An Interview with Tyrenna Tolbert from ‘The Anonymous’

THE ANONYMOUS -- "New Handle, New Me" Episode 104 -- Pictured: Tyrenna Tolbert -- (Photo by: Rico Torres/USA Network)

Last night’s episode of The Anonymous on USA Networks was filled to the brim with epic surprises and epic twists, none more shocking than the farewell of Tyrenna Tolbert. For she was sent home last night after doing a wonderful job of playing the game, and to properly bid her goodbye, we sat down with Tyrenna to discuss her experiences on the show.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to start today by asking, how you came to be involved in this unique series.
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: I was watching another reality show, and I was drinking a glass of wine, and I said, “I could do this,” and I applied, and I never thought that anybody would ever call me back. And so fast forward, when I didn't make the final cut for another show, they did follow up with another call and told me about The Anonymous and I immediately was like, “Absolutely, let's do it. I'm ready.” 
 
John Betancourt: I would say that you definitely were one of the more dynamic competitors in those first three episodes in that it seems like the unique dynamic didn't quite hammer you as hard as it did some others. And I'm curious how you mentally managed to navigate what seemed to be very difficult for folks. 
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: I think for me, I know that you know me, being a little bit more seasoned, I might have resonated with maybe being, you know, their mom's age, which, you know, for the exception of two, you know, I could have been any one of their parents. And I think my confidence level may be also mixed with a little bit of arrogance. So, I think they also knew better than to come at me too hard, you know, because I'm with all of the smoke, you know. So, I think that's how I was able to kind of manage through some of what was harder for some others. 
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, you had quite the bold strategy there in episode three to just kind of lean into the dice idea. I'm curious what motivated the strategies that you played over the course of the first three episodes. 
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: Well, for me, the ranking of -- we went up in ranking depending upon how many people got your character wrong. So, my intent was, if more people thought I was the dice, the more likely I could become The Anonymous. So, the more they kept thinking I was the dice, all you going to do is, baby, keep pushing me up. And if I become The Anonymous, I can save myself. So that was the strategy going in. 
 
John Betancourt: Which sadly, did not quite workout, unfortunately. But that does lead me to my next question. How hard was it then, to exit this series?
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: It's definitely hard, because at the end of the day, it's $100,000, right? You know too, John, who couldn't use $100,000, right? But for me, at the end of the day, it's a game, right? And so, it didn't make sense for me to overreact, because I just wanted to leave people with a seed of, you know, what things that they need to just pay attention to and be more mindful. But once I saw my name come up in the chat, I knew that I had to really do some hardcore navigating, and just the odds were not on my side. So, I kind of geared myself up just for anything that could happen. And although I fought the good fight, I just need to fight a little harder the next time. 
 
John Betancourt: That also leads me to my next question. If you had to do anything differently from a strategy standpoint, what would you have done differently on the show? 
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: I would have held my cards closer to my chest. Um, I definitely would have started day one out the gate with strategy and getting alliances. I was slow on the alliances. I didn't realize that soon as you start breathing, that you need to start with an alliance, right? So definitely hold my cards a little bit closer to the chest and getting the alliance out the gate right away. 
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of that, now, I'm very curious too, were you aware of the fact that there was that kind of just… titanic shift towards, let's go after you over anybody else.
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: You know? You go to the bathroom, and you come back, and everybody's like… a mutiny. They trying to all get rid of you, you know. So, I was really surprised, but I could see the energy, the emotional energy, had shifted and I knew probably was because I, you know, was with Lilly, and they knew that I was a protector of Lilly and building her confidence up. And they knew that I could be influential. So, if I can influence one, and if I can influence people to do things and make it think that it's their idea, I can keep pushing that, you know. So, there's been some very subtle ways that I was able to influence the group to do certain things, and I think some of the others picked up on it, and it was like, “she gotta go.” 
 
John Betancourt: Yeah. It really was an interesting vibe that you suddenly were this massive threat, which I thought was pretty intriguing as well, because it kind of just came out of the blue. I'm also curious too, since, since you were a little bit cooler and collected with that dynamic and kind of the intensity of it, what did you take away from that? 
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: What I've learned is, if I ever have another chance to be in a game like this, or any other strategy game, is, I'm going to be a savage from the gate. I'm going to burn the whole entire house down, and I'm going to take no take no prisoners (Laughter) But what I've learned is, you know, people you know, definitely have different personas, and I play too transparent. And I think it was scary for them, because I was very matter of factly and unafraid. So, my personality, I wouldn't change. Keeping things a little bit more close and doing more watching and picking up things quicker will definitely be something I would do, but I love them all. It was a fabulous time, not negative.
 
John Betancourt: I do appreciate the positive nature of the show as well, adds a very different feel to it. I was also curious, because something I noticed was that you took this game so quickly… how you navigated it with such mastery?  
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: Um, I think just because of life, right? I've been on this earth for more than a day, you know? So, you get things hurled at you, and you learn to pivot. And so, for me, you know, I said, “Well, I could even sit here and boo hoo and cry,” you know, when I know that's not my nature, or I can try and manage it as best as I could. And I knew that my limits were really, really tight. And so, it was important when I didn't play the stone game and didn't take the box from Marcel. I said, “all right, I gotta get The Anonymous.” And that was really the goal, get The Anonymous and hope that I was popular enough that whoever got The Anonymous, if it wasn't me, that they would choose me. 
 
John Betancourt: Now since you mentioned you had a great time, not a negative time. What are you going to miss the most by being on the show?
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: The view, my god, that was a beautiful view. You can't… listen it’s a postcard in the making. The lights. Um, even the people. I mean, you know, I have a 26-year-old daughter, you know, most of them were in that 26 to 30, you know, 30-year-old range. And just the smiles and the things that I mean, Dillian was just so funny. You just couldn't help but love him. You know, he has a big personality, Christopher and his abs, because he has, you know, six pack for days. (Laughter) You know, you had, Andy the dapper King, you know, Lilly. I always think of her as this beautiful little Rapunzel with her long blonde hair. So, every one of them had something so unique and so great about them, and what made sense and why we were all there together anyway. So just meeting them was just really something memorable. And who could say at 54 years old, how many of us can get on a reality show and do what I did? So, I'm proud of myself. 
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, this is a very unique experience that so few people get to do, and I'm wondering what you learned about yourself that you didn't know before, after coming through this competition.
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: I think… it wasn't something that I didn't know before, but it kind of just remains the same. I have always been fearless. I've always gone into things and taking a good risk and getting into good trouble. And why limit myself, right? And so, and I just want other people to know that. You know, not that it's ever been my aspiration to be on a reality show, but the opportunity presented itself, and why not, and that that was my thing. Instead of saying why I can't, I always say why I can. So, it just reinforces that I'm still fabulous and I'm still fierce. That’s all.
 
John Betancourt The last question that I have for you today, what does it mean to you to be part of something that was this new and this dynamic? 
 
Tyrenna Tolbert: It's great because I'm sure, like, if there's, another season, which I can't see why there wouldn't be? Because it was such a fabulous show that we got to really be the creators and help massage what that would look like and taking a chance on doing something different and being fluid with it. So that, in itself, is great to do something that hasn't been done before. I feel like the low-key astronaut, the astronaut of The Anonymous, if you will, right? So, I walked on The Anonymous. So yeah, that's pretty cool. 
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. 

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