Local reality TV stars: Where are they now? Find out more about your favorite reality TV star. Read the full interview for each former competitor at shreveporttimes.com.

Tiana Kennell | Shreveport Times

Show Caption Hide Caption Chi Chi DeVayne debut on RuPaul's Drag Race Chi Chi DeVayne debut on RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 on Logo. The Shreveport performer hosted a premiere night watch party at Central Station in downtown Shreveport.

Willie Jones' latest reality TV conquest

Cole Vosbury's music revelation

Becca Tilley's pursuit of happiness

Chef Darrell Johnson's big, upcoming TV break; and Latasha Henderson-Robinson's new fashion line

Although the cameras have turned off for their season, these hometown reality television heroes haven't stopped climbing to success and into our hearts.

Willie Jones (X-Factor), Cole Vosbury (The Voice), Becca Tilley (The Bachelor), Darrell Johnson (Cutthroat Kitchen), Chi Chi DeVayne (RuPaul's Drag Race) and Latasha Henderson-Robinson (Project Runway) talked to The Times about their on-air journey and what they've been up to since.

Willie Jones, X-Factor

Read the full interview, click here.

In 2012, Willie Jones wowed Simon Cowell and co-judges of Fox’s “X-Factor” when the deep-voiced country singer's velvety voice sang the first line of the Josh Turner song, "Your Man" — "Baby, lock the doors and turn the lights down low." Jones won over America and the “X-Factor” audience, sending him further into the season. He overcame some challenges and racked up successes, but was ultimately eliminated.

But the music goes on for Jones, who remains a Shreveport resident, but travels to Los Angeles often working with producers recording new songs and pursuing other endeavors.

Also, Jones is featured on another reality show, a Netflix original, "Chasing Cameron," following the social media influencer, Cameron Dallas. The documentary-style series follows Jones, Dallas and members of the music group, Magcon, on a national and international tour. The series was released in December and is available on Netflix.

Post-X-Factor: "It's changed a lot. People know who I am now. With the notoriety comes opportunity."

Valuable lesson learned from reality TV: "You can't get big-headed and let it go to your head. Especially with me on ‘X-Factor,’ my audition went viral so fast and everybody to this day still know about it... I was fresh out of high school and I've been in the industry since then and have seen people change. I feel I've changed too, but they've changed in a negative light, letting the lights and notoriety get to them. I'd say a valuable lesson is to stay humble, stay nice and your opportunities will just fall into your lap."

The future: "My goal is to just put out dope music. I don't know if I want to be signed or do it independent. But just make dope music, tour the world with my music and eventually get into clothing (design)."

Becca Tilley, The Bachelor

Read the full interview, click here.

Louisiana's sweetheart won over America on season 19 of ABC’s "The Bachelor," aired in 2015. She and bachelor Chris Soules tested the waters of their potential relationship and the couple visited Tilley's Shreveport hometown and the Louisiana State Fair.

Tilley was in the final two, but Soules' heart led him in another direction. However, it didn't dishearten Tilley who has continued on determined to come out on top. She's made a successful career as a social media influencer and blogger and returned to “The Bachelor” for season 20 and remains active in the "Bachelor Nation."

Life post-The Bachelor: "It has completely changed my life. I am getting to do things I have always dreamed of, simply from being a part of 'The Bachelor.' I am very grateful."

Valuable lesson on love and relationships: "They are a lot of work. I think you grow up seeing the movies and reading about these epic love stories, but they don't really show how much work and effort goes into relationships. It has given me a newfound respect for couples, like my parents, who have stayed together for so many years, through so many circumstances. Relationships are so rewarding and such an important part of my life. I have the best people surrounding me."

Career paths: "I was working as a chiropractic assistant before I went on 'The Bachelor.' After the first season, I went back to work and everything was back to normal. After the second season, I went back to work but then began working with brands and traveling, so I left the office and moved up to L.A. to start a blog and do more influencer work."



Cole Vosbury, The Voice

Read the full interview, click here.

Cole Vosbury's talent shone brightly on the stage on NBC’s “The Voice” when the Shreveport singer competed in 2013. Immediately, he was a standout for the panel of celebrity judges, including Blake Shelton, as well as many of the viewers cheering him on.

He moved through each round letting his gritty, yet smooth, voice do the talking. His time was cut short and he walked away from the singing contest in fourth place. Yet, the musician said it was the best thing to have happened to him.

After Vosbury's season of The Voice, the musician moved from Shreveport to Nashville to focus on developing his music career, which included creating a performing duo with singer-songwriter Amanda June.

The competition: "I had one of the best outcomes from being on ‘The Voice,’ if not the best outcome. People say I should do it again, but it's something you don't want to win. It is for yourself and bragging rights, but as far as a career move, that would've been the worst outcome for me. I was lucky enough and young enough when I was on the show— I was 22— that I could get away from it and past it and not be 'Cole from The Voice' for the rest of my career because that can only carry you along for a short amount of time.”

"The year following The Voice was the greatest year of my life financially and career-wise. I left the show in fourth place and if I'd made the next round and been a top three finalist, then I would've been locked into contracts."

Life post-The Voice: "When I got to Nashville I knew I kind of needed to start from scratch and wipe my slate clean, musically, and start writing new songs. The pressure from that kind of got to me, feeling like I have to write the songs and make an album and have somebody produce it— what do I do? The pressure of that weighed on me and made it hard to create. Over the last two years or so, I've really been trying to work through that and find myself as an artist, writer and creator. It's getting to a good place now where it's all blending really well."

