by Taylor Bryant
University of West Georgia alumna Tressa Walker won the “Create the Next Skinnygirl Sparkler” competition on the November 22, 2013, episode of the talk show “bethenny.” As the grand prize winner, Tressa was awarded a trip to New York City to appear on “bethenny,” $10,000 cash provided by partner AriZona Beverages and a chance to have her winning recipe of Skinnygirl Sparkler sold in stores across the United States.
Tressa’s winning recipe was Peach Passion fruit. “I like tropical exotic flavors and I drink sparkling water all the time,” she says. “When I heard of the contest, I wanted to represent the Georgia peach, since that is where I am from. And I just thought passion fruit would go so well with it, so I entered the contest. I can’t believe I won! My sparkler is passionately infused with a little southern charm.”
The competition was a part of a partnership between Bethenny’s Skinnygirl and AriZona Beverages to launch Skinnygirl Sparklers, a line of sparkling waters mixed with real fruit juice. The sparklers currently come in four flavors: Tangerine Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Pink Grapefruit and Pineapple Coconut.
Bethenny’s team says engaging her audience while creating a great tasting, low calorie, non-alcoholic beverage was the main priority to Bethenny. “Tressa is great!” says Bethenny. “I was excited to see her win. She's a young, passionate mom who went for it, and it paid off. As I like to say, you have to be in it to win it, and Tressa just went for it. I thought her recipe was fantastic; the addition of the passion fruit with the peach was so personal and unique, and I know fans will love it.”
On the show, Tressa thanked Bethenny for being an inspiration to her. “I DVR her show everyday,” Tressa says. “She is a go-getter with a genuine heart. She inspires me to follow my business dreams. I am a single mom, I have an entrepreneurial spirit, and I work full time and attend school. My daughter and winning this contest are the two best things that have ever happened to me. I am going to save the money for my daughter’s college tuition.”
AriZona Beverages is expected to begin production and distribution on the new flavor in 2014. Skinnygirl Sparklers began rolling out in the New York Metro area, and followed with Florida and Chicago. The national rollout will follow throughout 2014.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros./Telepictures "bethenny" Michael Coppola
