Marcy, retired and fearless about it, signed up for the competition precisely because the unknown terrified her. “In that fear, I knew there were amazing growth opportunities, and I dig that,” she says. Marcy was 8 years old the first time she watched Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and she was transfixed by the giant doors swinging open onto a candy fairy tale. It was a moment she says she always dreamed of experiencing herself. Marcy knew her best friend of 20 years always wanted to be on a reality show, so when the golden ticket appeared in Marcy’s hand, JoAnne came to mind immediately. Once she got the call, JoAnne left her husband at home in Arkansas to offer her “endless support and sense of humor.” 

Candy-wise, they balance each other nicely. JoAnne is Laffy Taffy: “I’m not a serious person, and I find humor in most things.” Marcy describes herself as soft on the outside with a bit of crunch inside — sweet at first bite and sturdier than she looks. Both agree they’re concerned about going up against a Veruca Salt–type competitor, “snooty fox that she was,” as Marcy says. “Though I’m a New Jersey girl and can handle it,” she adds.

Garrison’s earliest memory of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is of Grandpa Joe telling Charlie he has a chance at the golden ticket just like any other kid. “That part always tugs at my heartstrings, because I was raised by women who sacrificed so much to give me the opportunities that I’ve had.” Raised by his mother and grandmother, Garrison grew up in a house where the 1971 film was on permanent rotation. When his grandma’s health declined, Garrison applied to the show to humor her, never expecting the golden ticket to land in his hands. “It’s a chance to win a life-changing amount of money to take care of my girls: my fiancée, grandma, mom, and sisters,” he says. 

When the devoted grandson and son from rural New Jersey chose his mom, Shawn, the Chocolate Room got a little sweeter. “Out of every person in his life, he picked his mom,” Shawn says. “I still get emotional thinking about it.” Like Charlie Bucket, family comes first for both of them. Ask them what candy they’d be, and it’s clear why they’re the perfect pair. Shawn is hard candy — a shape that doesn’t crack under pressure — and Garrison is a gummy bear. “You rarely find a gummy bear on its own,” he says. “Same for me. I’m at my best when I’m surrounded by my girls.”

Jackson, a bartender from Texas, grew up on Roald Dahl books. Just like Charlie Bucket, he’s entering the factory gates with his grandfather, Ray, by his side. “He’s a fighter and never quits,” Jackson says, “Why wouldn’t I want this man on my team?” Ray — affectionately known as Poppy — came out of retirement in Florida to rise to the challenge. Being chosen for this “lifetime opportunity” is hard to put into words, but Ray doesn’t plan on letting his grandson down. The two have been traveling partners since Jackson was a kid, so they’re confident they can tackle anything together. 

Like chocolate milk, Jackson is “rich in personality” and relates to the candy man himself. “Wonka is center stage right at the beginning of the movie and takes care of business,” he says. Ray, meanwhile, knows he’s “a little nutty” and compares himself to a Snickers bar. While Ray knows that his age might cost him a step or two against younger competitors, he hopes to offset that gap by being in good shape. Plus, Jackson is happy to pick up any slack in the challenges. “I just let my adernaline take the wheel.” 

Much like her favorite candy, Pop Rocks, Kayla describes herself as “expressive, energetic, and full of surprises.” Growing up, Kayla was taught to compete in everything from dance to academics — and she expects “others [to be] equally as cutthroat.” While she knows that her relentless ambition can be “off-putting,” Kayla is quick to distinguish gameplay from personal relationships. She credits her competitive nature to her father, Bill, who Kayla says is a “master” of puzzles, trivia, and physical challenges. The retired corporate salesman likes to think of himself as a chocolate truffle with a liqueur center. “On the outside, I look like an ordinary 63-year-old man. However, I am anything but ordinary when you experience what lies within,” he says. 

The father-daughter duo have a “sentimental” connection to the world of Wonka and share special memories of watching the 1971 film together, which spurred an inside joke among the family. “When Kayla got demanding I’d say, ‘I want it NOW, Daddy’ just like Veruca Salt.  She did not like that,” Bill recalls. Kayla, for the record, describes herself as a “refined Veruca Salt,” adding that she loves a “girl who knows what she wants and goes after it.” But she isn’t one to throw tantrums. “My dad made sure I knew how to be tenacious while still being kind and respectful.”

