Adam Christoferson, the winner of ABC’s reality competition series ‘Claim to Fame’, recently opened up about his emotional journey to victory and the bias he faced from his fellow contestants towards finalists Hud Mellencamp and Mackenzie Adkins.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Christoferson revealed that he was completely unaware of the conspiracy against him after Episode 3. “I genuinely had no clue how much everyone was conspiring against me. I was completely unaware that every contestant was targeting me after Episode 3,” he shared.
The tension reached its peak during the climactic finale, where eliminated contestants returned to either assist or obstruct the three finalists. Raphael Miguel Curtis, nephew of Jamie Lee Curtis, stated, “At this moment, Adam is the primary target.” He held Christoferson responsible for his own exit from the show, asserting, “Face the music, face the storm. You brought this upon yourself.”
Throughout the season, Christoferson had baffled his competitors, who only connected him to Michael Bolton, his Grammy-winning uncle, in the finale. In the final challenge, where finalists aimed to unveil blurred billboards featuring their opponents using helpful hints, the eliminated players disregarded Christoferson’s pleas for assistance and actively sought to sabotage his efforts. “I’m not getting any help from anyone,” he noted.
Despite the bias and sabotage, Christoferson remained determined to win. During the challenge, he suffered a head injury from a metal post, causing him to cry out of fear that he might not be able to finish. However, he was given the green light to continue and remarkably became the only finalist whose billboard remained partially concealed.
Christoferson’s confidence in identifying Mellencamp based on earlier clues paid off, while he had narrowed down Adkins’ family connections to two prominent country figures: Trace Adkins and Alan Jackson. The sight of a black cowboy hat on Adkins’ billboard clinched his guess, reminiscent of the country music upbringing instilled by her father.
As the challenge winner, Christoferson had the privilege to select the first player for identification that night, along with the person who would guess their identity. By choosing himself for either role, he could control the final guessing round of the season. He confidently aimed for Adkins first, and soon only Christoferson and Mellencamp were left. Taking charge, Christoferson opted to reveal the identity of his ally in the game. “From the start, it was him and me, so while I was saying John Cougar Mellencamp, I felt like the whole earth was shaking,” Christoferson recounted. “Everything was just wild.”
Reflecting on the moment, he shared that Mellencamp advised him, “Just look, just soak it in.” He felt the gravity of the situation, saying, “Wow, this is really happening.”
Christoferson’s victory came with a $100,000 prize, which he plans to use to buy a truck for his father, whom he described as an “amazing man who gives everything he can.” He also gained ten new friends through his ‘Claim to Fame’ experiences, with five of his castmates even attending the scattering of his grandmother’s ashes in Santa Monica Bay. The contestants maintain their bond through a lively group chat that Christoferson describes as “just hysterical.”
The connection with relatives of other celebrities drew Christoferson to the series. “I understand how having a celebrity relative can significantly influence your life. I wanted to be around others who have shared that experience,” he explained. He recalled feeling emotional when housemate Naomi Burns shared a snorkeling trip she took with her cousin, Molly Ringwald.
Christoferson’s admiration for Bolton was evident during the finale, where he praised his uncle as “the hardest working man I’ve ever seen.” He learned from Bolton that pursuing dreams and hard work can lead to a fulfilling life.
Despite the challenges and bias he faced, Christoferson emerged victorious, proving that hard work, determination, and a bit of luck can lead to success, even in the face of adversity. His emotional journey and the support of his castmates and family make his victory all the more meaningful