Nailing Your 'Nailed It' Tryout: Eligibility and How to Apply

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Learn if you're eligible & what to expect if you get on

Co-authored by Christine Reed and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: November 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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Nailed It Eligibility Requirements

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How to Apply as a Contestant

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What to Expect If You Get On

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What You'll Get If You Win

Do you love to bake? Do your attempts to recreate the masterpieces you see on the internet tend to turn out…uh…a little sad? Are you prepared to face hosts Nicole Byer and Chef Jacques Torres’s public judgment of your culinary creations? If you said “yes,” good news: you’d make a great contestant for Nailed It!—and we have the skinny on how to apply. Read on and learn how to become a contestant on Netflix’s most chaotic bakeoff so you can take your baking skills to the next level—and maybe even take home that cash prize and trophy.

How to Become a Contestant on Nailed It

Fill out an application to be a contestant on Nailed It! via Magical Elves, the show’s production company.
Film an audition tape of you following a recipe, including decorating.
Explain why you love baking, and why you are applying to Nailed It!
Showcase your pep and personality in your video.
Convince the producers you are suited for reality television.^{[1]
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Section 1 of 4:

Eligibility to Compete on Nailed It

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You must be at least 18 and a United States citizen. Before beginning the application process, make sure you qualify to compete on the show. You also must not be running for political office, or be affiliated with anyone involved with the production of the program. You must be willing and available to spend 2 weeks in Los Angeles to film the show. And, of course, you must love to bake—but be terrible at it.^{[2]
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- "Anyone involved with the production" includes anyone who has worked in the last 2 years as an employee, officer, director, or agent of the producer, the network, sponsors, or anyone supplying goods or services to the program.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 4:

Applying for Nailed It

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Fill out the online application. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next Nailed It! champ, you can apply online via Magical Elves, Nailed It!’s production company. The application process is a bit intensive and asks that you submit photos and answer questions regarding your education, baking history, reasons for trying out, and more.^{[4]
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- Answer the application questions in a Word or Google document. This way, in case you can’t fill out the whole application in one sitting, or your internet crashes, you don’t lose any of your progress.
- If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, or if you want to apply to multiple reality TV shows at once, Netflix, Nailed It!’s network, offers an online application that’s much less intensive.^{[6]
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Line up 2 references. Though Nailed It! is about people who aren't good at baking, they still ask that you be somewhat familiar with the ins and outs of a kitchen. To that end, Magical Elves requests that you provide the names and contact info of 2 references who can vouch for your ability to at least kind of make a cake.^{[7]
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- Pick 2 people who not only know you as a baker, but know your personality and can vouch for your ability to perform well under pressure and be an engaging reality TV presence.
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Film and submit your audition tape. The audition tape must not exceed 10 minutes, and it must show you following a baking recipe, including decorating. Restate your name, age, and location in the video, and explain why you love baking and want to get better at it.^{[8]
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- This video is where you get to show off your facility in the kitchen as well as your fun and unique personality. Show the casting director you have the pep and showmanship necessary to thrive on reality TV.
- A selfie video on your phone won’t suffice. Consider enlisting a friend to film you.^{[9]
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- Make sure your video is shot in landscape mode, not portrait mode, and is an .mp4, .mov, or QuickTime.^{[10]
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Section 3 of 4:

What can I expect if I get on Nailed It?

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As a contestant, you will compete against 2 other amateur bakers. All 3 contestants will participate in 3 timed baking contests. The baker who serves up the least terrible cake wins (and yes, the judges try every cake, no matter how disgusting).
- While it's all fun and games when you're watching the show at home, baking under pressure—not to mention on television—can be overwhelming even for talented bakers.^{[11]
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- The recipes provided to contestants are intentionally simplistic, but some may involve a little guesswork from players.^{[12]
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- While timers are a staple for any baker, the Nailed It! kitchen purportedly contains no timers—only clocks, meaning contestants must be very aware of just how long that cake has been in the oven.^{[13]
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It's unclear whether you'll be paid simply to participate. The show doesn't state whether they pay for your time or accommodations during filming. While some game shows and reality shows offer a (usually quite small) stipend just to appear on the program, many, unfortunately, do not pay contestants unless they win, and many do not pay for contestants' travel and lodging.
- The Great British Bake Off purportedly does not pay contestants anything to participate, while Love Island offers contestants a modest weekly stipend during their run on the show.^{[14]
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Section 4 of 4:

What do I get if I win Nailed It?

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The champion baker takes home $10,000 and a hideous trophy. That's right, by simply making and decorating a cake that looks and tastes slightly less sad than your competitors' creations, you win $10,000 and a droopy trophy designed to look as if it's falling apart.^{[15]
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- Of course, that $10,000 is pre-tax. Still, 10 grand to make a few depressing cakes and be made fun of by Nicole Byer? Not a bad way to earn a couple bucks.