Ko Lanta – Helena "extremely sad" elimination: "It took me a long time to recover"

Those of you who say you have a “perfect, healthy and balanced lifestyle”, what motivated your nomination for Koh-Lanta?

Helena : Exactly to see if my athletic abilities and mind can withstand extreme conditions of survival without all the comfort around me or the support of loved ones. I wanted to do the hardest contest of my life.

What was your strategy to move forward?

I really didn’t have any, I was betting everything on the sports side. Most of the adventurers defended the “Koh-Lanta merit”, so from the moment I felt I had merit by winning the events, I never felt in danger.

However, at the beginning of the game, you disagree among the adventurers…

I hadn’t realized that people were belittling me. I expressed my pride in winning an event. I misunderstood and misunderstood. There is a world between enjoying your victory and knocking people down. I was judged to be arrogant when it was just an insurance stance. Everyone dreams of having self-confidence and when they meet this type of person it gets annoying in the end… Fortunately, my classmates changed their minds as soon as they got to know me.

On social networks, Internet users were also not kind to you…

After the first episode aired, I got a wave of criticism… Fortunately that has changed, I get 99% of support messages today. People became attached to my character. Sometimes we can start badly and end well… better than the reverse in that sense (laughs).

During the immunity game, Denis Brogniart suggested an alternative test to win the immunity collar, why not try your luck?

I wanted to go all the way because I felt comfortable in static tests. I manage the pain pretty well and I didn’t want to take any risks.

In what mood did you approach the board?

At first I was very calm because I had shined at events. Laura, Clémence and Gilles gave me confidence. The latter also promised not to vote against me. When I counted the votes, I stayed with them. But as soon as Clemence won the immunity game, I started hearing rumors…

How did you feel when the decision was announced?

I didn’t betray anyone, I always performed well in tests, and yet I was eliminated unfairly, without any valid reason, while others were tired and napped all day… Sounds silly, but I pulled this game a lot. I heartily felt that I was extremely disappointed and hurt that I was eliminated. It took me a long time to recover. I experienced this as a failure.

How do you respond to Gilles or Clémence, who justified their vote with the alliance game?

This is what bothers me the most. They did not vote in their souls and consciences, but not for fear of risking offending their allies or finding themselves alone. They all said they voted on merit and it was enough for Nicolas to talk to them for 30 seconds to turn their jackets inside out. I think Nicolas and Julie wanted to make a big splash by releasing “adventurer” and in the end everyone was relieved that I was leaving. This gives them another chance on the podium.

Were you aware that you scared some candidates?

During the reunion, people came to me and said that some adventurer said, “Helena is on the poles, it’s going to hurt”. Looking back, I think it really suited everyone I broke up with, even my allies Fred and Quentin. I find it embarrassing, they keep it a joke, never finishing last. When you’re a real competitor, you want to measure yourself against the strongest. I think the public will be pretty shocked by my release.

Do you have any regrets?

From overconfidence. I think if I had to do this again, I would invest more in strategy and trust no one, that’s for sure! When someone is sincere with you, telling you about their family and then betraying you… I’m having a really hard time with this. But it’s a game where 100,000 Euros are in question… Today I don’t blame anyone.

Sarah Ibri