Eliminated before the posts of “Koh-Lanta”, this candidate cannot digest: “I made a fatal error!”

Cruel end of journey for Jacques! After having defied all predictions to climb into the top 5 of “Koh-Lanta: The Cursed Tribe”, this 38-year-old former Lido dancer was eliminated Tuesday evening at the end of episode 15. During the orientation test, he made a big mistake which prevented him from finding the last dagger. Like Cécile, he will watch Thibault, Ilyesse and Charlotte compete in the legendary pole test. The one that TikTok subscribers know under the nickname Miss Jacqueline tells TF1 about his incredible adventure in the Philippines…

After your elimination, we immediately see your desire to be positive. Isn't there a bit of disappointment anyway?

The moment I lose, I am almost free of a weight. It was getting complicated, I was mentally and physically exhausted. There is a little sadness. But very quickly, I realize that it is a victory to have participated in this adventure and to have gone so far. It's a little different since…

Everything would have been different if you hadn't made a small mistake!

It's terrible because at first, I don't know anything about it. Now, I find the tree remarkable, I find the beacon. And I make a fatal mistake by counting the steps towards the dagger from the remarkable tree, instead of the beacon. Without that, I'm sure I would have climbed the poles and perhaps won. Looking back, it's very hard. How much I blame myself today! In fact, I can't digest this defeat.

Winning the 100,000 euros was still very important for me as an artist.

Jacques

Even today?

Oh yes ! Because I'm still on the verge of participating in the posts. And then winning the 100,000 euros was still very important for me, an artist, who is not rich. I've done plenty of contracts. But even in prestigious places, you don't make a lot of money as a dancer. I told myself that I was finally going to have money to buy a little house! Casually, when you're intermittently in the show business, for all these years, it's complicated. Please note, I am extremely proud of myself and I have grown thanks to this adventure. It's a real joy when I look back on my entire journey. But losing in such a stupid way… I would have preferred not to find anything!

What is certain is that for a candidate who knew nothing about adventure when arriving in the Philippines, you gained confidence…

That's it. When I arrived, I felt that the people were nice and that I fit in quite well. Frédéric, a former winner, chose me first in his team and that gave me incredible strength. I told myself I couldn't disappoint him. And that was the start of a journey strewn with pitfalls. While I am afraid of everything, I am the one who brought back the most cassava, I overcame my phobia of deep waters to go fishing… I contributed to numerous victories in comfort events, I won the legendary star event individually. My end of the journey was extraordinary and I keep a bitter taste in my throat thinking about this fatal error in orientation.

Before leaving the finalists, you have this nice sentence: “I am mannered, I am effeminate… But I am also a warrior”. Do we still have to prove it in 2024?

But of course. This has actually been my struggle on social networks for years where I know I can annoy people. We have the impression that morals have changed and that people are much more open-minded and tolerant. But I can see the reactions when I post a video in heels from home! As for Koh-Lanta, we tend to believe that it's a show for super strong, muscular guys, with testosterone and all that. That a “chochotte” has nothing to do there. Well, a homosexual who dances in heels in Parisian cabarets has made it to the final!

Did the prospect of criticism make you hesitant to participate?

No way ! You know, I've been faced with criticism since I was little. So much so that today, it doesn't make me sad. I am aware that we live in a difficult world, with hateful people. I wasn't afraid of going on screen and the image I was going to project because I am totally in line with who I am. I embrace my femininity, my delirium for heels since I've loved them since I was little. To have fun, to put on a show at home or on stage. I'm not afraid of people and it's important to talk about it because it feels like times have changed… But that's not entirely true.

I'm happy to see that people are touched by what I am

Jacques

Since the launch of the season, you have received a lot of messages on social networks. Tell me about its impact on your daily life…

I was already recognized thanks to my character of Miss Jacqueline which has millions of views on TikTok. But with “Koh-Lanta”, it takes on an even crazier dimension. Sometimes people run after me to tell me that they are fans, that they find me so radiant! (Laughs). They tell me that I do them good and that touches me. I believe I am a beautiful person, I have worked a lot in my life to achieve things. And there, I feel like I have the reward of all these years. It's not always easy when you're an artist. Besides, even there, I happened to “play a role”. I strived to bring joy even when I felt less. And I'm happy to see that people are touched by what I am.

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How do you plan to capitalize on this unique exhibition in the coming months?

I dare to hope that this show will help me to participate in others, that some will see potential actor in me, that I will be able to go through castings. It's a complicated world where there are many called and few chosen. But I know that I have talent, that I have shown something on TV, like I show something on social networks. I'm crossing my fingers. My dancing career is coming to a bit of an end. And I would like to close it, why not, by participating in “Dancing with the Stars”…

But you're too strong for DALS, right?

They tell me that! (Laughs). But there were still plenty of professional dancers like Brahim Zaibat, an international star, Billy Crawford who is both a great singer and a great dancer. Mr. Pokora and Bilal Hassani too. Ballroom dancing is not my style to begin with. And so I would love to participate in it.