Moana Hope trades AFLW for island life in Survivor Australia: Champions vs Contenders on Ten
AS she watched her hard-earned physique shrink rapidly on Survivor Australia: Champions vs Contenders, AFL Women’s star Mo Hope knew she ‘might be in a bit of trouble’.
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AS she watched her hard-earned physique rapidly shrinking, AFLW player Moana Hope questioned the wisdom of signing up for Survivor Australia.
“I was quite literally watching myself get smaller and smaller going, ‘OK, I might be in a bit of trouble when I get out’,” she says.
“Especially with football, I had just signed with North Melbourne. I was super light, I think I lost five kilos in one week.”
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Hope left behind the grind of training and work when she headed for the South Pacific island of Sabu Sabu earlier this year.
Her game plan — something all Survivors must have — was to be herself.
“I grew up with lots of brothers and sisters. I know how to be a little s---. I know how to set people up. So my game plan was to be true to myself and make friends pretty quick.
“I guess my only other plan as soon as I got to the island I became friends with a big muscly man … personally I’m scared of spiders, snakes and sharks. I’m scared of the dark. I’m quite petrified. So if I came across any of those things I could get it sorted for me.”
Hope bonded with rugby league and union legend Mat Rogers, who she says, “became like a brother”.
“There was no one I didn’t like. I wasn’t there to judge them either. I think if I had to say someone was a little bit different, and I had to adapt to their personality, that would be Shane Gould, the swimmer. I call myself a unicorn because I’m different.
“Shane was like a unicorn of a unicorn. It’s going to be very entertaining for everyone to see. Pretty funny.”
While she says she embraced the mental challenge Survivor presents, the hardest part for Hope was leaving behind her family, with whom she is very close.
“They call me their rock. I take care of my disabled sister, Vinny. Leaving Vinny was bloody hard. She didn’t understand. She knew I was leaving, but when I got to the airport she just broke. It was really hard to hear and know that she was super-sad.
“I can tell you stories for days. I’m currently nursing my brother who nearly passed away last week, he’s only got one heart valve left. He’s on a waiting list for a heart transplant. I’ve got 65 people who work for me, I take care of my family. To say I’ve got a little bit of responsibility would be an understatement.
“That’s family, and I’d do anything for them. And I’ll continue to do anything for them.”
SURVIVOR AUSTRALIA: CHAMPIONS VS CONTENDERS, TEN, THURSDAY 7.30PM, THEN MONDAYS-TUESDAYS FROM NEXT WEEK
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