She is strong yet vulnerable and simply complex.
Star Ursula Stolf
OLN’s reality series
Storage Wars: Canada star Ursula Stolf is tagged as “The Knockout.” She`s the rookie who`s eager to learn but not easily flustered by the experienced players. She`s a
fashionista with a quick wit and humour whose good looks are easy on the eyes. Take her seriously boys because she`s serious about the game.
She took time out of her crazy schedule to answer a few questions for iBid4Storage.
Ursula Stolf Interview
Q. What was life like growing up in Rexdale, Ontario?
A. I grew up poor and in a housing project. Although though this was my reality, my mother assured that we had everything we needed. I really was not wise to our economic status until I became much older.
I remember we couldn`t afford a real Barbie. My father bought a Valentine cake once and it had a doll on top of the cake. The doll, though not anatomically correct, became my fake Barbie. I used Kleenex box and converted it into Barbie`s fake Corvette. In my imagination - what I didn’t have, I made it work.
When my father was with us, there was this tension and stress at home. He had his own issues and he took it out on us. My parents divorced when I was a fairly young age.
had to overcome the lack of having a reliable father-figure. That absence created challenges for me. I kept to myself. I didn’t talk to anyone about it. It affected my grades and ability to socialize. I hid myself from the world.
It was the Ontario project housing in me that either I was going to sink or swim in this life.
Q. Who was the greatest influence in your life?
A. My Mother is the greatest influence in my life. This lady is one tough cookie. She single-handed raised all 5 of her daughters without any assistance and had only a grade 2 education. My Mother was a true inspiration.
Q. What was your childhood dream?
A. I wanted to be a veterinarian or a singer. I thought that I would become both - "The Singing Veterinarian"?! (Laughs.)
Q. Describe your household growing up with four sisters.
A. We lived in a 900 square foot home with only 1 bathroom and 5 girls. I`m 4th youngest in the birth order. Living with so many siblings in tight quarters was a challenge, but it certainly made for some crazy situations. Being down in the pecking order I was ‘ordered’ to this and that.
I remember one situation when my one of my sisters had friends over. I decided to barricade the door and trapped her and her two friends inside. I kept them trapped for 1 1 /2 hours. My sister was babysitting me at the time. But I finally did have to let them out.
I was that girl that looked like a boy because my mother cut my hair short; plus I was skinny and scrawny. So I found humor. I had to be funny to get noticed.
Q. In your final year of high school you decided you would not drink alcohol ever again. What happened?
A. My graduating year I wanted to go to a New Year`s Eve party with my sweetheart Mike and a few friends. I was working at Red Lobster and my boss kept me there late until finally he let me go. The whole point was to get to the party by midnight and we were still over an hour away.
We drove really fast to get there on a road that didn`t have lights. We got into an accident (no other car involved) and swerved off the road. I wasn`t hurt. Once we arrived at our destination I was offered a beer and urged to drink it. I was still shaken up from the accident and out of peer pressure, I drank the beer really fast. Then I was offered another beer. Then another.
Without knowing, I drank 5 beers within 40 minutes. I got up and fell straight down. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I passed out. I woke up hurling. I was so embarrassed that I cleaned up my own vomit while I was still drunk. I still remember the shame and the hangover.
I then vowed to myself I would never allow myself to lose control or ever drink again. To this day I don`t drink and am now the designated driver at parties.
Note: Ursula earned a Bachelor`s degree in Education from Niagra College. Master`s degree in Education from Mount Saint Vincent University . Bachelor`s degree in Sociology from York University. Post graduate degree in Human Resources. She is one of the most highly educated stars of any Storage War`s franchise.
Q. How was the college/university experience for you?
A. I grew up. Those years, searching, for whatever I was going to do in life. But leaving university with degrees, I felt more lost than before. I felt a fear of the unknown and didn’t have a direction. University was about learning and I realized I didn’t know who I was, if anything. It created more uncertainties and question “What the Hell?” There were no definitive answers to what I was thinking or feeling at that time.
Q. Why did you choose education?
A. In time I found that I had a natural ability to connect with kids. Didn`t matter the grade level. I enjoy the experience to somehow or in someway make a difference in the lives of young minds and how they responded to me.
Q. How did you get interested in fashion?
A. About grade 5 or 6 I began to notice how people were dressed. How things fit or didn’t fit. I learned how to pair clothing. I had a natural penchant on how to coordinate pieces. Natural sense of what I like and what I didn’t like and somehow it came together. Didn’t have much money, so I had to make it work to look good on me. I could see a piece of clothing and know instantly if that outfit would look good on me before I tried it on.
Storage Wars: Canada
Q. How did you get cast on the show?
A. I was selected to be on the show through a simple survey and two pictures that I had submitted online after hearing a promotional radio commercial about the show. Casting went to auction after auction. Sifted through many audition tapes. After searching for months through thousand of applicants; when casting saw my photo they put me and a few others through a mock auction. I was picked.
Q. You had never bought a
storage unit before until you were on the show. Describe that first win experience and what the business of buying storage units is like for you now.
A. My first locker purchase was on the show. The feeling of this experience can be compared to a gambler placing their first bet. It is nerve wracking, costly, exciting and you really do leave your fate to chance. You really never know what you have bought until you actually go through the contents.
Ultimately, everyone is after the same thing... Finding a BIG SCORE... That one amazing treasure. CHANCE is what keeps everyone, (including myself) coming back, doing it over and over again. I still love the feeling I get when I know I have bought a great locker and it turns out to be an amazing score!
