They applied three times
Mattéo is 22 years old and is an independent ironworker. “I love combat sports, motor sports, football… I also love music, with a preference for French rap.” As for Esmeralda, she is 23 years old and she runs a clothing store. His passions? “Dancing, fashion, reading and putting on makeup!”
The duo applied for the first time to Beijing Express in 2021, to participate in season 15 (won by Belgian brothers Nicolas and Lucas). “We applied three times before being accepted,” explains Mattéo.
The reason is not to be found in an overwhelming passion for the adventure game – both Esmeralda and Mattéo claim to have never seen a complete season – but rather in the desire to surpass themselves together. “We have always been very close, says Esmeralda. Mattéo and I are both very different but also very complementary. He’s hyper-sporty and I’m not at all. On the other hand, I still have mentality… I couldn’t see myself doing that with my sister or my dad.”
Esmeralda also wanted to set herself a real challenge: “I wanted to prove that just because you like to look good doesn’t mean you can’t hitchhike on the side of the road. And then there’s also the fact that I lost my mom. two years ago… She came with us during the second casting in Paris so I really wanted to be selected for her, in order to put all my rage into this adventure. “
With… its extensions!
On the official page of Beijing Express on Facebook, we can already see some videos of the start of the adventure in Tanzania, at the foot of Kilimanjaro. “I had seen at the airport that it was marked Kilimanjaro, but I had no idea where it was, admits Mattéo. It was a real surprise. Esmeralda and I had never left Europe. The first thing that shocked me was the landscape: it completely changes Grace-Hollogne!”
If Mattéo was especially afraid of going towards people, Esmeralda was afraid of the lack of comfort. “And like Mattéo, I was afraid of not being able to bear missing my family. I was also afraid of getting angry quickly, but I was calmer than I thought.” “We often argue, but it gets sorted out pretty quickly,” completes Mattéo. “In Beijing Express, “We had better get along, otherwise we’re heading towards defeat.” added Esmeralda.
-As always, the adventure starts off with a bang, as soon as you get off the plane. The candidates will have to set off on a 4 km trek with their suitcase (in which they will have to manage to add an air mattress) before finding their famous red backpack and crossing a lake… “We had prepared: we had put all our belongings in separate plastic bags, but production was smarter than us and spread everything on the ground,” explains Mattéo.
And that’s when we discover that Esmeralda took her hair extensions! Without doubt a first for Beijing Express. “I don’t know what to tell you… Yes, I took my extensions from Beijing Express… But I didn’t think the contents of my suitcase were going to be lying on the ground for everyone to see. At least we understand directly who I am!” she laughs.
RTL club, 20.05
Ludo and Samuel Daxhelet will challenge Ryad and Louison
For this 20th season, the production of Beijing Express decided to reintroduce the mystery passenger. From the 2nd episode, celebrities will also join the game and will have the destiny of a pair in their hands. Élodie Gossuin, Glenn Viel (who does not speak a word of English), Bruno Solo, Norbert Tarayre or even Yoann Riou will have, for example, to hitchhike, look for accommodation or participate in the tests in place of the candidates, or even final duel. “Some cried, broke down… and we will be entitled to well-felt insults!” Stéphane Rotenberg clarified during the press conference held in mid-December in Paris.
Fans will be delighted to learn that the broadcast will be followed by Beijing Express: who can beat Ryad and Louison?iconic duo of season 18 (In the footsteps of the golden tiger), record holder for the number of victories in final duels. They will face other notable candidates from the show, such as Ludovic and Samuel Daxhelet but also Thomas and Mathieu, the lumberjack brothers, or even Romain and Laura, winners of season 18 and Étienne and Vanessa, unknown pairs of the season 15.
