Only one contestant could bring home an everlasting supply of money in Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
Somewhere between a devastating setback at the honeycombs and the instinct to “ride her own wave” no matter which way it broke, Gabrielle became the last one standing in the Chocolate Factory (besides, of course, the Oompa Loompas). She left Taylor in her wake, sealing her victory by correctly guessing who Kayla voted for in the previous challenge.
The 22-year-old entered the competition with her best friend, Sasha, by her side. Together, the duo found (and lost) allies, cheered each other on through challenges, and cried for each other’s wins and losses. While Sasha was the original golden ticket–holder, Gabrielle was the strategist of the two.
“After months of preparation and everything I went through in the game, realizing I won was shocking, relieving, and something I felt incredibly proud of,” Gabrielle says. “In that final moment, all my strength gave way to an emotional wave of everything I had felt throughout the journey.”
Tudum caught up with Gabrielle to talk through the moment reality finally sank in, the strategy that kept evolving until it barely resembled where she started, and the toughest opponent she faced. And it wouldn’t be Wonka without a life-changing prize, so keep reading to learn what Gabrielle plans to do with $3 million.
Walk us through the moment you realized you’d won. What was going through your head?
Gabrielle: I truly didn’t think I had won the whole thing! It is Wonka’s world, after all, so I was convinced the voting was only part one of two and kept waiting for someone to announce the next challenge. When it finally sank in that I had actually won, I was completely overwhelmed. I had spent the entire competition focused on getting through whatever came next, so realizing I had made it through all the highs and lows was incredibly emotional.
Did you have a winning strategy from day one, or did it evolve as you went?
Gabrielle: My strategy definitely evolved. I went in wanting to fly under the radar, make friends, and, of course, have fun — all while not drawing too much attention to myself early on. That changed pretty quickly. I realized that playing small wasn’t necessarily going to protect me. I had to trust myself, take some risks, and actually let people see who I was. By the end, my strategy became much less about everyone else and much more about riding my own wave. I couldn’t control the twists or how everyone else was going about their game, but I could control how I responded to them. So I trusted my instincts and kept moving forward no matter which way the wave went.
What was the single hardest moment of the competition for you?
Gabrielle: The hardest moment for me was the honeycombs. I normally prefer being in control of my own fate, but at that moment, my fate was in someone else’s hands. Even though [Austin] did everything he could, my frustration turned into desperation, and I reacted in ways I normally wouldn’t. Looking back, it became a turning point. I learned that desperation doesn’t get you anywhere; it just pulls you further under.
When I was given a second chance, I knew I had to change how I approached the rest of the game. I couldn’t control everything that came at me, but I could control my emotions and how I reacted to them. From that point forward, I trusted myself, stayed focused, and decided I wasn’t going to let anything knock me off course. I truly believe that was the turning point I needed to light a fire in me and give me tunnel vision toward the end.
Who was your toughest competitor, and why?
Gabrielle: Myself. There were so many talented people around me, but I knew the quickest way to take myself out of the game was to get caught up with someone else or let doubt and negativity overcome me. Unfortunately, I let that happen during the honeycombs, but I’m grateful I did. Being given a second chance became a huge turning point and reminded me why I was there: to give everything I had, trust myself, and focus on what I could control. From that point forward, I stopped comparing my journey to anyone else’s and focused on staying in my own lane.
What’s something the game taught you about yourself that you didn’t expect?
Gabrielle: Every day, I aimed to beat myself, but what I truly gained from the experience was an unexpected lesson about adaptability. I’ve always been someone who thrives on preparation, wanting to know the plan and feeling in control of what lies ahead. This journey flipped that notion on its head, reminding me that I had to get comfortable with discomfort. I realized that even when the future seemed uncertain, I could trust myself to navigate through it. I don’t need all the answers before taking the next step. I learned that all I needed was to trust my preparation, to trust my heart, and to believe in the power of positivity.
What are you planning to do with the prize?
Gabrielle: It’s actually been almost a full year, which has given me a lot of time to think about this instead of making any huge decisions in the excitement of the moment. I want the money to have a life beyond just buying things. A portion will go toward A Birthday Party Wish, the nonprofit my brother and I started as kids, which helps make sure children facing adversity still get to feel celebrated on their birthdays.
I also want to help my family find the best possible support for my grandmother, who has dementia. One thing that has really connected us is dance and music. I’ve seen firsthand how movement can bring her moments of joy, recognition, and connection. I want to use part of the money to take what we’re already doing with her and develop it into something more structured, using dance and music to create positive and meaningful moments for people living with dementia and their families. My hope is to enhance their quality of life through movement, music, and human connection.
And then I’m looking at the future. I plan on investing a portion and using some of it to build the businesses and creative projects I’ve been dreaming about for years. Winning the prize is incredible, but what excites me most is the opportunity to turn one lucky moment into something that can keep growing and to be able to do good things for others along the way.
