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Pud’n Waller – The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man

When boat broker Pud’n Waller met two young girls at McDonald’s one afternoon to discuss buying a houseboat, the last thing she expected was a ticket to TV stardom.

“All of the sudden, [one of them] pulls out her iPhone and starts snapping pictures of me!” Waller says. “I asked why she needed my picture, and she looks to her friend, saying, She’s perfect! Just perfect!’ I was totally clueless.”

The supposed clients were scouting Waller for a role on The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man, a spin-off of the History Channel’s Ax Men based in Mandeville, where Waller works. Though Waller insisted she was “no actress,” she gave it a shot.

Taking that chance has boosted her business and gets her recognized when at the store or out to dinner. Though Waller is unsure yet if the titular Shelby (one of Ax Men‘s most memorable personalities) plans to film another season, it’s enough for her just to be able to call him a friend. history.com

“I got up and turned around to the cameraman, saying, You better not use this with my big ass across the TV, or I’ll kill you!’ The crew was laughing hysterically. A week or so later, I was told that the History Channel loved it and would not cut it out.”