More than 70 students got autographs and had pictures taken with Alton and Irulan, cast members from the popular MTV show The Real World, yesterday at STA Travel on Commonwealth Avenue.
Alton and Irulan were visiting Boston yesterday as part of a publicity tour for Contiki Holidays, which sponsored the cast’s trip to Australia last year.
The cast members, who just finished taping the show six months ago, said their new found fame is overwhelming and that the tour is a great way for them to ease back into real life after leaving the television version of the Real World.
“We’re just taking this opportunity to meet kids and talk about our trip to Australia and encourage them to go to Australia too,” Irulan said.
All seven of the cast members are currently on tour talking about Contiki Holidays and their trip. Alton and Irulan, who travel together, said they had visited four states in five days this week.
Despite the fact that the cast members are currently on tour all over the country, six of the seven now live near one another in Los Angeles and they said the call each other everyday.
“We don’t watch the show,” Irulan said.
“We don’t need to, we lived it,” Alton said.
Alton and Irulan shared stories about living in Las Vegas and their trip to Australia.
“We had a great time [in Australia],” Irulan said. “We did everything.”
Commonwealth Avenue STA Travel manager Jennie Defour said she was very happy with the way the event went. She said she held the event in an effort to promote Contiki Holidays and Australia.
The cast of the Real World traveled to Sydney, Brisbane and Great Keppel Island during their time in Australia. Irulan said Great Keppel Island was her favorite spot because it was the most beautiful place they visited and there was so much to do there.
Liz Perlman a junior in the School of Communications got both an autograph from both cast members and a picture with them. She said she attended the event because she said she was stopping by STA Travel to plan a trip to Las Vegas with her friends and was excited when the cast of the Real World Las Vegas was there.
“It was so cool to meet them,” Perlman said. “They told us all the hot spots to visit when we are in Las Vegas.”
Beth Beaverson, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she came to the event to plan her vacation to Alaska and to meet the cast. Beaverson said she really enjoys the show and has met casts of former Real Worlds before.
“They are always so nice,” Beaverson said. “They make themselves so accessible and are always very personable and willing to talk.”
Michael D’Avirro, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences attended the event because he is a fan of the TV show. He said after attending the event he’s even more interested in the show and in possibly taking a trip to Australia.
“Their trip sounded like so much fun,” D’Avirro said. “I would love to take a trip like that. They all had such great stories, it was so cool to meet them.”