Bebo sends Galway girl on her travels
09-05-2008
by Emmet Ryan
The social network is sending six young people on a six-month trip around the world as part of an online reality series. Hughes-Monteiro, who recently turned 19, is the only Irish participant in the series and she will be joined by Canadian Andre Tardiff, New Zealander Lewis Whaitiri, American Cara Cioni, Dave Brett from the UK and Amy O'Connor from Australia.
"I was in pure shock when I found out I had been chosen," Hughes-Monteiro told ENN. "My whole family went crazy." The Kinvara girl learnt that she had been chosen for the event just over a week ago. She beat off competitors from all over Ireland through a series of challenges online and auditions in Dublin to win the chance to take part. Hughes-Monteiro was already on a year out between school and college as she was saving up to study in New York.
During the six-month trip the travelling band of Beboers will be sent to surprise locations across the globe. Hughes-Monteiro said the participants will have some input into where they go but the locations will be kept secret from them until they arrive. The Galwegian said she had chatted with the other participants over the phone and through Bebo and was confident that the group would get along well together.
Hughes-Monteiro and her colleagues will post videos and blogs on Bebo detailing their travels whilst also interacting with other users of the social network. "We are trying to get Bebo users to engage with us. When we're in certain areas we're hoping people will recommend places to go and things to do," she said.
The series is being produced by Endemol, the same firm responsible for reality shows such as Big Brother and Fear Factor. The Gap Year group begins its journey on 21 May at a yet to be announced location. Bebo users will keep up with Hughes-Monteiro and the rest of the globetrotters by tuning into the series online www.bebo.com/thegapyear
