Even though you watch it, you'll think I'm insane,” she teased.

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“You learn a lot about yourself in the show and other people and your own strength," she continued. "So it's not just a physical thing, it's a mental thing in a lot of ways [but] I'm really happy I did it.”

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Tara Reid Reveals The ‘Scariest’ Part Of Filming The Show

She also revealed that “one of the scariest things [was] getting thrown into a frozen river" out of the “many tests” she did while filming the show, citing the cold weather as one of her biggest challenges.

"It was freezing there," she explained. "That was the biggest part, I think, for almost everyone, how cold it was. Your brain can't even work anymore.”

Other celebrities who are being featured on this season of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” are “Vanderpump Rules” star Tom Sandoval and “Chrisley Knows Best” alum Savannah Chrisley, among others.

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Fans Have Nothing But Praise For Tara's Performance After The Season Premiere

Fortunately, fans have been nothing but supportive of Tara’s experience on the show so far. “So proud of you, girl. I sobbed for you through the interrogation room. Please know that you were wonderfully & truly beautifully made by God. Tho’ I know filming is over, multitudes are rooting for you. You’re loved, lady,” one fan commented.

“You did great! You got this! I’m rooting for ya!” another follower wrote. “OMG, you did so good. I would have issues just coming down that ladder. Girl power! The next one will be easier,” a third fan chimed in.

“I can’t believe you did this! I’m so incredibly proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone and allowing yourself to be transformed physically, emotionally, mentally, and hopefully spiritually. Love you so much,” another follower added.

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