NBC.com

Scorpion Pit

Fear Factor contestants have been through some crazy stunts on this show but nothing quite prepared them for our dreaded Scorpion Pit. Contestant Shannon Godfrey talks about what it's like to lie down in a pit with 3,000 venomous scorpions.

FEAR FACTOR: What were you thinking when you first saw the scorpion pit?

SHANNON GODFREY: When they revealed the scorpions, I was calm because I knew I was going home. I was just, like, "No way." I mean, my fear is roaches and, to me, scorpions are roaches that sting and bite. It was the sickest thing I've ever seen in my life. So I was just, like, "I can't do this."

FEAR FACTOR: What made you change your mind and get down into the pit?

SHANNON GODFREY: What made me actually believe that I could do it was that I told myself I was not going to walk away from anything. So I remembered that, and I was like, "Shannon Godfrey, you have to do this. It can't be that bad. You know, if I just keep still, I'm not going to get stung."

FEAR FACTOR: So how was it?

SHANNON GODFREY: When they dumped those things on me, I really thought that I was out of my mind. I mean, I really thought that I was going to lose it. It was okay for a second but then I got three stings in a row -- one was very close to my private parts, through my biker shorts -- and then one was clenched on my ear like an earring. And all I could think was, "This damn scorpion is going to be crawling up my face or in my mouth, and I am going to lose it." So I just started yelling and screaming and I needed out of there.

FEAR FACTOR: What made you decide to come on Fear Factor in the first place?

SHANNON GODFREY: I had been sitting back watching all these different types of shows on TV and always thinking that I could win it. And it was just one day that I said, "You know what? I'm tired of sitting on my butt saying that I can win it, let me go ahead and try." I've been training for this my whole life. My mother has put me in so many different sports activities and I really think that I'm a good competitor. It looks like I'm not tough and people take my kindness for weakness. But I think anything that comes my way I can pretty much tackle. And I'm not afraid of anything. I mean, yeah, everybody has fears, but I have a really strong mind and I think at the end of the day, what gets you over is not how athletic you are, but really just how strong-minded you are.

FEAR FACTOR: But aren't the other contestants just as tough?

SHANNON GODFREY: From the very beginning, I was not intimidated by anyone. I know my potential; it's just show and prove. So I just have to keep my mind clear and stay calm. I don't want to be too cocky. That's not my personality. I'm just very confident in what my skills are and how much common sense I have.

FEAR FACTOR: What kind of impression do you expect to make on Fear Factor viewers?

SHANNON GODFREY: The first impression I always get is, "Oh, she's pretty." I want them to see more than that. I am a very well-rounded person, I'm very deep. And I have a lot of fun. I give off a lot of good energy. So I don't play nasty. You know, I win by playing by the rules and showing people that you can play by the rules and still kick some a**. And I want them to walk away knowing that.