From Underdog to Jungle Queen: Concetta Caristo’s Unlikely Triumph
When comedian and Triple J Breakfast host Concetta Caristo stepped into the South African jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, she was acutely aware of her status. Surrounded by seasoned international celebrities like Barry Williams and Rachel Hunter, alongside established Australian personalities such as Gary Sweet and Rebekah Elmaloglou, Concetta readily admitted she was the least familiar face in the camp.
“I was like, ‘I am the least famous person here’,” Concetta confessed with a laugh. “I’m the person everyone will be like, ‘who?’ and I’m okay being that. I never expect anyone to know me. I’m just happy to be there.”
Despite a growing fan base cultivated through her stand-up comedy and radio career, I’m A Celebrity has undeniably introduced Concetta to a brand-new legion of admirers. Less than 24 hours after being crowned the public’s favourite, the bubbly star is still processing the overwhelming victory.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” she exclaimed. “My favourite part is when young girls and little kids are talking to me and get excited to see me. It’s the most bizarre feeling in the world. I’m just a normal girl and I’ve got little kids being like ‘I love you’. I don’t even know how to explain that feeling. It’s a privilege. It’s so beautiful to have an impact on anyone, let alone young people.”
Concetta bravely chose to represent Full Stop Australia, a vital charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by sexual, domestic, and family violence. Her decision stemmed from her own personal experiences with escaping a violent situation in her youth. While she admitted to feeling nervous about sharing such a sensitive part of her life with a national audience, she now expresses immense pride in her vulnerability and the connection it forged with the public.
The Power of Vulnerability
“There is definitely anxiety when you go sharing parts of your life like this,” Concetta explained. “You get worried about how you’ll say it, if you’re missing something or whether something will be taken the wrong way — especially on a show that is edited. There’s always going to be that underlying anxiety, but what I’ve learned is that if someone can see that [domestic violence] can happen to anyone, or if someone feels less alone, if someone feels like they can reach out for help, that is the reason to do it. It is something worth doing. It is something worth fighting for. So to go through this journey, and then for people to affirm that in the highest way — which is winning and winning this money for Full Stop Australia — I think it definitely strengthens me to keep going and advocating, 100 per cent.”
Concetta’s willingness to be open extended beyond her discussions with fellow campmates. The unique environment of the jungle, stripped of everyday distractions, provided her with an unprecedented opportunity for introspection.
Confronting the Inner Critic
“My self-critic has been really strong my whole life,” she admitted, her voice tinged with emotion. “In my life and in my career, I’m so positive. I build people up. I love to make people feel happy. I know they deserve that, but I really wasn’t doing it for myself for a very long time. I just had to sit with my thoughts and really question: When am I going to believe I’m enough? When am I going to be able to back myself?”
Forging Lifelong Bonds
Now, emerging from this transformative experience, Concetta looks towards the future with immense excitement. This optimism stems not only from the promising career opportunities that lie ahead but also from the deep, enduring friendships she cultivated within the jungle.
“In the jungle, you are trauma bonding. You’re fast-forwarding friendship. You’re spending time together in a way you never would on the outside. It’s not normal, right?” she chuckled. “We were outside 24/7, talking about things you wouldn’t even realise. I know that we are all connected forever and I know that I have true friendships of people that I can call on. I really intend to stay in touch with these people. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to connect with these people I never would’ve connected with in my life in any other way.”