This mother-daughter duo is no stranger to competition. Kellye was crowned Miss Tennessee and later Miss America, while Tatum was crowned Miss Virginia and competed for Miss America. When Tatum discovered that she received Wonka’s coveted invitation, there was only one person she wanted by her side. “I have such a special relationship with my mom. All of my passions and interests — be they music, theater, or pageants — are heavily influenced by her,” says Tatum. Kellye wasn’t about to let her daughter head into the factory without some maternal backup. “I relate to Grandpa Joe because he would do anything for Charlie,” says Kellye. “I feel the same way. I joined this adventure for my daughter and would do anything for her.” 

Both believe their biggest strengths in the competition lie in their ability to handle “high-pressure situations” and “find common ground” with all different types of people  — skills they honed during their pageant days. Plus, Tatum and Kellye are extremely familiar with the world of Wonka. “I was cast as Veruca Salt in my fourth-grade play of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” says Tatum. “So this was the dream I never knew I had and brought back that pure childhood excitement.”

Growing up in San Francisco, brothers Everett and James bonded over their love of reality competition series, but never expected they’d step into one as adults. “We used to talk all the time about which shows we would hypothetically go on,” Everett says, underscoring how reality series “introduced [them] to queer and Asian American representation” on television. While the two share plenty in common, they have different strengths, which is why Everett chose James to join him in the factory. “He’s the creative, imaginative one. I see myself as the pragmatic, responsible one, which is very much in line with our older-younger brother dynamic,” says James. 

Heading into the competition, the duo plans to be “highly strategic but also likable players who don’t create huge targets.” To prepare, Everett says he made James watch Squid Game: The Challenge, pointing to LeAnn and Trey as an example of a “strong power duo.” But no matter what the factory throws their way, the brothers want to be proud of how they handle the twists and turns of the competition. “I relate to Charlie. Not because I want to be the star, but because he won with good morals and character,” says James. And, most importantly, they’re looking forward to embracing the experience together. “You have to have a partner who understands you at a deep level to make it past those challenges,” he adds.  “And that could only be Everett.” 

Bryce and Taylor have been together for four years and are ready to put their partnership to the test. “Taylor knows me better than anyone else, which would give us a huge advantage coming into the competition,” Bryce says. The high school sweethearts from Montana have been through a lot together — from health disorders to house fires, and more — and are looking forward to a fresh start. “I had a hard time believing [the golden ticket] was real, and that I had the possibility of my whole life changing,” Taylor says, adding that she relates to Charlie because they share a history of a “tough upbringing.” 

Bryce is the gummy bear in the relationship — soft and sweet with a “heart of gold” — while Taylor is the Sour Patch Kid: a little sour on the first bite, but with a lot of sweetness underneath once you get to know her. She knows how to read a room and plans to use this skill to combat whatever tricks Wonka has up his sleeve. Bryce leans more on athleticism, but his outgoing personality and big smile won’t hurt in the lounge. Either way, it’s a new adventure. “We want to have as many experiences together as possible,” Bryce says. 

Nick and Jason have worked together for a decade, turning up the party as DJs at high-profile bashes across the world, from weddings to corporate events. “My biggest strength is connecting with people,” says Nick, who plans to put his ability to read any room to good use in the competition. Coming into the factory, the duo know they can find the fun in anything — even in the face of Wonka’s ever-changing whims. “As a team, we balance each other out, and we have the ability of working through anything presented and have a great time regardless of the situation,” says Jason.

Nick, for one, hopes the game doesn’t “begin with a spin,” as Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka famously says in the song “Pure Imagination,” featured in the 1971 film. “My biggest weakness is spinning and feeling dizzy,” he says. Jason, meanwhile, is on slightly more stable ground. “I have an insane work ethic and a never-give-up attitude as part of my DNA,” he says. “I am a strategic person in most instances and try to see perspectives and the pros and potential cons of any situation.”