Chi Chi DeVayne, RuPaul's Drag Race

Read the full interview, click here.

Chi Chi DeVayne began her career as a drag queen in 2010 performing at Central Station night club in downtown Shreveport. After nailing the audition in 2016 RuPaul's “Drag Race” on Logo network, it set off a new whirlwind of changes in her life.

DeVayne stepped into season 8 with style, grace and Southern flair. She continued to stand out of the crowd with her dynamic dance techniques, lip-sync skills and fashion sense.

DeVayne finished in fourth place and it's been a non-stop journey since the season ended. DeVayne said she's one of the fortunate performers, as she's consistently performing in solo and “Drag Race” group shows and tours in the U.S. and abroad— all while still making her own costumes.

The show: "It was intimidating. I was like, 'What did I get myself into?' These girls do this all the time and I felt like it was just something I did for fun. But I've always been talented— I can do just about anything, so I knew I could last. But it was emotional because I didn't know what I was going to do. But once they (said), 'Just be yourself. Do what you normally do,' that's what I did."

Getting over challenges: "I knew I had to survive. I went into straight survival mode. I was tired of working two jobs and I felt like I didn't have time to go back to school because I had to work to pay bills and I was in bankruptcy. So what pushed me through was that there was no way I could quit."

Valuable lesson: "Enjoy it while it's here and save up a lot of money because it's not promised. Enjoy everything while it's here and live in the moment."

Future goals: "I want to move to L.A. It's a real big step, but I think next year I'm going to try to move and see how that works out. And I want to start doing music because I sing."

Darrell Johnson, Cutthroat Kitchen

Read the full interview, click here.

Chef Darrell Johnson is a New Orleans-native and owner of Crescent City Bistro. The creole/Cajun restaurant opened in Shreveport last year and relocated to Bossier City in March.

Last summer, Johnson appeared on Food Network's highly-intense and hilarious cooking competition, "Cutthroat Kitchen." It was then up to him to out maneuver his three opponents as odd sabotages and limitations were placed in their way as they attempted to make delicious meals each round.

At one point, Johnson was forced to cook while dragging around a giant chicken leg on his own leg. Despite the laughs, the competition was serious for the chefs as they pushed to win over the taste buds of the judges and win the cash prize.

Johnson came in second on his episode, but as many reality stars will say, it's not always about coming out No. 1 to be called a winner.

Post-Cutthroat Kitchen: "It's been great. It's put me at the forefront of the community, not just in Shreveport but in the nation. I've gotten offers for other shows and offers to do celebrity (appearances) and cooking demonstrations— it's made me a celebrity chef."

Career highlights: "I was offered 'Hell's Kitchen,' but I turned it down. I didn't want to be away from the restaurant that long. I'm a fan of Gordon Ramsey, but not the show. I was offered "Cooks vs. Cons," which was a brand new show at the time. In Shreveport, I've competed in Louisiana Food Prize with Gregory Kallenberg and the Golden Fork Society. And have done cooking demos in other cities."

Future in reality TV: "I can't speak about the shows I'm committed to, but I'm actually committed to three more shows. They make you sign the 2,900 page non-disclosure agreement, so I can't go into detail. It's been a real whirlwind."

Giving back: "I love being able to help other people and that's why I'm giving back to the community now. I started an internship program where I have three college students who are now a part of my staff. We're teaching them the ins and outs of culinary— hands on experience as well as the business side."

Latasha Henderson-Robinson, Project Runway

Read the full interview, click here.

Latasha Henderson-Robinson, from Mooretown neighborhood in Shreveport, burst into fashion stardom on season 15 of Lifetime's "Project Runway" last year. She and her husband, Dennis, were already partners in VonRay Designs and the reality TV exposure has sent their business soaring.

On "Project Runway," Henderson-Robinson went head-to-head with other designers looking to break into the mainstream fashion industry. The VonRay Designs urban styles impressed Heidi Klum and her co-judges and Henderson-Robinson was able to push through challenges before elimination in the sixth week.

Since the show, she's been continuing building the brand for VonRay Designs and touring with fashion shows in the U.S. and internationally. And there are confidential talks going on about fashion collections in a few major department stores.

Post-Project Runway: "I've gotten more offers to be in stores and there's a presentation we're working on for June 29 with a big corporate store— I just can't say details, yet. A few boutiques reached out to me. And Shreveport Mayor (Ollie Tyler) granted VonRay Day on June 4— that was pretty dope. The legacy is beginning.

"A lot of people respect and follow us now. Being on the show brought more attention for what we've been doing and people have us on their radar."

New collection: "Damaged is a fashion art production we put together to show fashion in a different aspect. We've got a real strong background in film, so we wanted to do a collaboration with different artists, illustrators and painters and photographers. The photographers, we give them a pair from our past collection and present collection, let them shoot models in it and show them being damaged. With the artists, we give them editorial pictures of the fashion and let them put their spin on it. The concept of the show is that everyone's been damaged at some point, some way and it's all about leaving the damage behind and being healed."

Valuable lesson gained from reality TV: "You can't quit. If God put a dream in you and gave you a vision. You can't quit. You can't stop. You have to keep going and no matter how hard it gets. As a creative person, you're not going to have the money all the time, sometimes you're not even going to have the drive or get-up-and-go, but you cannot quit because what God has for you is for you and it will happen. You just have to consistently work."