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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n AAA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On Sunday night, Triple J host and comedian Concetta Caristo<\/a> was crowned Queen of the Jungle in Network Ten\u2019s reality show I\u2019m a Celebrity \u2026 Get Me Out of Here! She beat actor Gary Sweet<\/a> and former \u201cBookTok guy\u201d Luke Bateman<\/a> in a public vote, winning $100,000 for the charity Full Stop Australia. Fresh from her win, Caristo spoke to national TV editor Louise Rugendyke<\/strong> about her time in the African jungle, about the difficulty of sharing her story and who she would take camping in real life (hint: he reads books).<\/p>\n Congratulations Concetta! Did you really only find out on Sunday night, when you were watching it with most of the cast, that you had won? <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n Not a clue. Louise, I\u2019m telling you, I was the most shocked in the room.<\/p>\n The final episode was very moving, where you were all reunited with your families. What was it like seeing your mum, Marlene, after four weeks apart?<\/strong><\/p>\n I just couldn\u2019t picture my mum being there. It felt too big a crazy idea that I couldn\u2019t even entertain it. Do you know what they said to me? They said, \u201cOh, go outside. There\u2019s an interview, something\u2019s happening.\u201d They didn\u2019t tell me. I\u2019m one of the most gullible girls in the world, so I really need you to know it was the biggest shock of my entire life. Then it felt so amazing. It just hit me of how special it was, how much it meant that she could see what I was here doing, sharing a story, a deeply personal story of ours, fighting for a charity [Full Stop Australia<\/a>, which supports those affected by domestic, physical and sexual assault] that is deeply personal to me and mum. I couldn\u2019t be more grateful for it happening.<\/p>\n You were so open through the series about the difficulties you, your mum and your sister have been through with domestic violence. I hate to use the word the brave, especially when talking about reality TV, but it was really brave of you to do that. Did you at any point think, \u201cNo, I can\u2019t do this\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n One hundred per cent. I talk about this with my mum a lot. Speaking about it, it makes you filled with anxiety. There\u2019s part of you [that feels like it\u2019s] something that you\u2019d like to keep secret forever, and you\u2019re so used to not sharing it, and feeling guilt, feeling shame, all that kind of stuff. It makes you very vulnerable speaking about it. And then coming on this show, speaking about it to strangers, speaking about it to celebrities, not knowing how it was going to be edited, there was so much fear for me.<\/p>\n And I did try and just affirm myself with like, \u201cAll I can do is share what happened to me. All I can do is share my perspective, my truth. I\u2019m allowed to do that\u201d, and it is, ultimately, helpful and good thing to do if it allows others to do the same.<\/p>\n And also I was very lucky to have beautiful friends around me, like Nath [Valvo], people being the most kind and supportive and affirming, [saying] \u201cYou are helping people.\u201d And also behind the camera, too. Everyone around me made me feel really safe. So I would feel those feelings, and then I would try and move on. And then something like this [win] happens, and I go, \u201cOK, it really was worth it, you know, to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n What made you say yes to going on the show? <\/strong><\/p>\n I was really excited. It was a show that it was in my head, where I\u2019m like, \u201cI would love to do a show like that.\u201d I just felt I would suit it. And also the timing [helped]. I had just ended a relationship, and I just moved, and I was just making choices in my life, and it just felt like, \u201cOh, I\u2019m supposed to do this.\u201d I felt a little bit of anxiety, what will people think, what will it be like to be in reality, but I then I thought, \u201cF— it. Let\u2019s go.\u201d And it was the best thing, and the best experience.<\/p>\nEditor’s pick<\/h2>\n
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