How Geelong reality TV star Shannon Slade hopes to win $1m

A Geelong communications assistant who hates camping went out of her comfort zone to try to win $1m.

Million Dollar Island contestant Shannon Slade from Geelong. Picture: Brad Fleet

When Shannon Slade was dropped on a remote island with 99 other people, she didn’t know how she would survive.

The 26-year-old Geelong-based communications advisor didn’t even like camping, had never been backpacking and had “no survival skills”.

But the potential of winning $1m was enough to encourage her to sign up for Channel 7s newest reality show – Million Dollar Island.

Geelong resident Shannon Slade in Channel 7 reality TV show Million Dollar Island. Picture: Channel 7

The show, due to premiere on June 12, will see contestants live in harsh conditions as they try to form alliances and win challenges.

Ms Slade said she was quickly forced to learn how to build a fire and find food, including by catching fish in the ocean.

“We are not living it up like in (reality show) Love Island,” she said.

“It was full on survival – we were sleeping on the ground with scorpions. I woke up to a spider on my face.

“We had to create shelter ourselves and that is chaotic.”

Ms Slade described the experience as “definitely not glamorous”, but said she formed strong bonds and friendships with other contestants.

Million Dollar Island is hosted by Ant Middleton and airs on Monday at 7pm.

Originally published as How Geelong reality TV star Shannon Slade hopes to win $1m