When she applied to be on "MTV's The Real World," 27-year-old Scottsdale resident Tovah Marx didn't expect everything to be — well — so real so quickly.

She sent in an application after watching 2016's "Real World Seattle: Bad Blood," the 32nd season of MTV's reality TV show that puts strangers in a house while cameras film every moment. In November 2018, Marx got an email confirming that she moved on to the next round of applications. She had to Skype, do phone calls and in-person interviews. And in March 2019, she finally learned that she was chosen as one of seven contestants for "MTV's The Real World" in Atlanta, which premieres exclusively on Facebook Watch, Thursday, June 13.

Within 48 hours, the University of Arizona alumna got her life together to fly to Georgia for filming.

"I'd never been to Atlanta," Marx says. "I love 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' but that's the closest I'd ever been."

"The Real World" premiered in 1992, and it has made for some memorable reality-television moments. This season promises to be no different, with seven strangers from wildly different backgrounds in one house.

Get to know Tovah Marx before the premiere.

Question: What was it like living in a house while the cameras were always rolling?

Answer: I'm not camera shy, but I'd never had experience with cameras. Being in the house and having cameras on you 24/7, for the first couple of days, I was overwhelmed. But I think what helped me was telling myself that I deserved to be here and I have a story to tell. You've got to block the cameras or they'll eat you alive.

They do a really good job of just making it look like two people in a scene when really there are 10 people in the room with you, but what people should know is how vulnerable we are.

Q: You say humor is how you defend yourself in your bio. Why is that?

A: I think I was being funny and laughing it off the whole time during the Skype interviews. I knew a little bit beforehand that I use humor. It goes with my loud personality. But this show has taught me that I'm allowed to be vulnerable. It's hard for me. I'm the person where I will listen to you for 10 hours about anything you want to talk about, but I feel like when it comes to myself I don't open up as much.

Q: What was it like for you to live with strangers?

A: I love meeting new people. I'm an only child, and I'd rather be in a room full of strangers than be in a room by myself. It forced me to create those bonds because it's better to come together. I think, like the others, I kind of went into the house to meet new friends and get this experience. A lot of us thought we'd get into this house but every single person left there changed.

On the last night, we talked about how we impacted each other and it was one of the most powerful nights.

Q: Being from Scottsdale, how has your experience here shaped your experience in the show?

A: I grew up in San Diego, but I went to U of A. For the past four years I've been in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. And in Scottsdale, we get caught up in the most materialistic things like who has the best clothes, the best cars ... you can get lost in the Scottsdale bubble, you know? It was refreshing to get out of the high-strung parts of Arizona.

Q: To be a little more serious, I understand that you went through a lot of hardship. May you talk about it now?

A: I went through a lot when I was younger. People get really uncomfortable when I tell them this. In seventh grade my depression started — when I decided to go on "Real World" I wanted to share my story. I had thoughts of suicide when I was 12. I had so many problem with bullies that were so bad I changed three schools.

And eventually I lost my virginity after I was raped and experienced a lot of verbal abuse ... The main reason I wanted to go on "Real World" was to share my story. I feel like I'd been through a lot, but I believe everything happens for a reason and I want people going through something similar that 'If I made it through, you can too."

Q: Your bio also said you want to open up a foster home. What would your dream foster home look like?

A: I work in Child Protective Services, and I see how broken these kids are. For years now, I've wanted to open as many foster homes as I can. In college, I would volunteer in foster homes and read to them.

When it comes to some families, you come home and you have your parents to help you do your homework and get one-on-one attention. I want to give these kids as much one-on-one attention as possible ... I want to make sure my kids are safe.

Q: What did you learn from your experience on the show?

A: I need to be more open with people. I need to work through what happened in my past. I can't keep pushing my past down. I've got to work through all the trauma that happened to me.

I talked to a self-love coach at one point, which you'll see on the show ... She encouraged me to talk to someone to get through my toxic cycles. I'm working through my problems and I'm a whole 27 year old, not the 16 year old that went through that trauma.

How to watch 'The Real World'

"MTV's The Real World" will drop 30-minute episodes every Thursday on Facebook Watch starting Thursday, June 13. But fans will get teases with scene previews on Monday through Wednesday and Facebook Stories throughout the week.

Follow the show on their Facebook page at facebook.com/realworldonwatch.

Want to pitch a story idea? Reach reporter Samantha Incorvaia at sincorvaia@gannett.com or 602-444-4968. Follow her on Twitter at @_SamI520.

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