Sneaky Traitors Secrets & Behind-the-Scenes Facts

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Learn what really goes down when the cameras aren’t rolling
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The Traitors is a murder-mystery reality show that’s become quite the hit in the US and UK. The series takes place in a Scottish castle, where players compete to find out who’s a Traitor and who’s a Faithful. But do the contestants actually live in that beautiful castle during filming? And what do they know about each other before they get to Scotland? If you’ve been wondering what goes on behind the scenes, we’re here to give you the inside scoop! In this article, we’re listing all the juiciest secrets about the show, from how the Traitors are really chosen to what’s left on the cutting room floor.

Warning: there are minor spoilers for seasons 1-4 of The Traitors US and UK below!

BTS Secrets from The Traitors

One of the biggest behind-the-scenes secrets is that the cast doesn’t sleep in the castle—they sleep at a hotel 45-minutes away! The cast also aren’t aware of who the other players are until they’re at the castle. Production decides who the Traitors are right before the ceremony based on psych evals and interviews.

1

Contestants don’t sleep in the castle.

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  1. Both the US and UK versions of The Traitors film at the beautiful Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. However, the cast doesn’t actually sleep in the grand castle. Instead, they stay in hotel rooms near the Inverness airport, which is about a 45-minute drive away. The host of the US show, Alan Cumming, also stays in Inverness.[1]
    • Fun fact: The Andross Castle was built in the 1800s, and rests on about 100 acres of land.
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2

Contestants can’t explore the whole castle.

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  1. While the Ardross Castle is huge, executive producer Mike Cotton (US) has revealed that the production and cast only have access to a small wing of the castle. This is partly because most of the castle is unrenovated, and also because following all of the contestants in such a vast space would be impossible. Plus, Cotton has noted that limiting the cast to certain areas adds tension: players can see where others go, and can potentially listen to secret conversations right outside the door.[2]
    • Currently, the US show only films in several rooms: the roundtable room, the billiards room, the library, the bar, the kitchen, and the breakfast room.
    • The castle’s entire grounds are used for filming, however.
3

Production varies who enters the breakfast room first.

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  1. The cast gathers for breakfast each morning to learn which player the Traitors “murdered.” How they enter the room is tightly controlled by production, though. Production plays with the order in which the contestants knock on the door and enter the room, and who is in each small group that goes through the door. This helps keep the players from finding any patterns and discovering who the Traitors are.
    • The cast likely arrives at the castle separately or in pairs to prevent them from finding out who was murdered until they’re all in the breakfast room.
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4

Breakfast can be a fierce competition.

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  1. If you’ve watched Season 4 of The Traitors US, you know that the salmon is a hot topic at each breakfast scene! Candiace Bassett has mentioned that the cast all loved the salmon, but were only served a few pieces. So if you weren’t in the first group to enter the breakfast room, you didn’t get any.[3]
    • The cast has mostly good things to say about their breakfast food options, which include eggs, croissants, coffee, and orange juice.
5

Contestants don’t know who else got cast.

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  1. The cast only finds out who the other players are when they arrive for filming in Scotland. Casting director Deena Katz (US) has said that they keep the cast in the dark for strategic reasons—they don’t want the contestants to research each other and form potential alliances. Plus, this helps keep the game interesting and competitive![4]
    • However, once the cast has all met each other, they are given photos and information about the other players.
    • Couples have come onto the show together (Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan from season 2 US), and Katz mentioned that they did know they were both going on the show.
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6

Filming days are very long.

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  1. While each episode of The Traitors is about 1 hour long, that’s heavily edited from 12+ hours of shooting. Arie Luyendyk Jr. (season 1 US) has noted that the cast only got about 6 hours of sleep, and would often film from 8 am to past 12 am the next morning.[5] Executive producer Sam Rees-Jones (US) has said that a typical day of filming starts with breakfast, a roundtable, a mission, and then a “murder.”[6] In between those activities, the cast has to film interviews about their day.
    • Plus, remember that the cast sleeps in a hotel 45 minutes away from the castle! Even when they’re done filming, they have a long trek back home.
7

Roundtables are heavily edited down.

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  1. The roundtable discussions are some of the most tense parts of The Traitors, as this is where the cast gathers to accuse one another of being a Traitor and votes to banish someone from the castle. While the discussions can be a lot for the viewers, they’re much longer and intense in person! Kate Chastain (seasons 1 and 2 US) noted that most roundtables went on for 1 to 2 hours.[7] Arie Luyendyk Jr. has said that many discussions got personal and mean, with name-calling and pointing fingers, which ultimately got cut.[8]
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8

The turret scenes likely aren’t filmed in a real turret.

