When NBC’s hit series, Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 hit screens, it wasn’t just the tropical setting or the high-stakes gameplay that had viewers glued to their seats. It was Phillip Solomon. The breakout star quickly became a fan favorite after his now-viral Harriet Tubman comment sparked a social media storm that turned him into the show’s most talked-about contestant. But there’s more to Phillip than one unforgettable moment. With his easy charm, sharp wit, and undeniable sense of style, he has captivated audiences far beyond reality TV.
In this exclusive Ellements interview, Phillip opens up about life before the island, the whirlwind of fame, his signature style, and what comes next for a man who went from reality TV newcomer to cultural phenomenon almost overnight.
Phillip, you became the breakout star of Deal or No Deal Island almost overnight. When did you realize this show was about to change your life? Honestly, I knew from the moment that I was cast on the show, that nothing would ever be the same. I think that when you enter experiences like this, you have the opportunity to use it as an experience or a platform, and I knew this was just the beginning.
Let’s talk about the moment everyone is still talking about, your Harriet Tubman comment. What was going through your mind before and after you said it? The weird thing about viral moments is that you never know that they’re significant when they’re happening, but this one…I could feel it almost immediately. I feel like we have all been pushed to a point where our patience and integrity is really being tested, and sometimes, you just have to remind people that you can be a kind person and still stand up for yourself.
That moment went viral instantly. How did you handle the sudden wave of attention, memes, and social media reactions? There are currently more than 2.7 million views on my video, which is absolutely absurd in the best way possible. I had friends whose managers were playing my video at the beginning of meetings. The best part about it all is that that moment truly reflects who I am when I enter a room: charismatic and genuine, with a little bit of sarcasm and wit.
Did you expect it to become such a cultural flashpoint, or were you just being authentically yourself in the moment? That reality TV moment was truly me being me. I think that especially with cameras on, it’s so easy to restrain yourself or edit in order to make sure you’re well liked by audiences or social media, but that was never my plan. My favorite reality TV personalities are unapologetic, strong, and are more than willing to show every facet of their personality- the successes, the failures, the hits and the misses.
Reality TV can amplify personalities. What do you think Deal or No Deal Island revealed about you that people didn’t expect? Above all, I learned about strength and perseverance from Deal or No Deal Island, even if it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. On the show, strength wasn’t just about being physically fit; it was about showing up every day with resilience, even when the odds weren’t in your favor or when things felt out of your control. Perseverance meant trusting myself and my preparation, and still pushing forward when the pressure was high.
That really connected with my background as both an educator and a group fitness instructor. In the classroom, I’ve seen students succeed not just because of natural ability, but because they kept going when learning felt tough. In the gym, I remind clients that it’s not about being the strongest person in the room, it’s about finding the strength to do one more rep, to keep moving, to push through when they want to quit.
On the island, those lessons came full circle. I realized strength is about adaptability, perseverance is about consistency, and together they’re what allow us to grow, whether in a competition, a classroom, or a fitness studio. It’s not just about winning; it’s about being proud of your journey.
Looking back, do you have any regrets about how you were portrayed, or do you feel like the show captured the real Phillip? I wish I could have shown more of the fun stuff on the show. I started at least one meal a day asking “big questions” at one of our meals. As a teacher, I’m a genius when it comes to icebreakers. Anyway, I would ask the entire cast their proudest moment in life thus far, or what they wanted to be when they grew up, or even have everyone give a compliment to the person on their right. It seemed extremely cutthroat in watching the weekly episodes, but there were some great moments of empathy, compassion, and really valid human connection.
Your style on the show caught people’s attention, too. How would you describe your personal style off-camera? Growing up in Brooklyn, NY and then moving to suburban NJ where I was one of the only faces of color, my style is a perfect blend of my background and upbringing. I love to play with urban street styles with an influence of preppy color pallets and tailoring. I think that every look should “have a vibe” and tell a story. Especially as a bodybuilder who loves fashion and clothing: lines, shapes, and tailoring are everything; the fit has to be impeccable in order to achieve perfection.
Were there any specific brands or designers, that influence your personal style? I find that the European brands tailor themselves more to my body type, blending both cotton & spandex, so I find a lot of my favorite pieces on foreign websites.
Reality TV has a way of turning contestants into unexpected style icons. What/who are some of your favorite designers/labels? I love finding brands and designers from overseas and mixing them with American classics. When I’m dressing up, I’m a big fan of ASOS, Romperjack or ORTTU. Gym clothes, however, as someone who spends most of their day in fitness apparel, are a whole other avenue. I have been wearing a lot of the tapered pants and stringers from Gymshark and ASRV and athletic apparel from LSKD and Jed North.
