The game show icon and avid golfer turned out for the Myrtle Beach Classic Pro-Am on May 6, alongside actors Kurt Russell and Jennie Garth.

Vanna White shocks *Wheel of Fortune *fans with casual golf glam

The game show icon and avid golfer turned out for the Myrtle Beach Classic Pro-Am on May 6, alongside actors Kurt Russell and Jennie Garth.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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May 12, 2026 5:21 p.m. ET

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Vanna White on 'Wheel of Fortune'; Vanna White at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., in 2026. Credit:

Disney/Eric McCandless; David Jensen/Getty

- Vanna White surprised *Wheel of Fortune *fans on May 6 with a dressed-down look at the Myrtle Beach Classic Pro-Am.

- White's fans defended her against trolls who criticized her appearance, enthusing about the elegant ensemble that the avid golfer put together.

- White appeared alongside actors like Kurt Russell and Jennie Garth at the PGA tournament in White's South Carolina hometown.

Vanna White's wardrobe does consist, to some *Wheel of Fortune** *fans' surprise, of more than just gowns.

The game show icon has graced TV screens across the nation decked out in her finest sequined and sparkling dresses for over 40 years. But she turned out to the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic Pro-AM PGA tournament on May 6 in a decidedly dressed-down look, consisting of fairway staples like a blue-and-green checkered polo.

Enthused comments poured in to a video of White speaking with reporters, shared on Instagram by the Conway, S.C.-based WPDE ABC15 and *Good Morning Carolinas *host Amanda Kinseth. While some criticized White's appearance, an army of fans rushed to her defense.

"It's alway so fun to come back to North Myrtle Beach and play here at the Dunes Club. I just finished 18 and had a great time, it was so much fun," White told reporters at the event, which was also attended by actors Kurt Russell, Jennie Garth, Michael Peña, and more.

White's fans rushed to her defense, after some commenters shared criticisms of her appearance. "These comments are unbelievable. She's a 69-year-old beautiful, kind woman whose highest priority in life has not been chasing every wrinkle, unlike most celebrities now. She's an icon!" one wrote. Another reflected, "It's sad when people make such rude comments about aging! 😡Vanna, you look great!"

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A native to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., White made her first appearance on *Wheel of Fortune *in 1982, after competing in a Miss Georgia USA pageant. She actually competed on *The Price Is Right *two years before that, but found her true home at *Wheel*, where she's been uncovering the guessing game's cryptic clues ever since.

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'.

Disney/Eric McCandless

Despite *Wheel*'s demanding five episode-per-week production schedule, White does find occasion to slip into something more comfortable than her uniform of gowns and pursue one of her true passions — golf.

"Today, obviously my kids are grown," White told * *in April. "And my biggest thing now is playing golf. That's my little hobby. I *love* to play golf when I'm not filming."

White's appearance at the Myrtle Beach Pro-Am wasn't out of pure love of the game, but a returning appearance as honorary ambassador. "I'm honored that the team at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic invited me to serve as ambassador for this year’s event,” she shared in a statement before the tournament. "It's been wonderful to watch this event grow from the very beginning, and it brings together two of my favorite things — golf and Myrtle Beach."

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