OARSOMEO TURNAROUND

It’s hard to believe it now, but tall, dark and handsome Heartbreak Island contestant Kristian Barbarich was once on bullied for his looks. “I was the fattest, most insecure in kid growing up,” says the th 25-year-old Aucklander, who w weighed 100kg at age 15. “My boarding school’s dining hall h being lined with breads and a desserts didn’t make things t easier!” Rowing helped Kristian drop d some of the puppy fat, but b the entrepreneur says, “I was still overweight and a coach said I wouldn’t make the top crew if I didn’t slim down.”

It was the push he needed. Within three months, he’d lost 24kg and ended up earning a scholarship to row in Canada, where he became a champion and was even offered a place at the prestigious Harvard University.

However, fear took over. Kristian confesses, “I had a full freak-out because I didn’t have the self-belief I do now, so I turned it down. I went to Auckland University instead and the regret is pretty heavy.” Now he’s determined not to let any opportunity pass him by. That includes the chance to win hearts on the TVNZ 2 reality serieses – no matter whose toes he hasas to step on.

Kristianristian smiles, “I was completelypletely infatuated with this girl on the island at one point and a love triangle comes up. I kneww that if I didn’t make a movee and go for what I wanted, I’d regretgret it again.”