Q. You and Cindy have the biggest female rivalry on any Storage Wars franchise - how did that begin?
A. When I first came on, I had no issue with her. But I think I rubbed her the wrong way from the get-go. On camera and off camera. She gave a vibe that there was something about me that bothered her. You tell me why?!
Q. Describe your perfect storage unit.
A. You might think I would say a locker full of fashion, but it’s not. I discovered that I need to look for something that is ‘tangible’ that I can INSTANTLY sell. I have learned this from experience. I want to find assets that I can turn into liquid funds quickly. Not the five and dime stuff. Art work, gold coins, money… Something that is valuable to everyone. Items that cannot be challenged in value.
Q. What ran through your mind when Roy ‘mooned’ you on the show?
A. (Laughs.) “Stupid is as Stupid does.” Nothing that a little psychotherapy couldn`t handle. Roy will always be Roy!
Q. Describe your cast mates:
A.
Canada`s Stars
Roy: Very good buyer. For the most part, he has a good heart. But he truly is an instigator.
Cindy: Not threatened by her. She’s insignificant in my objective in buying lockers.
Rick: Very level headed guy who tries to be fair and very good with Cindy. He’s the balance of the two. Always has very good word of advice.
Don: Very traditional. Good storyteller.
Bogart: Genuine person - if he says something he means it. He’s growing up quickly because of this industry. Good-hearted person who always tries to do the right thing.
Paul: Wealth of knowledge. There’s a method to his madness.
Q. What surprised you most about working on a reality television series?
A. How many hours it takes to put in was freakin’ astronomical. I didn’t realize how taxing the experience would be. Everything is amplified about me; my alter-ego ‘Ursula’ came out. It was a heightened sense of reality-reality.
Q. How did you come by your catch phrase
“And That’s How It’s Done” after you win a locker?
A. My catch phrase surfaced spontaneously as a way to gloat... But still keeping it classy! Ha!
Q. Why do you dress up in character when you have items appraised?
Ursula the Fashionista
A. When I see an opportunity to truly embrace a time period or a different profession, I like to go all in! I think we all take ourselves too seriously. This is my way of showing my humorous side. Additionally, it`s an outlet to express my Passion for Fashion!
Q. How would you describe the show?
A. I was taken aback by how ‘Canadian’ the show really is portrayed. You can’t get rid of our humour and the show is light-hearted. It’s one of those shows that someone can watch and escape. It’s fun, exciting and makes people laugh.
Ursula enjoys keeping up with her fans on social networks. Follow her on Twitter @UTheKnockOut and on Instagram URSTHEKNOCKOUT. `Like` her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ursula-Stolf-The-Knock-Out-Storage-Wars-Canada-Fan-Club/1394292087527924
Q. How did you meet your husband?
Ursula`s husband Mike
I knew after two weeks that I loved him, but not that I would say that to him. As teenagers, we would talk all night on the phone and fall asleep with the phone on our ears. I knew I wouldn’t get tired of being with him.
He didn’t coddle me; he believed in me. There was something about him and I just knew that the way he treated me... He was THE ONE for me.
He is my rock. His unrelenting support. We’ve been through Hell and back and he already knows what I’m saying before I say it. He’s confident in himself which makes me confident in myself.
We grew up with each other. He’s so handcrafted for me because I’m so scattered. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to do this. By the way, he still has that gum wrapper.
Q. What was it like for your family and friends when they saw you on that first episode?
A. My family and friends are all excited for me to be on the show; most still can`t believe what I`m doing! All are supportive and very proud. I`m truly blessed to be surrounded by so much love.
Q. You look very athletic and toned on the show. What is your workout regime?
A. I own a non-motorized, shoddy elliptical machine. This is my first workout every other day. Because the entire machine is not motorized, I really have to push it. I wear wrist and ankle weights during that one-hour workout.
I also jog 10 kilometers and do Pilates at home. The majority of my workout is at home, even though I do have a gym membership. I use small hand weights, but the majority of my workout is done by using my full body weight as the resistance weight. That’s key to toning my muscles.
No excuse for anyone who is of good health to not work out. Just don’t make it boring - dance or do whatever you want. No excuse to be so far gone where I can’t get back in shape. It’s not about the scale (how much I weigh) but about how I am feel in my clothes, my mental health, my emotional health and that I feel good.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. I love to read about living a healthy lifestyle. I like to dance either at a club or at home by myself. I like to sing.
Q. What’s on your bucket list?
A. Get my Ph.D. in education which is where my passion lies. I would like to visit Israel and see all the historical and religious sites. See the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. See the ruins in Athens and Rome. I would also like to sing in a real-live concert.
Q. What motto do you live by?
A. I believe one should always TRY... Never say CAN`T... Life is too short to live with regrets. TRY everything at least once.
Q. What’s your best attribute?
A. My ability to persevere and never give up. Some would say that I`m stubborn (Laughs.)
Q. What’s your worst attribute?
A. I`m too much of a dreamer.
Q. How would you like to be remembered?
A. As a person who made a difference - even if, in a minuscule way. If I die knowing I accomplished this... Then it was a Life Well Lived.
Star Ursula Stolf
Brains. Brawn. Beauty.
She is what a man wants and what a woman wants to be.
Check your local listing on the OLN channel for times on episodes for
Storage Wars: Canada.
What did you think of Ursula`s interview?
Be sure to connect with us on Twitter
@ibid4storage or
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Also
Paul Kenny`s Interview
Bogart Kenny`s Interview
Cindy Hayden`s Interview
Rick Cofill`s Interview
Don Reinhart`s Interview
About the Author...
Chuck G. is a freelance blogger and celebrity interviewer based in Southern California. She`s quite the geek who likes to play arcade games and writes/produces short films. You may follow her on Twitter @chuckgwriter.
