"So, contestant number one?" The announcer handed the microphone to the first contestant, a skinny black man standing 5'10'' who looked to be in his twenties. He was wearing glasses and formal clothes with a pen in his shirt pocket - in short, he gave off a strong geeky vibe, and his slightly quavering voice added to that impression. "Hi, um, my name's Jared, and, uh, you know, if I had the choice, I would go for a lion. I think that would have just the right combination of strength and agility to get me through the battles, plus that mane is great protection against neck holds". He rubbed his own neck timidly. "And, um, with the money, I'd love to open a game store of my own. And being able to say I won this would give it even more prestige".
Smiling with relief at having finished his bit, he handed the microphone to the person next to him, a woman in her thirties with close-cropped blonde hair. She was only 5'2'' but seemed to be as wide as she was tall - built like a fridge, with broad shoulders, powerful arms, and thickly muscled legs. Her black tanktop and sweatpants fit tightly on her apple-shaped build, showing off her chiseled physique. She spoke with the assurance of someone who knows they're in charge. "Hey, I'm Mia, of Mia's Fitness", she said in a husky contralto. "Since nerd boy here already chose lion, gonna go with bear instead. Polar bear. Nothing can beat the firepower a good bear form brings to the table. And if I win, I know I'm gonna refurbish my gym with some new machines".
Mia passed the microphone to a tanned 6'2'' Asian man in his thirties. He was in a T-shirt and shorts, making Rick feel better about his choice of attire. He, too, was athletic, but where Mia had the powerful build of a weightlifter, this one was lean and sinewy, his long brown hair tied in a ponytail. "Thanks for that. I'm Stewart, you can call me Stu. I'm gonna buck the trend here and suggest a jaguar, cause, y'know, climbing trees and being able to swim? Useful. I could get me a new boat and a surfboard with the prize money".
Next up was a 5'6'' Asian woman in her forties. She had neat black hair, glasses, and a rounded, shyly smiling face. Her average figure was nicely shown off in her formal Empire-style dress. "Hey, uh, I'm Elaine, and I'm not really sure how I ended up here", she said with an awkward chuckle. "But my son and his fiancee are watching", and with that she waved in the audience's direction, getting a few cheers in return, "and I'm not gonna let them down. I'm sure that money will help with the wedding". She started to pass the microphone before the host mouthed something at her. "Oh, um, right, animal? I guess... uh... tiger? Tigers are nice".
Blushing, Elaine gave the microphone to a thickset 6'0'' white man in his twenties, wearing glasses and a suit and tie. Despite his dress, he looked slightly unkempt, with a stubbly blond beard which he scratched as he talked. "I'm Zack, and I'm calling out grizzly bear for this one", he said, glancing in Mia's direction (and getting a scowl in return). "Hey, what can I say? They're strong. I've got a whole lot of business ventures I cant' wait to invest in, and that money will definitely go into those. If you want to hear more about them, talk to me after I win", he said, winking in the audience's direction.
Zack was followed by a 5'9'' black woman, in her twenties. She had a mass of long curly brownish hair and big, scared-looking dark eyes. She was wearing a loose, billowing pink dress over her slim body. "Hi... um... I'm Amelia, and, like, I'm not sure? I think something like a wolf would be nice?" She shrugged her bony shoulders. "There's too much choice, and I really love animals... um... okay, and if I win, I think the money will go into my college education. I'd like to become a vet".
The microphone was next taken by a white woman in her twenties, about 5'5''. Unlike Amelia, this one was raven-haired and plus-sized, her curvy figure hugged tightly by a plunging lacy black shirt, black pants, and black boots. Her short hair had long, red-dyed bangs that came over her right eye, and she kept brushing them out of her face as she spoke. "You and me both", she said with a sigh. "Hey, I'm Hope, and I'll go with a herbivore. Elephant. Bigger is always better in this game. And like Amelia... yeah, more tuition money would be amazing".
Finally the microphone came around to Rick. "Hi..." he said uncertainly. "I'm Rick, and anything would be nice? I guess if I became a whale I would flatten everyone immediately?" Scattered laughter from the crowd. "And maybe I could buy a new car with the money? I... never thought I'd be participating in this..."
Rick didn't have time to add more because the host had taken the microphone back. "Well, those are our lovely contestants! Let's get them ready and over the rules real quick, and get this show started!"