Kirsty Moore, host of Reality TV & Me, sits down with the break out star of TLC’s most fascinating new show, Micah Plath.
WELCOME TO PLATHVILLE follows a family of eleven, with nine children who were raised in a very conservative, religious family.
The children were home-schooled and sheltered away from general society. This has different impacts on all of the children as they grow up. Micah bravely shares his experience in this one on one interview with Kirsty.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Host Kirsty: It’s a big transition for you from secluded farm boy to TV star and raunchy model! What has that been like and how do you parents feel about your modelling?
Micah Plath: The transition has been very interesting and a lot of fun, but also hard given the way we were raised. You know we weren’t brought up to know a whole lot about the modern world. It has made it a little difficult but also its really fun. You know we were sheltered extremely growing up and that was hard but it makes life more enjoyable now, just being able to do thing for the first time now that I’m 19. It just puts a different spin on normal life.
K: What’s the biggest thing you’ve changed your views about? Sex, drinking, sexuality, entertainment…
MP: Yeah, a lot of it is I’ve learned to have an open mind about a lot of things. You know, that’s not how we were raised. We were raised to be very closed minded, have a lot of walls and be guarded and just coming out of that, there’s no better feeling. Just being able to be open minded, take in what you see and don’t judge people for what they do, just take them as who they are. Just realising that not everything that you learned was bad growing up is bad. Just trying to get a feeling on your own what you believe and what you want to do.
K: Have you had any really confronting experiences in the “real” world?
MP: That’s a good question because a lot of things that are confronting or overwhelming are just, I dunno, part of growing and experiencing things. A big thing for me from growing up in a small town is traffic in such a large city. That was something that took some getting used to. Also just different cultures. It’s just a lot of fun but it is hard. Just trying to adapt to the normal world.
K: Is there anything you miss from living at home? What has the hardest transition been?
MP: Yeah, there’s a lot of things that I do miss from my childhood and growing up, especially family, siblings, just being able to have everyday life with them. As far as like beliefs and the environment I grew up in, I don’t miss that. I’m glad to get out of that. So there’s not a whole lot I miss about being home besides family.
K: What about your farming? We saw that was a huge part of your world in season one, but that’s changed to your modelling career now, is that still something you enjoy?
MP: Yes I still love farming. I still love nature and just being out in the middle of nowhere, but it’s not necessarily what I want to do anymore. I still love it but there’s other passions of mine that have grown since then and modelling being the biggest one.
K: Was it a family decision to be on the show or did you parents choose that? How did it come about?
MP: Well, our family did music for a few years, just travelling and singing at churches, just religious music and we had a website and some music videos out. I believe that’s how the network found us and they were just inspired by a large Christian, home-schooled, not your average family. It was my parent’s idea the first season to do the show and it took some convincing the first season to get some of us kids to do it. Then the second season came around and it was kind of flipped. Us kids wanted to do it again and our parents not so much. It took some convincing for our parents to want to do it.
K: Have your parents changed their behaviour at all since viewing themselves on the show?
MP: I personally believe they have changed slightly, just kind of accepting us more for who we are, who we want to be. Now a lot of change has come on my end ya know, because I can’t hold a grudge forever without it hurting me. So, there has been change on both ends.
K: That conversation that you and Moriah had with your parents was so honest, so real and so raw and just really eloquent considering you have been so sheltered for so long. What was that moment like for you, just sitting down with your parents and laying it all out?
MP: That moment was really relieving, ya know after having stuff, feelings or thoughts, in you for so long it just feels really good to get them out. Especially to someone you’re not that close to anymore. There’s just a special feeling about getting something important off your chest. So yeah, that moment was really special.
K: That must have been the start of your healing as well I suppose. Difficult for everybody but important as well.
MP: Yes, definitely. I would definitely attribute that to me starting to turn around and realise that it’s not just my parents, it’s stuff I need to do and reconcile with them too.
K: Was there a defining moment you realized you didn’t agree with the family’s choices and lifestyle or did it just creep up on you?
MP: I wouldn’t say there was must of a defining moment. It just slowly dawned on me that I don’t have to believe everything that my parents have taught me. I can believe what I want to believe and be who I want to be. [I can] forge my own path and if my parents have a problem with that, I think I’m self-sufficient enough I can make it on my own.
K: What religion is the family?
MP: So my family has always classified themselves as a non-denomination, they’re just Christians. I guess super-religious is a term you could use. I didn’t think we were growing up but looking back, yeah, super-religious. Just Christian.
K: Are you still attending church?
MP: Not regularly. I am a Christian but traveling and working full time is, I don’t go to church every Sunday.
K: I would like to clarify some specifics about the technology side of things. Some of the statements on the show are confusing such as there are ‘no internet and videos games allowed’ however then in season one we see Moriah had a cell phone and season two we see a video game console in the boys room. Were these for special occasion use only?
MP: Okay so the story behind my brothers “gaming console” if that’s what you want to call it, it is technically a flight simulator because he wants to be a pilot. There is no internet on it, there is a training course downloaded onto it that he practices flying on. I can see were a lot of people were misguided by that. Now, my sister having a phone, in the first season that was real. However, the first season was kind of more portraying where we were coming from just to give the audience a good perspective so they wouldn’t be wondering out of the blue why we have regrets about our childhood, why we are basically acting the way we are. But the filming of the first season was done in the transition of getting freedom and moving out. But it was more trying to portray where we were coming from so the audience could understand that.
K: Well I think a lot of people will be watching this and just be really inspired and happy for you and your freedom. I hope you just continue to grow and see the world. Maybe one day we will get you down under in Australia!
MP: I would love that! I’ve always been interested in Australia. Honestly, I’ve always wanted to learn to surf, I’ve never tried. I feel like I could pick it up.
K: Micah, thank you so much for talking to me, it’s been such a pleasure. I really appreciate you being so open.
M: Of course, thank you so much, this has been such a treat for me.
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