My Bio for Backpacker Nation!

Less than one month until I'm traveling through Latin America and I figured I'd publish the bio I wrote about myself for the show.. sure it's a little aggrandizing, but who doesn't build themself up once and awhile?!   ...This ones for you Uncle Charlie.  Sam said you were disappointed by my lack of blog activity lately :)

   Chelsea Gilson is synonymous with wanderlust - and lives for adventure and travel.  This acute travel bug started at a young age.  Growing up an only child in the small town of Halifax, Massachusetts she would pour through pictures of exotic places, and of course never miss an episode of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego".  As a kid, she got the best of both worlds; a father who taught her to farm and properly hammer a nail, and a mother who groomed her for pageants and  a love of the arts.  Her parents spoiled her with trips to
Florida and Maine, but these vacations just left her wanting to see more and more. 

      Chelsea always did well in school, so it was no surprise when she declared a double major in Psychology and Spanish at Assumption College in Worcester, MA.   The Spanish studies brought her to Granada, Spain, where she studied abroad for a semester.  While there, she traveled throughout Europe with her friends and trusty backpack.  This experience ignited her passion for backpacking and an appreciation for the community of likeminded backpackers she met along the way.  She graduated college with a 3.9 GPA and a certification from the prestigious honors program, but instead of continuing her education, she decided to head west to Los Angeles.  She took a job as a casting assistant for reality t.v., and has been submersed in the entertainment industry ever since.  After working freelance for a year as a casting assistant, then casting associate, she took a position as a talent agent on the East Coast.  A year and a half later and she was back in California, working as an agent for Hollywood actors and actresses. Throughout these years, Chelsea kept traveling a priority.  From a week floating on a yacht in Greece to driving cross country in a camper with her dad to pilgrimages to religious sites in Europe with her mom, she never gave up on her travel dreams of seeing the World. 

       In May of 2013, Chelsea left the agency life to explore her passion for the arts.  Now, she spends her time acting at local theaters, writing for a fashion magazine and a health and wellness company, evaluating restaurants and bars, painting, and reviewing films and books.  Her lifelong dream has been to host a travel show and share her zest for adventure with the world.  That, and of course, writing a compelling narration of her travels for publication. :)