JERRI MANTHEY is probably one of the first and most popular stars to be born from the reality television craze sweeping the world.

Currently, Jerri has just wrapped a short film entitled “Widowmaker” - which has been accepted into it’s first film festival as well as a sci fi movie shot in Hawaii – soon to be released on the Sci Fi channel. In addition, she performs with Deep Eddy, a psychedelic blues band unlike any other. Jerri dances, sings, performs with fire, is the hand percussionist and plays the djembe drum. Deep Eddy plays at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica every Wednesday night. She also works part-time as a personal chef and has cooked for various celebrities.

As a writer, she has been published in DETOUR, BACKSTAGE WEST and ELECTRONIC MEDIA magazines. In addition, her edgy and honest opinions have been sought after for various articles in TV GUIDE, MADEMOISELLE and RAZOR. She currently writes a weekly column for CdKitchen.com, sharing her personal stories and recipes with people across the globe.

Jerri started her own production company, Velocity Productions, Inc. and is in development with two reality television shows – one of which focuses on her love of backpacking and traveling, the other on the country music singers/songwriters of America.

Jerri quickly became a household name to millions internationally after appearing in CBS’ SURVIVOR: THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK. Hand-picked by the producers from 50,000 hopeful contestants, Jerri survived one month in the harsh Australian Outback – and in the process, inspired plenty of Friday morning water cooler conversations.

After SURVIVOR, Jerri appeared on the cover of PLAYBOY magazine, which became the best-selling issue of the year. She has also become a highly sought after television personality. She hosted E!’s popular SURVIVOR PRE-GAME SHOW and TALK SOUP as well as guest hosting for THE OTHER HALF and MTV. She has appeared in numerous television series and specials, including JOE SCHMO, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, HOLLYWOOD SQUARES, POLITICALLY INCORRECT, TV’S GUILTY PLEASURES, THE WOMEN OF SURVIVOR and various “WHO’S WHO” lists on E!. In addition, Jerri has more than held her own on practically every major talk show, including DAVID LETTERMAN, JON STEWART, CRAIG KILBORN and HOWARD STERN. Plus, she has charmed a multitude of media internationally thanks to frequent press junkets, radio interviews and satellite media tours.

In 2003, Jerri was part of the team that launched The WB’s hit reality series THE SURREAL LIFE, which took seven famous folks from every genre of the entertainment industry, put them together and created a surprising real-life sitcom. Successfully re-inventing the perception of her established on SURVIVOR, Jerri proved that there’s more to her than meets the eye. The series delivered the highest ratings ever seen on the WB for its time period (and, according to most media coverage, due mainly to Jerri’s ability to keep both the audience and her fellow house-mates laughing).

In 2004, Jerri returned to the wilderness with SURVIVOR: ALL STARS, during which she survived floods, hunger, exhaustion, major insect assaults, and record-setting backstabbing to prove to America once again that she is fully prepared to face whatever life has to offer head on. Shortly thereafter, she co-hosted GSN’s highest rated show, EXTREME DODGEBALL.

Having been a performer since the age of nine, Jerri moved to Los Angeles to pursue her lifelong goal of an acting career. She has appeared in numerous independent films, commercials and feature films, including starring roles in the festival hit DESTINY and Showtime’s THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, and plays, including the Beverly Hills Playhouse production of LADY MACBETH GETS A DIVORCE. She credits her acting coach of seven years, Manu Tupou, who recently passed away, for expanding and sharpening her talents, and encouraging her to write and direct as well. Thanks to Manu’s support, Jerri co-wrote, directed and produced a play entitled BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, which premiered at the Hudson Theater in Los Angeles, and the film MIND OF A WOMAN, which is currently under consideration for a number of prestigious film festivals.

Jerri enjoys traveling across America and has done a number of personal appearances raising money for charities and organizations, including BOARDING FOR BREAST CANCER, the U.S. SKI TEAM, as well as CAMP KINDLE and ELIZABETH GLASER FOUNDATION – both for children afflicted with HIV and AIDS.

As Jerri puts it, she grew up an “army brat.” Her father served 28 years in the United States Army, having retired in 1997. Jerri was born overseas in Bad Konstatt Hospital on the Army base in Stuttgart, Germany. Thanks to the military, her family, which includes two brothers and a sister, moved every three to four years and spent 12 years on various Army bases in Germany. Jerri graduated from high school in 1988 in Neu Ulm and attended the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany. Currently, her family lives in Huntsville, Alabama and her parents are happily married. Her two younger brothers also reside in Huntsville, Alabama. Her sister is married and living in Colorado Springs, CO.

Jerri describes herself as adventurous, fun loving, spontaneous, honest and kind. Her favorite hobbies include photography, cooking, painting, writing, reading, and her all-time favorite, camping. She enjoys hiking and backpacking to very remote, unknown places.

Her favorite event is Burning Man, an independent festival that takes place each August in the vast, barren Black Rock desert of Nevada. At Burning Man, she and a group of friends from all over the U.S. organize a theme camp, joining almost 30,000 revelers. Camping out for as long as 12 days, they build their own shelter and bring in all the supplies necessary to survive in the harsh environment. Jerri has named the group’s temporary residence “Camp Luvey Duvey,” which centers around the love and sense of community each individual in the camp – as well as those it attracts – brings.

Although known for her djembe-playing, she also plays the flute, piccolo and oboe. She enjoys all types of music, depending on her mood. She is also an accomplished dancer and singer.