What’s one thing that surprised you most about the show? I was really surprised by how different the final product of the show is versus being on the island day to day. All the drama was included, but all of the context and background information was limited, so it really gave viewers a different perspective that I thought they were going to initially have. At the end of the day, however, it’s a business and a network, and there’s only so much time to tell the story of weeks of filming in 45 minute episodes.
What’s one misconception about you that you want to clear up right now? I smile a lot more than the show gave me credit for. I am normally a pinnacle of optimism and humor, and this experience really shook that a little bit. As adults, we tend to not put ourselves in situations where we are constantly scared or anxious. We go where we are accepted and we do what we are talented at, but this really pushed me to the limit and helped me unlock my potential to go into new and unfamiliar situations with an open mind and open heart.
You’ve quickly become a fan favorite. Have you had any wild or unexpected encounters with fans since the show ended? As a full time fitness instructor at Barry’s, there have been so many people who have traveled to Austin to meet me and take my class, which is absolutely wild to me. Honestly, I love it though, because although the version of myself on television is real and shows a lot of who I am, that room with the dark lights and the music is truly where I thrive. If people want to really know who I am and what I stand for, come take my class.
What was life like for you before Deal or No Deal Island? What led you to reality TV in the first place? Before Deal or No Deal Island, my life was all about teaching and training: two worlds that, for me, were always connected. I spent over a decade as an educator, helping students find their voice and their confidence in and out of the classroom. That experience shaped how I see people, not as test scores or results, but as whole human beings with stories and potential.
Eventually, I felt called to bring that same passion for growth and resilience into fitness. I made the transition from teaching to training and found my home at Barry’s, where I could blend high-intensity workouts with the same empathy and encouragement I’d honed in the classroom. That move wasn’t just a career pivot; it was a chance to expand my impact, empowering people to push through limits physically and mentally.
What led me to the show was simple: I always knew that I had a story that was worth telling and a story that would resonate with other people. I think that people of color had something to hold onto. I think that people with speech differences had something to hold onto. I think that educators, past and present, had something to hold onto.
If you hadn’t done the show, what do you think you’d be doing right now? If I hadn’t done the show, I know that I would still be training at Barry’s and doing myself to help other people become the best version of themselves. It has always been my dream to help people change their lives for the better and leave this earth with a legacy of education and empowerment. I love to use the “campsite rule” when it comes to my interpersonal relationships, leaving people better than I found them.
The show brought together strategy, luck, and personality. Which of those do you think was your biggest strength? Oh, I am the reason the term “personality hire” was invented. I think that my ability to connect with other people and make them feel truly seen is the reason I lasted so long on the show. As someone who looks like a physical threat, I knew that I would have to rely on my ability to be compassionate and kind in order to remain an asset in the game.
The Harriet Tubman comment aside, what’s another moment from the show you wish more people talked about? I wish more people talked about the civilians, honestly! I think that when you put reality celebrities onto a cast of regular people, the edit heavily favors them because, admittedly, that’s what viewers are tuning in to see. But, the “civilians” on this cast are super interesting, if you look hard enough. A 21 year old female firefighter, a quick-witted flight attendant who is afraid of flying, a self-taught chef who has built his own business and now creates meals for professional athletes and celebrities- there were really some great stories that remained untold.
Reality TV can be a springboard for so many things, acting, hosting, social media, even entrepreneurship. Where do you see yourself going next? Next, I’d always love to do another show. I think I’m just preheating the oven when it comes to that. Ready for whatever life throws at me, whether it be The Traitors, The Challenge, Survivor, or give a mascot uniform and send me over to The Masked Singer.
In the meantime, I’m really loving hosting and podcasting. My fascination with reality TV is not because I love drama, but really because I love people and sociology. I am truly a fan of people, their stories, and what has made them who they are. I would love to use my platform as a vehicle to highlight those stories and help people appreciate who they were, celebrate who they are, and motivate who they are going to be.
If you could give one piece of advice to future contestants stepping onto reality TV for the first time, what would it be? My easy advice starts with this question: what makes you special? If you do not have an answer, the casting producers won’t have one either. You have to know yourself, know your brand, and whether it’s based in fact or delusion, confidence is everything. Be able to identify your best traits, your worst traits, and most of all, be ready to share the stories that got you there.
What did Deal or No Deal Island teach you about yourself personally and professionally? Above all, I learned about adversity, patience, and honesty. Being on television really allows you to take an objective look at your actions, your reactions, and how other people view you, and I love that most of all. I got to make meaningful connections, conquer fears, and tell my story to millions of viewers each week and that is truly the greatest gift I have ever received.
Finally, how do you want people to remember Phillip Solomon, the reality star, the viral moment, or something bigger? I want to be remembered as the perfect blend of “heart on their sleeve” and “foot in their mouth”. I say that only because I am far from perfect, but my intentions are always pure and I believe in the power of hard work, resilience, and remaining an ever-evolving, ever growing version of myself.
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