I would like to solve the puzzle. It really is a puzzle (a slight medical mystery?) that Wheel of Fortune co-host and letter tapper extraordinaire Vanna White hasn’t changed at all over the years. Certainly there are a few more fine lines, but they’re expertly covered up with makeup leading to a final product that looks amazingly untouched though the show and its cohost are about to enter their 27th season in primetime.

After leaving North Myrtle Beach, S.C., to pursue her dreams in Hollywood, Southern belle Vanna White did not take long to land a gig that would pipe her into the homes of hundreds of thousands of viewers nightly and make her an American TV icon.

The Guinness Book of World Records made it official in 1992, when White was deemed “television’s most frequent clapper.” And with the perma-smile and ever present gowns and heels, White seems a perfect fit for Las Vegas, where Wheel will be taping four weeks of shows at the Venetian and Palazzo for their upcoming season.

Throngs of eager fans lined up starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, five hours before they could even enter the audience holding area, in hopes of catching a glimpse of Pat Sajak and his lovely assistant. Like White, Sajak’s looks seem to be equally untouched by the hands of time, and he had this to say about it: “You know, it’s funny. It’s not true. The reason it seems we haven’t [changed] is because you see us all the time. It’s like a family member. You get used to them getting older, but if I had left the show 20 years ago and then came back, people would say, ‘Oh what the heck happened to him.’ So the change is gradual…or maybe I haven’t changed!”

But Sajak isn't the only one with something to say. Here’s what Vanna White had to offer about her incredible TV wardrobe, the lack of wardrobe for her Playboy shoot and some of her favorite memories from 27 years working the Wheel.

Do you ever feel that you got pigeonholed in this one role or did that not matter to you?

It didn’t matter. People made fun of me, but I was the first to make fun of myself. Here I am getting paid to turn letters.

How do you feel about now being an American TV icon?

I feel good about it. I hope that I can be a good role model for a lot of people out there.

Was the success of your 1987 autobiography, Vanna Speaks!, a sort of vindication against the critics who thought you didn’t have a voice because you spoke infrequently on the show?

With that I just wanted people to know who I was. Because the tabloids had written so many stories that weren’t true and I just kind of wanted to say, “This is who I am. You can like me or you don’t have to, but I’ve experienced all the same things that you have in life.” I’m a normal person, too.

Was there any fallout after your Playboy pictorial ran in 1987, since it was shot prior to you starting the show?

I was so thankful that my fans were so loyal to me, and I got up in front of the public and told them that I made a mistake and I learned from my mistakes. I hope that I saved a lot of other people from making the same mistake.

You’ve never re-worn a dress. I imaging they haven’t all been so comfortable. What was your most uncomfortable moment in a dress?

Just the extremely tight ones, some of them are heavy and hard to walk in.

Do you ever get to wear flats or is it always heels?

It’s always heels, which gets old, but now that they have the wedges. It’s much easier and they’re much more comfortable.

Do you have a favorite dress you’ve worn on the show?

I’ve had many great dresses. There’s not one in particular because I’ve worn over 5,000 outfits. Of course, there are a few that I’ve ended up buying if I’m going to a function or I just love the dress and it has versatility where I can wear it not just on one occasion.

Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction during taping?

Oh yes, many. With zippers breaking in the middle of the show, I remember one time being literally sewn into the dress because the zipper just popped. One time a belt fell off in the middle of a show. The zipper popping was pretty amazing because it went all the way down my back and the whole dress popped open. But I’ve never revealed any private parts.

Have you ever tripped while crossing the stage to turn letters?

I have. I kind of had a full wipe out once. I was going down the stairs to congratulate a contestant and I missed the last step and just kind of went down on my face. I was embarrassed, but that’s OK.

Do you ever worry about carpal tunnel or arthritis from turning all of those letters and clapping all the time?

You know, I think they were worried about it, because they changed the puzzle board, so now I touch instead of turn.

Are you really good at the Wheel of Fortune video game or board game or can you not tolerate show-related games outside of work?

No, I get enough of Wheel of Fortune. I’ve pulled the slot machine thing one time, but I didn’t want to do it because if I did win they would think that it was rigged.

What is the oddest piece of fan mail you’ve ever received?

I used to go fishing every year. I would go on a fishing trip and I would always show my catch on the show and I got a letter from someone saying, “You fish killer! How could you do that?” I felt really bad.

Do you think you’ll ever pass the torch to a new co-host or do you plan to be around for the duration of the show?

I hope to stick it out.

Do you have a favorite guest that sticks in your memory?

One of my favorite guests – and it’s just because he’s a personal friend of mine – was Fred Rogers, Mr. Rogers. He was a special guest on our show. And I was really touched by him because I grew up watching his show.

How do you have time to stay so fit?

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Not really a strict diet, just a lot of exercise.