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  1. The turret is the iconic location where the Traitors meet to decide who to “murder” next. While the cameras show the outside of the turret on the castle’s walls, fans speculate that the inside is just a set. In this Reddit thread by @spacecadet06, fans note that the stairwell to the actual turret is likely too narrow and steep for the crew to get up, and that the room itself is probably too small to properly light and film.
    • So, fans believe the “turret” is either built on the castle grounds (like around an existing well or in the nearby church) or in the same hotel where the cast sleeps.
    • Note that this is just speculation—there’s been no confirmation from any of the cast or producers that the inside of the turret is real or fake.
9

The cast gets evaluated before the show.

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  1. In interviews, Mike Cotton has mentioned that production gives all of the contestants personality tests to determine whether they’re good at lying and being deceptive, which helps them choose who the Traitors will be.[9] These tests are pretty intensive, as Mercedes Javid (season 2 US) mentioned that the psych eval was nearly 600 questions long!
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10

Contestants don’t choose if they’re a Faithful or Traitor.

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  1. The contestants' roles are decided by Alan Cumming and the production team once the cast is all together. Production reviews the cast’s personality tests, and Alan sits down with each contestant to ask if they want to be a Traitor and why. They then watch how the cast interacts and make their decisions right before the choosing ceremony. The cast finds out their role at the ceremony, where they’re blindfolded and Alan taps them on the shoulder to make them a Traitor![10]
    • Alan has revealed some fun BTS info about the ceremony itself! He said the process takes about 40 minutes and he purposefully pauses his walk around the table and adjusts his clothes to keep players guessing on who the Traitors are.
    • Alan also mentioned that he actually taps every contestant on the shoulder so the film crew has a clear shot of the tap. Then, they go into the real shoulder-tapping ceremony where the Traitors are actually chosen.[11]
    • In an interview with Deena Katz, she mentioned that the casting team definitely thinks about who would be a good Traitor (or not), which helps them build a diverse and interesting cast.[12]
    • However, the Traitors do get to pick who they recruit in the game—production doesn’t step in to make that decision for them.[13]
11

The Traitors swear an oath to Alan.

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  1. Being chosen as a Traitor is a big deal and comes with rules you have to follow. Once the Traitors are picked, they individually meet with Alan Cumming, where they have to promise to lie, “murder” their fellow players, and not reveal their identity as a Traitor. They also swear not to reveal the identity of the other Traitors in regular discussions, at roundtables, or in their exit speech if they get banished.[14]
    • Of course, Traitors can accuse their team members of being Traitors as part of their gameplay. They just have to do it under the guise of being a Faithful.
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12

The cast doesn’t know how many Traitors there are.

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  1. While the cast of course knows that there are Traitors in their midst, they’re not told how many there actually are. As Cirie Fields (season 1 US) revealed, they were only told that there could be 3 to 5 traitors. The unknown threat definitely keeps the game interesting![15]
13

The cast doesn’t get unlimited drinks.

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  1. After the intense and tension-filled days on set, the cast can definitely use a few drinks. While they usually head to the bar after a mission or roundtable, they’re actually only allowed one alcoholic drink at night.[16]
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14

The castle is known for being cold.

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  1. It may come as no surprise that the 19th-century Scottish castle is a bit drafty. Previous contestants have noted that the castle is cold, which is probably why you usually see them wearing jackets and sweaters inside.[17] While the show films in the summer, the average temperatures in the area are around 60°F (15°C)!
15

Car rides are the preferred method for strategizing.

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  1. Past contestants have revealed that the car rides to mission points and back to the castle are the best places to speculate on who the Traitors are and to form alliances. As Rachel Reilly (season 1 US) noted, you're separated from most of the cast, so no one else can hear what you’re saying. When you’re trying to strategize in the castle, you have to whisper and be sneaky.[18]
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16

The cast gets a few days off during filming.

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  1. Thankfully, the contestants do get to take a break from all the deceit and “murder” during the 3 to 4 weeks that they’re filming the show.[19] While the US cast and production haven’t said much about when those days are and what they involve, a UK contestant from season 1, Meryl Williams, revealed that the cast didn’t film on Sundays. However, they couldn’t hang out on their days off.[20]
17

The cast can take notes about other players.

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  1. There are a lot of moving parts to The Traitors, from remembering who everyone is and how they’ve voted at roundtables, to taking note of suspicious behaviors and alliances. Luckily, each contestant gets a journal to jot down all of their observations and speculations on who the Traitors might be.
    • While journaling is a great idea, Dylan Efron (season 3 US) noted that there was so much going on and sleep was such a priority, that he stopped writing in his journal 3 days into filming![21]
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18

The cast can’t promote their own brands.

