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'The Circle' contestants don't have access to clocks, but they can eat whatever they want, according to this season's winner

May 19, 2021, 04:21 IST
Insider
"The Circle" winner DeLeesa St. Agathe told Insider what it was really like to film the hit Netflix reality competition.The Circle/Netflix
  • Insider spoke with "The Circle" winner Deleesa St. Agathe about what it was like to film the show.
  • Contestants don't have access to clocks or calendars the entire time they're on the show.
  • And starting a private chat with someone on the show isn't as easy as it looks on TV.
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Many reality competition shows are filled with challenging obstacle courses, explosive confrontations, and exotic locations.

But "The Circle" is a series completely designed around virtually chatting with strangers in brightly-decorated apartments for weeks on end.

So how long do the contestants actually spend talking to each other each day, and what do they do when they're not typing away?

Insider chatted with second season winner DeLeesa St. Agathe to find out.

The contestants don't have access to a calendar or clock the entire time they're on 'The Circle'

Contestant Chloe Veitch on "The Circle."The Circle/Netflix

St. Agathe told Insider that she isn't even completely sure how long she spent filming the show because she had no concept of time inside "The Circle."

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"We had to quarantine beforehand for two weeks, so I want to say overall maybe four to six weeks," she said. "But listen, my time is all messed up! I didn't have a calendar and then you go through this emotional roller coaster and then it's like, I'm going home to see my family."

Since there are no clocks, the contestants could be talking to each other at three or four in the morning.

"I had no clue the time of anything, honestly," St. Agathe said.

You can message whoever you want, just not necessarily when you want to

A group chat exchange on "The Circle."The Circle/Netflix

While the show may make it look like starting a private chat with someone is super easy, St. Agathe said you actually have to spend a lot of time waiting.

"When it comes to chatting with people, you can chat with whoever you want," she said. "But there's so many people and you're not able to talk to everyone at the same time or whoever you want, when you want. It's not as free as you sending a text message, it doesn't work that way. You have to be fully invested in the conversation."

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"If that person's in another conversation, you have to wait your turn," she added.

There isn't as much downtime in 'The Circle' as you think

Mitchell Eason at "The Circle" gym.The Circle/Netflix

One of the running gags on "The Circle" is showing the various ways the contestants try to entertain themselves when they're not chatting with each other.

But St. Agathe said there actually isn't that much free time during filming.

"You don't have as much time as people think you have," she said. "Some of the games take much longer than you see on TV. You're actually doing a lot all day long, and you need to fit in cooking, eating, shower, hair and makeup, so you really don't have that much."

When she did have free time, St. Agathe discovered creative ways to keep herself occupied.

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"I was playing with my hair and my wigs and my makeup, and that takes a lot of time," she said. "I had puzzles and Sudoku. I'd just twerk around the apartment. I was doing the dumbest things!"

You can also eat whatever you want in 'The Circle'

Khat Bell cooking on "The Circle."The Circle/Netflix

Contestants are often shown cooking up a storm in their kitchens on "The Circle," and St. Agathe revealed the producers make sure you get whatever your heart desires.

"They take care of your groceries for you," she said. "You give a list and they refill your groceries for you - whatever you need, whatever you want."

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