Tonya Cooley (born January 7, 1980, in Visalia, California) is a
former cast member on MTV's reality television series, The Real World:
Chicago, the 11th season of The Real World, which aired in 2002. She
was then a regular on the spin-off series, Real World/Road Rules
Challenge, participating in eight challenges, with her last being in
2009. She also posed for Playboy as a Cyber Girl of the Week and
appeared in an episode of the Cinemax adult series The Erotic
Traveler. The stressful environment of the Real World/Road Rules
Challenge seasons led to a bout with alcoholism, but in 2016, BuzzFeed
News reported she has gained sobriety in the years since leaving the
series and that she is now a salon owner. Cooley told the publication,
"I am a genuinely happy person now."Tonya Cooley hails from Walla
Walla, Washington. At the time she began filming The Real World:
Chicago, she claims to have never interacted with African-Americans
and gay people, and had rarely been apart from her boyfriend, Justin.
She did not socialize as much as her housemates, who often alienated
her because they felt that she could be judgmental and overly dramatic
at times. She was hospitalized three times during the season because
of kidney stones, and even left to go home for about a week. She got
into arguments with roommate Theo Gantt III, including one which a
glass was thrown, as well as with roommates Aneesa Ferreira and Cara
Kahn. Her constant use of the phone when talking with Justin upset her
housemates. Her breast implants were also a subject of much
conversation as she would often talk about how she was flat broke yet
had implants in her breasts worth thousands of dollars.[citation
needed] (However she claimed that they were a gift from a wealthy
friend for her 21st birthday.)Tonya Cooley hails from Walla Walla,
Washington. At the time she began filming The Real World: Chicago, she
claims to have never interacted with African-Americans and gay people,
and had rarely been apart from her boyfriend, Justin. She did not
socialize as much as her housemates, who often alienated her because
they felt that she could be judgmental and overly dramatic at times.
She was hospitalized three times during the season because of kidney
stones, and even left to go home for about a week. She got into
arguments with roommate Theo Gantt III, including one which a glass
was thrown, as well as with roommates Aneesa Ferreira and Cara Kahn.
Her constant use of the phone when talking with Justin upset her
housemates. Her breast implants were also a subject of much
conversation as she would often talk about how she was flat broke yet
had implants in her breasts worth thousands of dollars.[citation
needed] (However she claimed that they were a gift from a wealthy
friend for her 21st birthday.)Though not most notable for her
appearance on this season, Tonya competed and was the eighth girl to
be voted off. Tonya is most remembered from this season for not going
to Puck's wedding. Additionally, she refused to participate in a
challenge that involved nudity, contrasting her actions in later years
which included posing for Playboy and appearing in an episode of the
Cinemax softcore series The Erotic Traveler.For the next Challenge,
Cooley became friends with Coral Smith, and became playful with
Challenge veteran Veronica Portillo. In the early stage of the game,
she injured her leg during a challenge, and had to wear a leg-cast
while waiting for a comprehensive assessment of her leg. This scared
her Real World team, and they opted to vote her into the Gauntlet.
Angry and upset, she proceeded to the Gauntlet and lost. This would be
third time she would be sick or hurt in front of the MTV cameras. (In
Battle of the Sexes, she also had to wear a leg cast, but it did not
affect her position). Tonya Cooley Top Movies & Young Movies