Just when most of us had had enough of the “super sweet 16”
parties that rich parents organize for their spoiled children, MTV comes up
with a new show, that attempts to re-educate the self absorbed children that
seemed hopeless. It was about time someone came up with this idea!
So, what is it about? Former stars of the MTV series “My
Super Sweet Sixteen” are sent by their very rich parents for a week of
re-education in several far-away and poor areas around the world, so they can
see how people who are not as fortunate as themselves live.
The ones who thought of the 22-minute show are Jenna Arnold,
a former United Nations Works employee, and Ryan Golembeske. Arnold likes to
see “Exiled!” as “an infomercial for activism.”
The first episode of the show, which is aired Monday at
10:30, proves that there still is hope of reeducation for the superficial teen
princesses.
The episode features Amanda Tillander, whom everyone
remembers for her hysterical behavior in the show on her 16th
birthday party, where she has R & B star Ciara as guest. She had one of the
worst behaviors on the show, and that’s why MTV chose her first.
Tillander was in awe when she heard the news that she had to
leave her luxurious home and go in Kenya, to live with a Maasai family for more
than a week. She went crazy at her “Sweet 16” party because she had to make her
entrance in an Acura instead of a limo, so everybody was curious to see how she
will react in a place with no electricity or running water. Well, it seems the
experience in Africa actually worked magic on Tillander, who now says she is
glad her parents sent her in the trip.
“I was mad, but also nervous and scared because I didn't
know what to expect," Tillander told the Daily News. “When they told me,
the whole family was together and I felt betrayed, but now I'm glad that they
did it.”
The 19-year-old girl, whose sweet 16 party cost $203,000,
spent her time in Kenya helping her host family do the everyday chores. She
could also see how a girl of her age – the hosts’ daughter, Josephine – lives
in Africa.
“I had to walk miles just to get a little tub of water while
I herded bulls and cows,” Tillander said. “It was intense.”
Unbelievable as it may seem, Tillander says the adventure opened
her eyes and showed her “that people are really living like this, it's not just
something you see on TV.”
When she returned from Kenya, Tillander moved out of her
parents’ home, got her own job, and also began hosting a local television show,
things that her parents hadn’t ever hoped could come true.
Tillander’s father, Bobby, admitted he was the one guilty
for his daughter’s previous awful behavior, but said he was now relieved and
thanked MTV for “showing me a side of my daughter that I didn't know existed.”