Since they were barely out of diapers, Gabrielle and Sasha have been best friends. “Sasha is the sister I never had,” Gabrielle says. “I honestly can’t remember a time in my life without her,” Sasha adds. With 21 years of friendship behind them, they each bring their own strengths to the competition. Gabrielle is the strategist of the two, “always thinking ten steps ahead,” while Sasha brings the energy that keeps them laughing and grounded in equal measure. Sasha relates most to the Oompa Loompas, always juggling a dozen creations at once. Gabrielle splits the difference between Violet Beauregarde’s drive to win and Charlie’s gratitude for the magic of just being there. 

When it comes to first impressions, Sasha considers herself a sour watermelon candy. “I’m energetic, playful, and sometimes a little all over the place,” she says. “A bit hectic and unpredictable, but genuinely sweet at heart.” Gabrielle is more of a Gobstopper. “At first, I can be a little hard to crack,” Gabrielle says. She prefers to sit back and feel things out before opening up. “But the more you get to know me, the more layers you uncover.” Inside, she’s as bubbly as Sasha’s exterior. 

Despite personalities Austin describes as nearly opposite, Austin and Ziad bonded over their shared “obsession” with fitness and nutrition when they met six years ago. When Austin received his golden ticket, he knew Ziad’s deep love of Wonka would come in handy. “I’d wish it was me every time I watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Ziad says. “Decades later I got the chance.” 

Austin’s earliest memory of the film was craving every sweet onscreen. The content creator grew up in a candy-free household, so he relates more to mango sticky rice — “simple and sweet” — than to any chocolate bar. Ziad, meanwhile, knows he’s a Ferrero Rocher at heart: a little spiky on the outside, liquid and soft in the center. “I’m also a Cancer,” he adds, “so, y’know, same deal with crabs or whatever.” Austin’s greatest asset walking into the competition is his read on people — a strength paired with a self-described weakness of being too forgiving for his own good. Ziad’s strengths and weaknesses are similar: a refusal to play dirty and an insistence on staying true to himself. 

Consider Ava the Veruca Salt of the competition — with one “very important distinction” she’d like to make clear. “Veruca knows exactly what she wants, but she expects everyone else to get it for her. I know exactly what I want, and I’m going to go get it myself.” That doesn’t mean, however, that she won’t accept some help in the factory from her dad, Jeff. “My role is to use my wisdom and experience to support my daughter to victory,” he says. “You don't say no to the opportunity to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your child.” 

After college, Ava relocated from Newport Beach to New York City, but she and her dad are still in constant contact. “I call him every day to consult him on my life decisions,” she says. Ava has since built her own business in the Big Apple all by herself. “My dad raised me with a crazy work ethic because he worked for everything he has,” she says. “A lot of people would look at [us] and assume a lot that is not true. My parents do not give me a penny.” One thing Ava did inherit from Jeff is her “extremely competitive” spirit. “It’s my biggest strength and probably my biggest weakness,” she says. “Charlie Bucket is basically the opposite of how I operate. I’m very upfront about wanting to win.”

Hunter “blacked out” when he discovered the golden ticket. “I can’t believe a construction guy from Kannapolis, North Carolina, found it,” he says. He was equally ecstatic to share the news with his brother Moon, as the two learned the Oompa Loompa dance “by heart” as children and consumed every piece of Wonka candy they could get their hands on. “When I say I was obsessed I mean obsessed,” says Moon. “There is no one in the competition who is a legit Wonka fan like us or who want it as bad as we do,” adds Hunter. 

Growing up in a household with a single mom shaped the brothers’ deep bond. “Having a brother to navigate life with has been the biggest blessing since birth,” says Hunter. As built-in best friends, the two say they’ve supported each other through highs and lows — from teenage heartbreak to the recent loss of a sibling. “Hunter has basically been the person who has always believed in me before anyone else,” says Moon. “When I didn’t have money for food he would get me food. There is no one else who has done the things that he has done for me.” For Hunter, Wonka’s Golden Ticket (and the cash prize) is the next chance at financial independence. After working at a bank, he “took a leap of faith” by starting his own construction company. “We didn’t come from money,” Hunter adds. “I want to be more and give my mom more.”