Doomsday Castle Season 1 ended with just two of Brent Sr.’s siblings left “alive” after the final ultimate survival test. Michael the highly-skilled twin brother of sassy Dawn Marie, not surprisingly dodged the paint balls used to simulate a deadly attack, but the girly-girl prepper Ashley was at his side when the shooting ended.
The initial episodes of the Doomsday Preppers spin-off showed a splintered family that had difficulty working together and communicating without shouting. But, as the season progressed, five of Brent Sr.’s 10 children which were featured on Doomsday Castle proved they could overcome their differences and help their father realize his dream.
During a recent telephone interview with Ashley, she discussed the personal struggles and the triumphs she experienced during the filming of the prepper reality show . Although Ashley possessed very few survival skills when Doomsday Castle filming began, she did develop a multitude of preparedness attributes to add to her resume by the end of the season. NatGeo has not yet made an official decision about filming a second season of the Doomsday Preppers spin-off.
IQ : How do you feel the girly girl prepper label?
Ashley: You know, I think that was a great label for the beginning of adventure of Doomsday Castle, but by the end of this journey, I am became a different person – one with purpose. People adapt to environment, and I do as well, kind of like a chameleon. I learn very quickly and like to be as well-rounded as possible as an individual. I went into the experience kind of unsure of myself — in that type of environment. So I stuck to want I knew, girl stuff — while trying to define my role in the new atmosphere.
I learned even more about herbal plants and how they can be used not just to make organic make-up as morale boosters for the ladies in the group, but to help with all types of ailments and health issues. I love plants and gardening and was attracted to that aspect of preparedness in particular. I thought that using fruit for organic skin needs and for make-up was amazing because one of the scariest things I wondered about was, ‘How am I still going to be a girl out here?’ But I found a way to do that. Because of that experience, I now have a healthier way of living. I am very appreciative of the fact that you can stay who you are and still be a prepper. It really is amazing at what earth already offers us in a healthier and inexpensive way.
IQ: What was it like spending so much time with your siblings and dealing with all the different personalities?
Ashley: Well, what is crazy is that we are a family, so we all are alike in some ways but also very different in other ways. So of course me and Dawn Marie, for example, are going to have some similarities; the age difference, maturity level, and the way I deal with certain situations. I am calm and laid back and think things through. At her age people are naturally more reactionary, so that is part of her personality right now. I’m not saying either way is right or wrong, just calling it how it is.
At first, I guess, I had a hard transition to go through. But like every life lesson, you must grow, and I now have a new appreciation for both nature and preppers. During the first week, the first month honestly, I was just kind of lost. I hadn’t been in that type of environment for that long of a period of time before. I was basically in a type of culture shock. I did not know how to react or what to do. There are wild animals out there [chuckles] and I didn’t know what I was doing. As soon as I found a way to bring my girly girl side out in a way that could help the family and the project, I felt on firmer footing.
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IQ: You did not appear to like getting your hands dirty during the first several episodes, you eventually joined right in, got dirty, and helped complete the survival chores. As the season progressed do you think the audience was surprised at your transformation?
Ashley: My experience in the beginning was like a baby looking at a whole new world. When seeing the catapult, that was the scariest thing I had ever seen. I think I ended up using every heavy duty tool Home Depot carries. I hurt myself very badly early on. I really struggled with that, scared I wouldn’t get it done, wondering, ‘What if I got hurt again?’ Being in nature and learning how to be more self-reliant adds value to your life. Out there you quickly realize every step you take serves as a counterweight for your future steps. I definitely become a lot more cautious and aware of the surroundings by the end of the season. I am a lot more comfortable with power tools now. I want to use the skills I learned to help at the castle, and in my life in general.
IQ: During a recent interview with your dad, he discussed what he deemed basically a nervous breakdown during a mid-season episode. What was it like filming such a private and emotional moment?
Ashley : It really was a nervous breakdown, that entire scenario was real and honest. We were all overly taxed emotionally and extremely tired. I do feel like he was pushed very far, this quote, I use it a lot: ‘It’s going to get bad before it gets better’ really applies. We were all broken down, it is incredible to see someone go through that. But we were built right back up. Yeah, it was hard to see dad like that. That night I was crying, everyone was crying, it was an emotional roller-coaster. It was just one of those things that sometimes you go through with your family during tense situations, you can’t fake it, — you just can’t fake that kind stuff.
Those four or five months were the hardest of my entire life. It was unlike anything and everything I had ever gone through. The episode you mentioned was one of the hardest. We had been pushed to the max, I even got sick sometimes from so much stress, just the burdens of it all — the gang ups, the clicks that evolved between the siblings. It was like a small community, it was like we had our own laws, our own city, ad rules. So there were clicks that developed once we started to live together and get to know each other better. We ultimately began to collaborate easier. My mindset is a lot different than the other two girls. We had always gotten together for family meetings, holidays, shopping, and stuff. It was always fine, until we started living together. We are very different, even though we are sisters, we are very different.
IQ: What are your career aspirations beyond the Doomsday Castle prepper reality show?
Ashley: Before the show I was starting up a skin care company. I have bartended and did do that for a while, as well as other things in sales and some commercial work. I also already had a music career and had been modeling. When the show came along, I jumped on for the ride. Doomsday Castle has given me the opportunity to create a better work ethic within myself. While at the castle, Dad got us up at 6:30 am after working until midnight, so that part has really given me a better work ethic. Since the show, I have received more offers, and looked at more agencies to continue the modeling work.
In one episode me and my brother we wrote a song called ‘Castle in the Sky.’ I play the guitar and taught Michael how to play earlier, so I would have someone to play with. The song we wrote was really a tribute to dad and about our struggles and experiences at the castle. We will be recording it professionally and it will be available on iTunes. I sing in church, at talent shows and in competitions. Growing up, I moved out at 16, I am very independent, and I wrote a lot of songs about the struggles I was going through. I would take out my emotions on my music, it was a real stress reliever. I love singing and playing, I really enjoy it and have been recording more since the show. The Doomsday Castl e experience taught me that our days are numbered, we shouldn’t sit around and do nothing, not just messing around with technology and other silly things every minute of the day. Working on survival skills that you will need later is part of my changed mindset.
[Images Courtesy of NatGeo]