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  1. The Traitors US cast is full of reality TV stars from big shows like The Real Housewives, Survivor, and Big Brother, as well as athletes and musicians. While many of these celebrities have side hustles, they’re not allowed to bring them up on camera. As Shereé Whitfield mentioned after season 2 (US), she wasn’t allowed to wear clothes from her own brand![22]
19

The cast’s wardrobe is approved before filming.

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  1. Several cast members from the US and UK versions of the show have mentioned that they had to send production pictures of what clothes they wanted to bring. For instance, Charlotte Berman (season 3 UK) said that she was told to avoid clothes with logos. Otherwise, the cast has free rein on what to wear![23]
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20

Contestants do their own hair and makeup.

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  1. The cast always looks picture-perfect for filming, but the secret is that they do all of their own glam and styling! Candiace Bassett mentioned that she had to get up extra early to do her hair and makeup. And at breakfast, she would do Tara Lipinski’s makeup.[24]
    • The cast has also said that they weren’t given long to change and do touch-ups after missions (where they often got wet or had to run around).
21

Contestants get their phones and belongings taken.

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  1. During filming, the cast gets their phones and communication devices taken, as well as other personal belongings like their wallets, passports, and watches. However, they do get some supervised phone time to check in with loved ones—production just listens to the calls and reads over any texts they send. Ciara Miller (season 3 US) mentioned that she got to use her phone once per week, but no social media was allowed.[25]
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22

Contestants are physically tested before the show.

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  1. Contestants participate in missions to win money and protect themselves from “murder,” which typically involves physical activities like swimming and running. Arie Luyendyk Jr. has said that the cast had to do a swim test before a swimming challenge to ensure they could complete it. He said some players couldn’t swim well, so their strategy was to partner up with strong swimmers.[26]
23

The cast gets paid for filming.

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  1. Most reality TV contestants get paid for their time on the show, and The Traitors is no exception. Arie Luyendyk Jr. mentioned that some of his cast members only got paid $1,000, while he barely got paid more.[27] Since the show has only grown in popularity in the later seasons, it’s likely that the cast is getting paid much more than that now!
    • There’s speculation (but no confirmation) that the stars of the US show get paid a hefty appearance fee, which might be anywhere from $75,000 to $200,000.
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24

Each contestant gets a welfare team member.

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  1. Participating in The Traitors can be stressful and draining, and production makes sure they have team members on standby to help the cast feel better. Previous cast members have mentioned that their personal welfare team member checks in on them throughout the day and is available if they need someone to talk (or cry) to.
25

Contestants can’t talk about the game without cameras.

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  1. According to previous contestants, the cast is forbidden from talking about the game when the mics aren’t on or the cameras aren’t rolling. As Dan Gheesling (season 2 US) said, “If we say something that’s important and it’s not on camera, they can’t use it on the show.”[28] Of course, the cast doesn’t just have to talk about the game while filming—they can get to know one another and often form friendships.
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26

The cast can’t hang out off the set.

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  1. Because the cast can’t talk about the show when they’re not filming, that means they can’t hang out once they head to the hotel. They’re kept secluded in their rooms—even Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan (a couple from season 2 US) had to go their separate ways each night.[29]
    • The cast is likely allowed to watch TV during their off time, though no contestants have really spoken about what they’re allowed to do in the hotel (since that’s supposed to be a secret…).
27

The cast is watched by security guards.

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  1. Keeping the Faithfuls from accidentally finding out who the Traitors are is of utmost importance. Cast member Kate Chastain noted that there were security guards in front of their rooms to prevent them from leaving.[30] Mike Cotton agrees and said, “It’s a massive military operation each night to get the Faithful to bed in individual rooms and get the Traitors back out to have their meeting.”[31]
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28

Alan is careful not to influence the game.

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  1. Alan Cumming is the host and a producer of The Traitors, and interacts with the cast quite a bit as he oversees missions and roundtables. So, even he has to follow rules to keep the game fair and interesting! Marc Pos, the creator of The Traitors, has mentioned that the host has to be friendly with the cast, but still maintain an intimidating presence. They also can’t say too much, as they can’t manipulate the players or give them hints.[32]
29

Alan is involved with filming and production.

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  1. As the host and a producer of The Traitors, Alan Cumming is very invested in what happens on the show. Sam Rees-Jones has mentioned that he works closely with Alan, who watches as the cast interacts and gets excited about what they’re talking about. Plus, he works directly with the scriptwriters to make sure his performance is perfectly dramatic and mysterious.[33]
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30

Production has to be sneaky about missions.

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  1. Production sets up elaborate missions around the castle grounds, often with spooky themes like digging up graves and burning effigies. They typically set up while the cast is in the castle, so they have to be very careful to avoid the contestants from seeing what their mission is, which can spoil the game.[34]
31

Contestants can be on the show more than once.

