By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Julie Schuster’s journey from a small-town Valley girl to a contestant on a reality series is the kind of story that makes Port Isabel proud. For Schuster, life in South Texas has always been about hard work, family, and community. But this year, the Port Isabel native took a giant leap from her hometown to the international stage when she competed on Netflix’s hit “Squid Game” reality series, season two.
“I was just a mom from a small town,” Julie said. “I know, if I can do something like this, other people can too. Just take that chance. You never know.”
Julie’s journey began long before she ever considered reality TV fame “My entire family is from Port Isabel. My mom, Maria Ester Ochoa, has worked for HEB for about 25 years,” she shared. Julie herself grew up in the town, attending Head Start, Garriga and Derry Elementary, Port Isabel Junior High, and graduating from Port Isabel High School in 2003. That same year, she welcomed her first daughter, balancing motherhood with school achievements, including being the lead singer for her senior year mariachi band.
After high school, Julie joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 2009, attending the academy in New Mexico before being stationed in Laredo and later Tucson, Arizona, where she met her husband. By 2016, the couple had returned to the Rio Grande Valley, settling in Harlingen. Julie eventually retired medically in 2018 after an accident ended her Border Patrol career. Since then, she has poured her creativity into running an Etsy shop and helping other small businesses manage social media. “I’m a hustler,” she said with a laugh. “Anything I can learn to do, I’m going to do it.”
Her Netflix journey began with curiosity and a push from her daughter, now 22. “She said, ‘Mom, I think you would really enjoy this show,’” Julie recalled. “I started watching and I was hooked. I found myself crying on the treadmill at some of the episodes.”
When she learned a reality version of the series was accepting applicants, she applied, though initially skeptical she would be chosen. In the summer of last year, Julie applied to compete in the reality show, and it wasn’t until months later that she heard back. In October, she was contacted for her first Zoom call with the producers, and after several rounds, she received the official paperwork in December confirming she had been selected. Julie packed her bags in January and flew out to London, preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even on the plane, I thought it was a scam, Julie recalled. “Look at me, on my way to London, about to get kidnapped, probably be used for God knows what. But here I go, thinking I would be a big movie star.” Once she arrived and saw other contestants, she realized the opportunity was real, and her adventure was about to begin
Her adventure took her to London in January, where contestants were kept in hotel rooms for three days to adjust to the time zone before heading to the set. “They literally took away our cell phones,” Julie said. “The only things we had were a toothbrush, hairbrush, a change of clothes, and our medications. It was insane. They wanted it to be as real as possible.”
The reality series, unlike the scripted Netflix drama, involved real-life games inspired by the show’s challenges, such as red light/green light and marbles. Julie described the days as long and grueling: “They would wake us at four in the morning. I took three showers the entire time. The food was awful…just white rice and an egg, no salt. Some people lost 10-15 pounds while they were there.”
Julie, now 41, credits her upbringing for shaping how she approached the competition. “Growing up low-income, seeing my mom work hard, going through bullying… it helped me sympathize with other players. I wanted to always be myself and play fair, but also care for others.”
She also had a larger mission in mind: helping South Texas communities and Latina representation. “If I go and win, there are organizations I could help for generations to come…like the Boys and Girls Club, small businesses, and children who can’t afford certain activities,” Julie said. “There wasn’t a lot of Latina presence in season one, and I wanted to show we don’t have to just stay in our little safe space.”
Though Julie did not win the $4.5 million, the experience has opened doors and inspired fans. Netflix is currently holding a “fan favorite” vote for season three, giving her a chance to return. “My friends, family, and fans are voting for me several times a day. If I get the most votes, you’ll find me back on season three,” she said.
Julie credits her family for supporting her journey, especially her husband and in-laws, who cared for her three children (Jada, 22, Abram, 12, and Becca, 10) while she was away. “Every day, they were sending me little updates about the kids. It was definitely hard being apart, but their support meant everything,” she said.
From the projects of Port Isabel to an international Netflix set, Julie Schuster has proven that taking a leap of faith can lead to extraordinary experiences. “There’s just so much to see out there,” she said. “If you don’t take the chance, you’ll never live life to the fullest. And for me, there’s no stopping now.”