A poster-size photo of Dylan and Cole Sprouse, the 13-year-old
blond mop-top stars of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" on the
Disney Channel, hangs on a wall in Victoria Arsenault's bedroom.
But what's makes this teen-star poster unique is that the Wyandotte 13-year-old is in it.
"It was a gift from my dad," Victoria said. "My mom took many pictures of my trip to Hollywood. I bought a scrapbook, so
this summer she and I will work on putting these special memories together for a keepsake. As a surprise, my dad had a picture
of the Sprouse twins and I made into a poster for my wall."
Last month, as winner of the "Popstar! Sprouse Sweepstakes" sponsored by Popstar! Magazine, Victoria, accompanied by her
mom, Patti, was flown to California to meet the brothers.
The child actors, known for their work with Adam Sandler in "Big Daddy" and portraying Ben Geller, the son of Ross, on
"Friends," have become instant heartthrobs among adolescent and young teen audiences.
"It was last year when Victoria and her sister had walked to the store and Victoria purchased the magazine," Patti Arsenault
said. "She read about the contest and decided she would enter. Our youngest daughter, Elizabeth, has always been lucky at
winning things, so before she mailed the form Victoria asked her for luck. Elizabeth said three times, 'I hope you win, I
hope you win, I hope you win,' and then Victoria mailed her entry."
The Arsenaults aren't quite sure if 8-year-old Elizabeth's wish helped seal the deal, but what they do know is that Victoria's
name was selected from more than 10,000 entries received.
A magazine representative phoned her mother in early February and arrangements were made for a two-day trip in June.
"Victoria was selected as our winner and arrangements were made for her to be whisked to Los Angeles to meet Dylan and
Cole Sprouse, the stars of 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody' on Disney Channel and the editors of a new magazine we're publishing
for boys ages 8 to 14 called 'Sprouse Bros. CODE,' on the set of 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,'" said Matt Rettenmund,
editor in chief for both magazines.
"Victoria and her mom were driven from LAX to their hotel, the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt, and were also driven back
and forth from the studios where 'Suite Life' is filmed. The boys and other cast members met with Victoria, and she and her
mom were invited to watch an actual taping of an episode that evening."
"I didn't believe it at first," Victoria said, commenting on how she felt when she heard she had won. "My mom was busy
writing notes while she was talking on the phone and my sister, Michelle, was reading them to me. It was so overwhelming.
We were all really excited."
"My mom and I got a special tour of the set and saw the classroom Dylan and Cole go to school at while working," Victoria
said. "I met their teacher and she was very nice. They have to go to school a minimum of three hours a day and cannot work
more than five hours, their publicist from Disney told us.
"My most favorite part of the trip was being on the set where the show is taped. It had a very comfortable atmosphere to
it. Dylan and Cole came over to meet me and were very friendly and happy. They looked at me and said, 'Oh wow, nice to meet
you. You're tall. Welcome to 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,' while they shook my hand.
"I gained a lot of respect for the actors and actresses by watching them during the taping. It took a long time to create
a scene we see on TV that's actually very short. But they seemed to enjoy what they do. They laughed a lot and had a good
time."
While Hollywood bound, the 13-year-old Wyandotte resident snagged autographs from actors Tia and Tamera Mowry, Rebecca
and Camilla Rosso, Ashley Tisdale and Brenda Song.
"In the evening I sat with a studio audience to watch more scenes from the episode being taped," Victoria said. "In between
scenes, Dylan and Cole took questions from the audience, and when they were done filming that night, everyone came and signed
autographs. All the stars, including the Sprouse twins' school teacher, I had met earlier in the day recognized me and said
'hello' and asked me if I had a good time and they posed for pictures, which was very heart-warming."
Victoria said that although the actors looked like they enjoyed working long hours and being in the spotlight, she'd rather
grow up having a more private life. She hopes to one day be a radiologist like her father, Dr. Michael Arsenault.
In the fall, when she returns to classes as an eighth-grader at Wilson Middle School, Popstar! Magazine will publish highlights
from the two-day excursion.
"I feel more than just lucky," Victoria said. "I was blessed with this opportunity and am very thankful. I sent a letter
to the editor of Popstar! Magazine thanking him for the awesome and very generous trip they coordinated."
