The jungle camp used to be a refuge for actors, singers and athletes who had long since reached the peak of their careers. But that has now changed. Today it is often the door opener for unknown reality stars.
When the RTL jungle camp first went on air 20 years ago, the participants were known from television. Instagram, YouTube or TikTok? It didn’t exist back then. Regardless of whether they were actors, singers or professional athletes – the faces were simply familiar to an audience of millions. Even if a large part is in the star-Section “What actually does”? belonged.
A Werner Böhm, who took part in the first edition of “I’m a Star, Get Me Out of Here” in 2004, had not released an album for more than six years and had filed for personal bankruptcy. His greatest successes (“Polonäse Blankenese”) were long behind him. His capital? Long wasted.
Bata Ilic had also long since passed the peak of his career when he took part in the third season in 2008. At the age of 68, he was the camp’s oldest at the time and his biggest hit “Michaela” was 36 years ago.
Many hoped for a comeback in the jungle
The episodes of “Derrick” and “Der Alte” with Günther Kaufmann only ran in repeats when he took part in the fourth season in 2009. The actor had also previously spent almost three years in prison because of a false confession.
Many other candidates, such as actress Ingrid van Bergen, actor Helmut Berger, Bohlen’s ex Nadja Abd el Farrag, presenter Peter Bond, ex-Playmate Gitta Saxx or the former letter fairy Maren Gilzer, had already seen the best of their careers by the time they took part itself.
Although many did not want to admit their money worries, spoke of a “challenge” or an opportunity to push “your own limits” and “face your fears” – secretly, of course, many also had the faint hope that their two-week long-term presence would help them get the best broadcasting time to finally be able to build on old successes again – which some people managed to do.
Jungle camp: A career start for many no-names
But over the years the image of the jungle camp has changed. For many, the show no longer means the end of their career, but rather just the beginning. Because more and more so-called no-names are mingling with the well-known TV faces.
With the then 26-year-old Julian F. Stoeckel, a largely unknown participant entered season 8 for the first time. For Stoeckel, who was then ironically referred to as a “viewer candidate,” this was the starting signal for a TV career. The request to participate more than surprised him, as he once revealed on the “web talk show”. His reaction at the time: “That can’t be right, nobody knows me.” He himself says that the jungle boosted his career. “Without the jungle camp, I would probably be a saleswoman at Rewe or something like that today, sorting shampoo bottles.” In addition, it will probably always be the “craziest experience” for him, as “no format is as big, as famous and as popular as Jungle Camp.”
The model Larissa Marolt, who received a number of television offers after taking part in the same season, later made similar comments. In an interview she once made it clear: “Some TV entertainment shows that I have taken part in have a reach that no film has. This opens up new target groups.” She is now predominantly an actress and was part of the ensemble of the Karl May Games in Bad Segeberg in 2019.
“People like you and me, who no one knows anymore, compete against each other
The jungle also gave Patricia Blanco, who took part in the 9th season in 2015, media coverage. Pop singer Roberto Blanco’s daughter has been working across trash formats ever since, most recently making headlines for her turbulent love affair with entertainer Andreas Ellermann.
In season 12 they moved with Jenny Frankhauser, Kattia Vides (“Bachelor”), Giuliana Farfalla (GNTM), actress Sandra Steffi and David Friedrich (“Bachelorette”) invited several unknown participants. “People like you and me, who no one knows anymore, compete against each other,” said media scientist Franco Rota at the time, describing the 2018 edition in which Jenny Frankhauser took the crown. She was only 25 at the time and until then had been in the shadow of her well-known half-sister Daniela Katzenberger. Just like with Stoeckel, the crown gave her more TV presence and even her own show (“Jenny & Steffen in Babyhappiness”).
Jungle camp 2024, day 12
Tear alarm in the jungle: two farewells and letters from home cause emotions
In the meantime, more and more influencers are finding their way into the camp, who were previously better known in the internet scene due to their participation in various trash formats, such as Elena Miras, Marco Cerullo, Filip Pavloci, Manuel Flickinger, Linda Nobat, Tara Tabitha, Luigi “Gigi” Birofio and Cosimo Citiolo.
“We make sure that the stars are interesting and have a story to tell,” revealed RTL entertainment director Markus Küttner before the start of this year’s season. “Past seasons have often shown that supposedly lesser-known campers can become audience favorites.”
In the current season alone, there are five reality stars, Mike Heiter, Kim Virginia Hartung, Fabio Kenz, Leyla Lahouar and Twenty4tim, who are still at the beginning of their TV careers.
“Reality format, these are sometimes the biggest weirdos”
The fact that some of these “no-names” have already made a name for themselves through their presence on social media and are making money from it is something that “old hands” in the camp often don’t want to accept. Then there is a hail of biting comments. In episode two of the current season, actor Heinz Hoenig made disparaging comments about his fellow campers: “Reality format, they are sometimes the biggest weirdos, I would say.”
Janina Youseffian, who became known as Dieter Bohlen’s “carpet slut”, felt the same way and took on reality star Linda Nobat (“Bachelor”) in season 15. When it got loud during an argument over food preparation, Youseffian complained to fashion designer Harald Glööckler: “I have to be paid extra for that, girl, to listen to your screaming. I mean, we’re the divas here.”
Glööckler later made it clear that he and actor Eric Stehfest were gossiping about his fellow campers, who were known from reality TV, around the campfire. “I don’t know how people like that can be put together with us here. Real stars and then these social media people,” he ranted. “People don’t just want something for the looks, they also want a little something for the spirit,” he said of the jungle viewers. After all, he is an icon.
Filip Pavlović couldn’t care less. The 27-year-old took the crown, while Glööckler only managed fourth place. This was followed by various TV appearances for Pavlovic as well as a guest role in the RTL series “Everything that counts”.
Watch the video: Leyla just can’t help it: The 27-year-old offers her reality star colleague Mike a massage. He can’t stop raving about it. Kim Virginia obviously doesn’t like this sight at all.
Transparency note: The star is part of RTL Germany.