Watching a challenge unfold on television and actually being the person expected to complete it are two very different experiences. Nadia Nakai knows that better than most after her journey on “Tropika Island of Treasure” came to an end on Réunion Island.
The rapper, who competed alongside her Smoooth Fan partner Andile Khuluse as Team Green Apple, has reflected on the demanding challenges, emotional moments and unexpected lessons that came with being part of the competition.
Despite surviving several elimination battles throughout the season, Nadia and Andile’s journey came to an end following a major shake-up that saw previously eliminated contestants return to the competition. Their exit also coincided with the arrival of a new Team Orange, made up of Caster Semenya and Ashay Sewlall.
Looking back, Nadia admits she underestimated just how difficult the competition would be.
“You watch the games and think they look so simple, but when you’re under pressure and trying to win a challenge, it becomes quite daunting,” she said.
The experience tested more than her physical abilities. It also challenged her emotionally, particularly as she repeatedly found herself fighting to remain in the competition.
Being up for elimination three times took its toll, even though she and Andile managed to survive those rounds.
“It was defeating to keep having a Safe Token and then lose it, and it was also disheartening to constantly find ourselves in the elimination rounds,” she reflected.
While surviving each elimination gave the pair a reason to keep pushing, Nadia admitted that the repeated uncertainty affected her confidence.
“It does take a knock on your self-esteem and confidence,” she said.
One of the biggest lessons she took away from the experience was learning to manage her emotions, particularly when the pressure became overwhelming.
Nadia has always considered herself competitive, but she discovered that competition can bring out a more vulnerable side of her.
In the music industry, she explained, her competitive nature usually motivates her and gives her the determination to succeed. On the island, however, the experience was much more emotional.
“You really don’t want to let your partner down, you want to perform well and you want to look good while doing the challenges,” she said.
She also found that the competition brought back unexpected feelings from her school years.
Nadia said some of the social dynamics reminded her of high school, when she did not necessarily feel like the popular girl. It was something she had not anticipated revisiting while taking part in a television competition.
Through those difficult moments, Andile became an important source of encouragement.
She credited her partner with helping her regain focus whenever she felt like giving up, describing him as an incredible motivator who consistently encouraged her to keep going.
The pair also brought different strengths to their teamwork. Nadia took on more of the strategic planning during challenges, while Andile helped her maintain the determination to see tasks through.
“He gave me the tenacity to keep going and focus on completing the goal,” she said.
Not every moment on the island was defined by pressure and elimination battles. Nadia also had opportunities to discover what she was capable of, particularly during the puzzle challenge, where she and Andile finished first.
It was one of the moments that left her feeling particularly proud of their performance.
The water challenge, which required contestants to swim underwater to collect balls before returning to the surface and placing them into a hoop, proved to be one of her toughest experiences.
Away from the competition, Nadia was equally taken with Réunion Island. She described it as a beautiful destination, drawing comparisons to Cape Town because of its beaches, food and scenery.
She was also surprised to discover how close the island is to South Africa and enjoyed learning more about its French connections.
Although her time on the island did not end with the R1 million grand prize, Nadia leaves the competition with a clearer understanding of her strengths, vulnerabilities and the importance of having someone in her corner when things become difficult.
For her, the biggest takeaway was not simply about being competitive, but understanding how to manage the emotions that come with wanting to win – IOL
