Ex-apprentice star Jennifer recalls ‘traumatic’ reality TV experience
FORMER reality TV star Jennifer Zamparelli admitted “it’s easy to have a breakdown” after a show like Love Island.
The 2fm presenter, who first shot to fame during a stint on the Apprentice UK 10 years ago, spoke out following the death of Mike Thalassitis.
The 38-year-old said she still feels sick recalling her own “traumatic” experience.
The Breakfast Republic host told her listeners yesterday: “It’s so easy to have a breakdown when you come out of a show like that because you are thrust to a completely different world you are not equipped to deal with.
“From being misquoted, to paparazzi trying to get photographs up my skirt after the show, ex-boyfriends selling stories, nothing prepares you for the s**t that comes after it.
“I got fired in front of 8.5 million people, which was huge figures back then. I don’t even think the likes of the X-factor does those kind of figures.
“I had no media background, I had no entertainment background, I was in business.
“I wanted to go on the Apprentice to go and live in London and run into the sunset. However, that didn’t work out.”
Jennifer said the experience was “so traumatic” she was amazed she got out through it unscathed. She recalled how she was on the show for about seven weeks, adding: “I
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was 27 years old, I went in, I got through the audition process and I thought this was going to be a great platform for whatever I do.
“But even when I was on the show, I mean there was sleep deprivation, we weren’t fed properly, they drive you to a point of near madness.
“We had a pantry in there that was full of alcohol and Skittles.
“Now what sane-minded person would put that as your diet when you have to get up at 6am and work a 15-hour day.
“In all these shows, you are a character. And I was the ice maiden.”
Following the deaths of two former Love Island stars, ITV will now be offering therapy, social media training and financial advice to ex-contestants.
Jennifer said: “This is phenomenal, but having said that it does take an awful tragedy for something like this to happen.
“But the fact ITV have put these things in place is monumental because it’s too hard to deal with on your own.”
It’s so easy to have a breakdown when you come out of a show JENNIFER ZAMPARELLI