‘The Mob’ Exit Interview: Bella Palk on the Baddies, Being the ‘Baby of the Family,’ and Why She Wanted to Be Underestimated

Bella Palk was made for reality TV. Just ask her high school classmates, who voted her most likely to end up on it. After looking for love aboard a luxury yacht on Hulu’s Love Overboard, Bella traded the plank for the family business on The Mob. The youngest member of the cast had a plan for her second turn on reality TV. She wanted the rest of the family to underestimate her long enough for her to pull the rug out from under them.

Hosted by Parker Posey, The Mob brings twelve celebrities to an Italian villa, where they take on jobs inspired by mob movies for a shot at up to $250,000. The family chooses a Don, who decides how to divvy up the money and who gets “whacked.” Bella’s team won the first job, but that victory offered little protection once Joe Gorga took power. His first elimination sent her home just as she was finding her footing.

Pop Culturalist chatted with Bella about being the baby of the family, how Maria Georgas and Demi Engemann became her Baddies, and why she understood Joe’s decision to send her home. She also shared what it meant to hear from her castmates long after the cameras stopped rolling.

PC: Since this was the first season of The Mob, you all went into it knowing very little about what to expect. How was the show initially pitched to you, and what made you want to be a part of it?
Bella: I knew it was a challenge show, unlike the last one I was on. [laughs] I knew it was a chance to win some money. Everything else in the email was a blur. [laughs] But when I heard it, I was like, “Italy? I’ve got to lock in.”

PC: Italy and prize money…
Bella: It was made for me. My name is Isabella. [laughs]

PC: Going into a brand-new competition series without knowing how the game would be played, what was your strategy for winning the prize?
Bella: I wanted them to underestimate me so I could pull the rug out from under them. That was the original plan. Then it didn’t go in my favor, as you saw.

PC: Listen, you were flying under the radar. I think if you’d gotten past that first elimination, you would’ve gone really, really far.
Bella: That’s what I’ve heard from everybody. Thank you for saying that.

PC: Yeah, you were a sleeper in the game. Unfortunately, Joe went in a different direction than everyone else expected.
Bella: Thank you for saying that. I really feel like I was in a position to make it further.

PC: During that first competition, you made it clear that your loyalties lay with the family. Who had you formed the strongest connections with by the time of that first elimination? Had you made it past it, who would have made up your family in the game?
Bella: I call us the Baddies. That was Maria and Demi. I truly feel like Maria and I were locked in off the rip, right there in the car. That was my girl. I felt like I could trust her. I still trust her. That’s my girl.

And then Demi was so kind to me. She knew I was the baby of the family. I’m twenty-four, and everybody else is a little bit older. It was a unique position to be in. Her kindness felt authentic. She wasn’t trying to play me, and I appreciated that. Watching it back, it seemed like she was concerned that I wasn’t there. All of that made me feel like I really could’ve gone far.

PC: It seemed like the entire cast was surprised by your elimination, and knowing you were the youngest made it sting even more. You touched on this already, but you knew going in that it was a competition show. Every week, you all have to complete a different job, and you made it clear on both of your shows that you’re not a car girlie. What was your reaction when you saw that first mission? What kinds of challenges would’ve played to your strengths and given you a chance to shine?
Bella: I immediately said, “Let me ride on everyone else’s coattails.” In high school, I was voted two things. Number one, most likely to be on a reality TV show. Number two, worst driver. [laughs] It all came together, and boom. It was like my yearbook manifested it.

I don’t know anything about cars. And I’m not the cleanest girlie, so you can picture what my Nissan looks like. So that was a very unique challenge to see. I was overstimulated. I’d never seen so many parts, and nothing made sense.

PC: There was a lot going on. We touched on this already, but a lot of us watching thought you were safe from that first elimination because your team had won. Then Joe surprised everyone. Did you have any inkling he was going to make that decision? Do you think it was a smart move for his game?
Bella: It was probably a smart move because it was a safe one. I’m extremely intelligent. I take an academic approach to everything I do in life. Thank you. So, looking at it from that perspective, I think Aida [Turturro] and I were probably the safe bets. I don’t think he was taking much of a risk by eliminating us. I’m not someone who’s super threatening like Harry [Jowsey] or Demi. I feel like it was a Goldilocks and the Three Bears situation. So I don’t fully blame him for that.

PC: Joe could already see how much social capital you were building with the rest of the cast, which makes his move look even smarter. Looking back, it must also be comforting to see how shocked and upset everyone was when you were eliminated. They’re still upset. What does that support mean to you now?
Bella: I loved it. I said, “Cry for me. Beg for me back.” [laughs] I loved it. I wished, hoped, and prayed that they’d be sad because I didn’t want to be forgotten. Nobody wants that. It always sucks to be the first to go, but it really sucks if everybody’s like, “Anyways.” [laughs] I didn’t get that feeling from them.

I got text messages after filming wrapped, and everybody was like, “How are you? Are you okay?” It was almost like it had just happened. It’s so sweet of them. I literally have the best costars. This is a full 180 from what I’m used to.

Make sure to follow Bella on Instagram. Stream The Mob on Hulu today.

Photo Credit: Disney/Andrea Miconi