‘The Anonymous’ Stars Christopher Shuldstad & Victoria Vesce Say “Vistopher” Showmance Was “Very Real”: “You Never Know What’s Gonna Happen”

The Anonymous is quickly becoming one of the TV’s most compelling new reality competition shows. A tantalizing blend of The Circle , Big Brother , and The Traitors , the USA Network series encourages its players to use their cunning in two modes: face-to-face and “Anonymous.” In the open of the Square House and in competitions to earn money from the show’s prize pot, players are able to politick out in the open, using both their mental and physical skills. In the hideaway in Anonymous Mode, they play the game under unique handles with the goal of manipulating their housemates and setting them up for elimination.

Two players who complement each other perfectly? Christopher Shulstad and Victoria Vesce . From Day 1 of the competition, outdoorsman and fishing camp director Shulstad has played an open and honest game. While his confidence (or cockiness, depending on who you’re asking) may rub some of the other players the wrong way (most notably, Dillian Frelow ), Shuldstad handles any confrontation with grace, whether in or out of Anonymous Mode. His alliance with Big Brother winner Xavier E. Prather , board game champion Jack Usher , and reality TV prodigy Nina Twine was solid, but Shulstad’s whole game was turned upside when Vesce entered the scene.

Joining the competition already in progress, Vesce turned heads from the minute she arrived. With beauty (she was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition ) and brains (she has a law degree) to spare, Vesce displayed a quiet confidence as she moved seamlessly between the alliances. However, her immediate connection with Shulstad gave the show its first official showmance: Vistopher. Shulstad quickly brought her into his alliance and the duo have remained unstoppable. Vesce was even able to save Shulstad from elimination after gaining power as the Anonymous.

Shuldstad and Vesce stopped by the Decider studio to talk strategy, update fans on their relationship status, and tease the drama to come on the reality competition series.

DECIDER: I’m here for the Vistopher alliance! Can you two give fans an update on your relationship status post-show?

CHRISTOPHER SHULSTAD: You wanna take this one?

VICTORIA VESCE: Not if you want to.

CS: “Vistopher” was very real on the show, right? And it’s still real. I visited her and she’s visited me. We’re more friends than anything now. It’s been amazing being able to stay connected throughout the whole process. We’ll never not be friends. Everything we went through on the show was worth it.

VV: Everything was real on the show. In real life, we live in two different places. You never know what’s gonna happen, but I’m glad we’re friends. We’re able to hang out and do fun stuff together.

There are so many Reality TV shows out there. What made you apply to The Anonymous ?

CS: For me, it was all about the competition. Many other facets of the show that interested me as well. You got to be around all these huge personalities in the main house and compete in competitions. Then, you got to pick a handle and play the game in Anonymous Mode. It was a challenge to figure out how to play those two sides?

I played the game more from the public part of the game and not in Anonymous Mode. I sucked staying anonymous [laughs]. You can’t put me behind a screen. I talk the same on both sides.

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VV: I already live this, like, Hannah Montan a lifestyle [laughs]. I was ready to go in and play two different personalities. It really worked out in my favor. I feel like a lot of people stereotype me as just a “dumb model” or “content creator.” Little do they know, I went to law school, and I used to work criminal law. It was great to be able to combine all my strengths into this one competition. Right now, I’m dominating the show [laughs].

CS: Dominating, huh?

VV: Well, yeah [laughs].

Victoria, do you think it was an advantage or a disadvantage to join the game in progress?

VV: A bit of both. It was nice to join the game in progress because everyone was already beefing. There were alliances already starting to break, and it was nice to be able to slip through the cracks. However, there was a lot of talk among the OGs about getting the newbies out. I didn’t think that was cool. So, I knew I had to make a name for myself fast. I made friends, found a showmance, and shook things up a bit.

Christopher, unlike Victoria, you haven’t been able to fly under the radar. Your name has been everywhere since Day 1. Why do you think that is?

You know, I wish I knew [laughs]. I’m loud. I don’t hide who I am on the show. I’m very open, very carefree. I think I was always gonna be a target. I played the in-person part of the game so hard because I knew I didn’t have a chance otherwise. Nothing I could do in Anonymous Mode was going to save me from potential elimination. I had to use my personality in the outside world to keep myself safe.

