There were 24 on the starting line of . Now they have qualified for the legendary pole event. At the end of the orienteering race, it was Jacques and Cécile who were eliminated. The latter talks about her journey with Purepeople. The opportunity to talk about his biggest difficulty in the adventure, namely facing his failures during the tests. At the same time, Cécile responds to criticism.
Why did you choose to head towards the white tree area and not another?
Before this test, I had decided to choose the first image that would catch my eye. I told myself that I would scan the images and without thinking choose the one that spoke to me the most. This is what I did by choosing the white tree.
It happens that some adventurers tell each other in advance not to encroach on the other’s zone, as an agreement… Was that the case here?
As far as I’m concerned, not at all. Everything happened naturally during the test.
You, like Jacques, seem lost in the research. What happened?
We arrive at the orientation test after 40 days of adventure without eating, with our battery dead, we lack lucidity, we no longer have our eyes in front of the holes. There are also a lot of doubts, especially about things that are in fact obvious. I think it took a very long time for these reasons. At one point, I even doubted the direction to take, I hesitated to return to the table. I had a moment of uncertainty, of confusion. Then afterwards, I regained confidence. At the time, I had such doubts that I wanted to go back but in fact I would have lost precious time. I didn’t really know what to do anymore. I saw Jacques coming back and I pulled myself together.
How did you feel when Charlotte found the last dagger?
Oddly, my very first feeling was joy at seeing her win. It’s weird because normally you first feel disappointment. For my part, not at all. She deserves it, she had a great journey. Then a split second later I realized that I no longer had any chance of going to the poles. I have lost my orientation, everything stops for me and I realize that it is the end. I didn’t have any anger or frustration today. I am at peace, I gave everything. I had plenty of time to get there in more than four hours of research. Charlotte was better than us: arriving later, she was ahead of us. So that means she deserved it. You have to accept losing in a game, I don’t see it badly.
Before the test, you say on the camp to be “proud to be there” but not necessarily proud of yourself. Why?
That’s something I don’t say. It’s not a feeling that I have towards myself, both in adventure and in my everyday life. But I was proud to have arrived this far because I know how many pitfalls the journey is strewn with until this famous orientation.
On social networks, some believe that you have no place at the end of this adventure. What do you have to say to them?
I tell them to take my place (laughs)! The people who talk on social networks are comfortably seated with their butts warm on the sofa, in front of the TV with a pot of popcorn on their knees. It’s super easy to judge when you don’t experience things. I let them talk, there will always be people like that. Some encourage you, others criticize you. When you take part in such an adventure, you know that you are going to be at the front of the stage, you have to prepare for it. I told myself that I was going to live my adventure without worrying about what people were going to say or think. Because I knew that people would criticize each of my choices. You can’t please everyone.
You were a member of the red team before reunification and then you became closer over the episodes to the ex-yellows while the colors were still very present. How do you explain it?
It’s a question of affinities. As soon as reunification, I met the yellows. With some, we found strong bonds that lasted throughout the adventure. In my head, there was no more color. I decided to operate on affinity, not caring who was yellow or red. I moved forward based on feeling with the people I wanted to move forward with.
During the episode where , you were three ex-reds. Cassandre and Ugo each wanted to preserve an ex-yellow and you cited three people (Sophia, Charlotte, Jacques). Why not make a concession at that time?
It was out of the question for me to vote against Jacques, Charlotte or Sophia. I just said that. And I let it slide. Suddenly, another name came out and therefore mission accomplished for me!
What was the hardest thing for you on the island?
The hardest part was seeing that I couldn’t win individually in terms of events. There was always something that made things go wrong. And at that moment, I didn’t recognize myself. In everyday life, I am much stronger than that. The Cécile I know was not there. At the time, I had no explanation but it was difficult to deal with.
Today, looking back, have you found this explanation?
Yes, looking back, I’m starting to have answers. The fact that the reds wanted to send me into a duel in the first part of the adventure made me lose confidence in myself. I felt like I was being put in the box of someone weak. I had difficulty getting out of this box in which I had been locked. It’s not a box I find myself in in everyday life.
How many pounds have you lost?
I lost between 8 and 10 kilos.
Have you taken them back since?
Oh that’s not said (laughs)! It’s nobody’s business.
Among the three finalists, who do you want to see win and why?
All three deserve. I don’t want to see one win more than another. Because, if they got this far, it’s clearly not for nothing. They are extraordinary. I admire each of their journeys. They all have the abilities to win the poles and the adventure. Whoever it is, I take my hat off to all three of them. May the best simply win!
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