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  1. There’s no rule about no repeat contestants! There have been a few cast members who’ve been on two separate seasons of the show, like Kate Chastain (season 1 and 2 US) and Dorinda Medley (season 3 and 4 US). Deena Katz has noted that it’s fun to bring someone back on the show since they’re usually someone the audience loves, and it makes it interesting since they know how to play the game.[35]
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32

Contestants can quit.

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  1. There’s also no rule that you have to play the game until the end. There have been a few contestants who’ve chosen to walk. For instance, Deontay Wilder decided to leave season 2 (US) after the game got too much for him.[36] Arie Luyendyk Jr. also decided to quit during his run on season 1.[37]
33

The show was supposed to take place on a ship.

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  1. Marc Pos has said that he originally wanted The Traitors to be on a ship in Australia, where contestants had to jump off the ship and swim to land when they got out of the game. He was inspired by a story about a Dutch ship from the 17th century that crashed into an island. This led to a mutiny where no one could trust each other, and resulted in the crew killing each other.[38]
    • Pos first pitched the show in the Netherlands (called De Verraders in Dutch), where it premiered in 2021. He sold the idea, and it’s been adapted in many other countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and India.
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References

  1. ↑ https://ew.com/where-is-the-traitors-filmed-inside-the-grand-scottish-castle-11890121
  2. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  3. ↑ https://people.com/the-traitors-stars-fought-over-this-food-breakfast-exclusive-11882781
  4. ↑ https://time.com/6564065/the-traitors-season-2-casting-deena-katz-interview/
  5. ↑ https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/arie-luyendyk-jr-explains-traitors-finale-kate-chastain-drama/
  6. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  7. ↑ https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/01/the-traitors-agent-of-chaos-kate-chastains-strategy-i-trusted-no-one
  8. ↑ https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/arie-luyendyk-jr-explains-traitors-finale-kate-chastain-drama/
  9. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  1. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  2. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a69928696/how-are-the-traitors-chosen-peacock/
  3. ↑ https://time.com/6564065/the-traitors-season-2-casting-deena-katz-interview/
  4. ↑ https://time.com/6564065/the-traitors-season-2-casting-deena-katz-interview/
  5. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a64126584/the-traitors-contestant-rules/
  6. ↑ https://www.eonline.com/news/1363156/cirie-fields-explains-how-that-the-traitors-finale-actually-worked-and-what-to-do-in-season-2
  7. ↑ https://ew.com/the-traitors-ekin-su-reacts-parvati-poisoning-8547813
  8. ↑ https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2023/01/traitors-cirie-stephanie-cody-interview/
  9. ↑ https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2023/01/rachel-reilly-traitors-us-interview/
  10. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  11. ↑ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/how-long-the-traitors-filming-castle-bbc-153806066.html?guccounter=1
  12. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@brookemiccio/video/7467261508037201194
  13. ↑ https://people.com/the-traitors-phaedra-parks-costars-doubted-her-fake-lashes-would-hold-up-8423974
  14. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9y1747z3go
  15. ↑ https://people.com/the-traitors-stars-fought-over-this-food-breakfast-exclusive-11882781
  16. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a64126584/the-traitors-contestant-rules/
  17. ↑ https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/arie-luyendyk-jr-explains-traitors-finale-kate-chastain-drama/
  18. ↑ https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/arie-luyendyk-jr-claims-he-barely-got-paid-for-the-traitors/
  19. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/the-traitors-dan-gheesling-exit-interview-on-peter-phaedra-parvati-2024-2
  20. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a64126584/the-traitors-contestant-rules/
  21. ↑ https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/01/the-traitors-agent-of-chaos-kate-chastains-strategy-i-trusted-no-one
  22. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  23. ↑ https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/the-traitors-creator-marc-pos-interview-rtl-bbc-1235480694/
  24. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  25. ↑ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-traitors-producers-season-2-castle-funeral-1235877196/
  26. ↑ https://time.com/6564065/the-traitors-season-2-casting-deena-katz-interview/
  27. ↑ https://parade.com/tv/why-deontay-wilder-quit-the-traitors
  28. ↑ https://screenrant.com/traitors-arie-luyendyk-jr-reveals-real-reason-quit/
  29. ↑ https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/the-traitors-creator-marc-pos-interview-rtl-bbc-1235480694/

About This Article

Devin McSween
Co-authored by:
Devin McSween
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Devin McSween. Devin McSween is a wikiHow Staff Writer. With a background in psychology, she has presented her research in social psychology at a variety of conferences and has contributed to several manuscripts for publication. At wikiHow, Devin combines her love of writing and research with the goal of bringing accessible information to wikiHow readers that will help them learn and grow. She earned her BS in Psychology from the College of Charleston.
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