Christopher, how do you feel about Jack, Xavier and Nina dubbing your connection with Victoria as “Sydney 2.0”?

CS: Disrespectful [laughs]. So Sydney and I had an alliance, but she got voted off right away. I had no idea Xavier was gunning for her until I watched it back. When Victoria and I were getting closer, Xavier really didn’t want Victoria to join our main alliance. Though, he realized that it was either both of us or I was cutting ties with him game-wise.

Jack and Nina, there are some scheming people, let me tell you [laughs]. Nina was quiet, but I always had a good connection with her. I got to know Jack through Andy, whom Jack proceeded to throw under the bus for the entire game. Andy was always like: “Jack is playing games. He’s a master of CATAN (a strategy-based board game).”

Speaking of Jack throwing Andy under the bus, Christopher, what did you think of Victoria voting for you in Anonymous Mode multiple times under her Cactus handle?

CS: It wasn’t that big of a deal to me. She played the game brilliantly, both in-person and in Anonymous Mode. Her strategy got us both farther in the game. I was very open with people, talking shit and asking them to vote for me. I knew being bold was how I was going to stay in the game. Though, Xavier gave me the advice to never put alliances at risk. I followed that advice. You, Victoria, on the other hand…

Well, Victoria, Jack clocked that your handle might have been the one who voted Christopher…

VV: I was shocked he clocked that. Jack and I were always watching each other. Probably because we were playing very similar games, unbeknownst to each other at the time. I remember the third day thinking something was up with him because he would be a different person depending on whoever he was talking to.

Game recognizes game! Watching the show back, is there anyone’s gameplay that took you by surprise?

VV: Lilly.

CS: Lilly, hands down.

VV: We didn’t know she was going that hard.

CS: She uses her emotions brilliantly, right? She would use her tears to manipulate people into thinking she was having a rough time—myself included—and they’d go softer on her. That strategy worked well. I also liked Marcel’s game. I like Marcel.

VV: I personally thought Marcel was going to kill it in Anonymous Mode when he told us he was a video gamer. I was really nervous about it. I didn’t have to worry about him for long though because he was just so obvious as the Snake!

Victoria, you killed it in Anonymous Mode. Why do you think you could identify everyone’s handles so well?

VV: I listen to my gut. In law school, they teach you to always go with your first answer. I applied that lesson to Anonymous Mode. Like, I knew instinctively that Lipstick was Christopher [laughs]. I never second guessed it. My first hunch was usually spot on.

Christopher, while other players stressed about being the Anonymous, you never did.

CS: Yes, I got real comfortable with that red circle under me very fast.

VV: Red’s your color.

CS: Jack looked at me one day and went: “How were you that comfortable being at risk?” And I was like, “What are you going to do, send me home? What is the worst thing that is going to happen?” At the end of the day, when you gain Anonymous power, you gain it for how long

VV: Just a night.

CS: Is one night gonna make or break your game?

VV: It could! That’s why I was so excited to save you when I was the Anonymous.

CS: You saved me that time.

VV: I was your knight in shining armor.

Looking back, is there a move you wish you would have made differently?

CS: No. Playing the game the way that I played the game was very smart. I was true to myself the entire time. If I had to be the Anonymous, I think I would have got caught by the need for deception. I’m not a great liar. I would have lost myself.

VV: I don’t have any regrets either. I thought about coming into the game and lying about my occupation. I was going to tell everyone I was a farmer because I grew up on a farm.

CS: And you look like one [laughs].

VV: Yeah, I looked at my outfits and was like, “nope I can’t pull off that lie.” I was very honest playing the game in-person. I made a lot of good friends because of that.

CS: You were ruthless in Anonymous Mode, though.

VV: I had to be! I don’t regret it.

What can you tease about the rest of the season?

CS: You’re going to see people fall apart because people cannot live two lives. That’s something this show has taught me. Certain players are going to become very confident before their whole game blows up in their faces.

VV: There’s a lot more drama, a lot more outbursts, a lot more tears, and a lot more screaming. I’m talking pterodactyl-type screams.

The Anonymous airs Mondays at 11/10c on USA Network.

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