Melanie Sanders, who works by day as Circuit Court Administrator for the 9th Judicial District under Judge Toni Terrett, is no stranger to performing, but when the call came to audition for “The Chi,” a top-ranked Paramount+ streaming show, she was surprised.

“I had to submit a recording,” Sanders said. “I didn’t even know how to do the reel. You have to submit an audition, a recording. I didn’t even know you had to film it vertically instead of horizontally,” she said with a laugh.

From this audition, Sanders was chosen for a guest starring role in the show.

“Last July, I got a call. I was shocked. I thought the call was to get me to come to Chicago to audition live. I didn’t expect them to actually pick me (from the recording),” Sanders said. She had received a tip from her cousin, Quincy LeNear Gossfield, a director of several episodes of the show, to apply for the guest starring role. They had not worked together prior to this.

Sanders said she didn’t realize the popularity of the show when she auditioned. “The Chi” is entering its eighth season and follows a group of residents living in the south side of Chicago as their paths intertwine. Her role occurs in Season 7, Episode 5, which will start streaming Friday, according to the show’s website.

“I had my own trailer, next to Lynn Whitfield (who plays Alicia on “The Chi”). My name was on the door–I was like, ‘are you serious?”’

Sanders spent the first day at the studio in wardrobe. Her scene was filmed the next day. “I spent six hours on the set,” she said.

In her role, she appears on a boat party for “Pastor Zeke.” She said she and a character named Jada have a conversation about another person.

“It was amazing to be in the same space with these seasoned actors,” Sanders said. “I practiced really hard, and we did not do many takes with my scene.” One of the actors complimented her skills.

“That really gave me the acting bug,” she said.

Sanders credits her success in navigating acting to her experience in pageants. She said her time as Miss Vicksburg and Miss Atlanta helped her prepare for the role.

Sanders said she has no plans to quit her day job to go into acting.

“I can still balance and use my off time, that’s the key–if you want to do stuff like this, you have to use leave properly.”

Sanders was on American Idol, Season One, advancing to the final 30 participants. Kelly Clarkson won the competition that year. She has also appeared in several independent movies, the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” and “Entertainment Tonight.”

“I’ve got the best of both worlds. I work a regular job, but I’m still able to tap into my love for entertainment,” she said.