FALLS CHURCH, Va. — If you had a chance to win $4.56 million through a challenging survival competition, would you sign up? Well, this Northern Virginia native ran to the opportunity – literally.
"Squid Game," a South Korean Netflix series, sparked international buzz in 2021 about economic struggles as well as class disparities. It became Netflix's most watched show, resulting in a second season on the way and a reality series "Squid Game: The Challenge."
The 10-episode show aired new episodes starting at the end of November through the beginning of December, mirroring the actual show with 456 players, and among those players was 32-year-old Shelby Hoefling, who grew up in Falls Church, and spent most of her life in the commonwealth.
Hoefling flew to the UK and took her chance at millions, becoming Player 438.
Hoefling said she was reached out to by casting, and from there she felt everything happens for a reason – so when the opportunity came, she took it.
The Games
To begin, iconically recognized, a game of Red Light, Green Light, accompanied by the oversized doll that watches the players every movement – or they get shot, unlike in the show, by dye packs – eliminating them. For Hoefling, this was her least favorite game, and for reasons that were not seen on screen. It seemed like it was only five minutes to clear the game – that is just editing.
It took her around nine hours to cross the finish line, and she was a part of the last group to do so.
"We would have to hold positions for about 30 to 40 minutes, and after 30 to 40 minutes, after about the second round, they started to let us relax a little bit. So if you were holding a position, they would be checking the cameras to see who moved and who was moving in those 30 to 40 minutes." And the relaxation time – around two minutes.
In that game, 259 players were eliminated.
Her favorite game – Dalgona, where they had to carve out the shape from the cookie. The shape she was given in the game – the circle.
"That was fun because we got to have the cookies afterwards," she said as her smile starts to grow at the memories of her tale.
And as for when she left the Squid Game, it was during Warship, also known as Battleship – the third official game for the series, which unlike the original show was new and unexpected. In the original series – the third game is tug of war.
"When we walked into the room, everybody was starting to form groups thinking that it was tug of war. So you could see the group of the really strong men thinking that they had this in the bag, and you thought it was tug of war until you walked onto the set."
She said people were even preparing 12 hours before specifically for the game that everyone thought it would be, coming up with strategy, but even though she was out during Warship – she was happy with the adjustment.
"We were all very surprised, but I was kind of excited when I saw that it was different because I thought, OK, this is going to make it fair, and this is going to break things up so that it's not just up to strength to make it past this."
Since it was fair – she says she was happy for however it played out. In addition to this, there were also random challenges when games were played to keep things fun and interesting. For Player 438, she didn't have a strategy going into this adventure like many people who were displayed talking about one on the show – she just wanted to be proud of herself at the end.
"I think there's so much luck that goes into it that I also didn't want to run myself in circles trying to think of a strategy and do so much when at the end of the day, a lot of people walked in with a strategy, they executed the strategy, they made alliances, and then they just got sent home. So I just figured, have a good time, be a good person, try and learn, and whatever is meant to be will be."
Player 438, Shelby Hoefling, in the 'Squid Game: The Challenge'
Never Before Seen
Within the games, there is a challenge this involves answering a phone in their dorm, but on the show only two phone calls were shown. In between, there were two others – which led to one of her favorite moments.
One call someone was able to get pizza with his friends. And then another, which she says she wish she would of answered, resulted in another reward.
A player she was sitting beside at the time "answered the phone and he got doughnuts and he shared the doughnuts with his friends and he shared a doughnut with one of my close friends. It was his birthday that day, his 30th birthday," she said, lighting up about the memory. "So I thought that was sweet to see them having like a birthday celebration and just like, the little conversations that we would have getting to know one another, there's not enough time for a reality show for them to show that, but sweet moments like those."
Out of the things that came from the show, Hoefling says she left with lasting friendships.
Reflection
For Hoefling, one of the things that she got out of the game is time to think as she was stripped from her belongings. To go back to the basics of meeting people, enjoying those moments – unplugging and taking each moment in is something she got to appreciate, even though she missed her family.
"When I was there, I was thinking to myself that we're all fighting for all of this money, and we want it so badly. But ultimately, the experience itself is so worth it and priceless. And to be able to reflect on how special your life is and to really feel it and almost see it, that it is taken away from you. But knowing that you're going to get it back is something that I did learn a lot from."
In her views, as she spoke with gratitude, she said, "Money is not everything." She continued by saying, though the show might just seem like a game, but it is so much more than that.
"So in some way, the show is all about, I think the show is really about kind of how people behave in this social experiment, and then it's also what people will do for money and how badly do they want it. But for me, it was almost, I didn't need the wake up call. Like, I am a very grateful person, but it was a reminder to me about how precious life is without all of that money."
If she had won, she hoped to use the winnings for her parents' clinic in Sierra Leone, that they opened in her sister's name that passed away years ago. It helps children and families who otherwise would have to walk miles to go see a doctor. But other than that, just to live more comfortably.
Since then, she spends her time much like before which involves working with seniors – a passion of hers. Her life has changed though, when she went into the games she has a boyfriend, but since she has gotten engaged, married and pregnant, and moved to Baltimore.
But would she do the games again – yes, but of course she would want to miss that first game.
*Proceed at your own risk. Spoilers ahead.*
...As For The Winner
Though Hoefling did not win, someone from Fairfax County did – bringing home the win to the DMV. The winner, Player 287, Mai Whelan. And the two got to meet before the first game started. She stated that she was really sweet and that she liked her, even as they continued to talk as the games continued.
And after she exited the game, she was still rooting for her to take the jackpot prize home.
"So she won, ultimately. But I just think it's interesting that I almost got that energy from her, and I'm really happy that she did. So I think for us, being in the Virginia area, it's exciting that she won."