YHS Grad Vying for Face of Fox in Online Contest

By Eric Pesola Tuesday, July 26, 2011

She’s the girl next door, and she’s trying to become the next great television personality in Hampton Roads.

Yorktown’s Cassie Hampton is competing against nine other hopefuls to emerge as the next Face of Fox 43 in an online competition that starts its next round today, July 26. Hampton is vying for the chance to be a spokesperson and news personality for the Portsmouth-based Fox affiliate.

“In the back of my mind, I’ve always wanted to do TV,” said Hampton. “I love watching the morning shows like Hoda and Kathie Lee [on the Today Show]. It’s always been one of my dream jobs.”

According to the official rules, all applicants were required to enter a video illustrating why they should be the “energetic and fun-to-watch” spokesperson for the station. Fox 43 judges chose her audition video out of hundreds of other entries. Now she is up against nine others who are also trying to earn the top spot, and a year’s employment and experience on television.

After graduating from York High School, Hampton attended James Madison University where she earned a bachelor of arts degree, specializing in health communications. She said that her degree gave her experience in many different brands of communications, from public to community relations. She chose to focus on health, hoping to help bridge the gap between patients and doctors.

Though her current focus is on becoming the Face, she said that she has big plans for her career beyond the broadcast media.

“I am looking for jobs as a public relations or marketing person or events coordinator at a children’s hospital,” said Hampton. “And that would be amazing.”

For now, Hampton said that she is simply enjoying her time appearing with the other Face contestants in public, whom she said are fun and outgoing. She compares this experience to the one portrayed on American Idol, where all the singers enjoy each other and bond through their shared adventures.

She said that her family and her friends in Marlbank Cove are getting excited about the prospect of seeing her on television.

“The whole neighborhood thinks it is hilarious,” said Hampton. “They always want to know what is going on or what is going to be in my next video.”

Hampton created the first video for the contest with help from her JMU and York County friends, who acted as her film crew. The second video was shot without any assistance from either the Fox 43 staff or her friends.

For the next 15 days, viewers can vote for their favorite video. Starting the week of August 9, two contestants will be eliminated each day, leaving just two by August 12. On August 15, these final two contestants will appear on the Hampton Roads show to hear which of them will be named the new Face of Fox 43.

Hampton said that she’s sure that she would do a great job reporting on stories and appearing on Fox 43’s Hampton Roads Show, which airs weekday mornings.

“I’m professional, I’m fun,” said Hampton. “I’m easy to talk to one-on-one with people. That’s what you look for when you watch people on these morning shows. You want people who really care about what they’re telling their audience. That’s why I think I should win.”

Voting in the second round of the Face of Fox 43 contest starts today. Click here to see the videos; to go straight to Hampton's second-round effort, click here.