While “Koh-Lanta: The Legend” is in full swing on TF1, aufeminin received Clémence Castel. His coming-out, his partner Marie, his journey towards more serenity … She tells.
If each season of “Koh-Lanta” brings its share of novelties (trials of hell, necklaces always better hidden, cassava or taro), the All Star 2021 version relies on nostalgia, with a cast made up of legends of the game. Cult adventurers, who left their mark on the program thanks to their personality, their sense of strategy and their athletic performance.
Among them, Clémence Castel, passed four times by “Koh-Lanta”, doubly victorious of the show and candidate appreciated by the public. So many exploits that make her one of the favorites of this edition, but also our guest, for a day as editor-in-chief of aufeminin. On this occasion, she confided with the naturalness and sincerity that characterize her, during an interview focused on the major changes in her life: her new participation in “Koh-Lanta”, of course, but also, her couple with a woman. A life course that offers her, at the age of 37, a form of appeasement, which she wishes to share with as many people as possible.
What has changed for you on “Koh-Lanta: La Légende” compared to your three previous editions?
I was more discreet about my previous “Koh-Lanta”. As candidates, we necessarily think about what we do, what we say. Besides, it was part of my strategy. If I fully accept my choices at the time, this time, I wanted to do a “Koh-Lanta” where I was 100% myself, even if it means saying more what I was thinking and take more risks.
Why this change? Is it related to your lesbian coming-out?
“Koh-Lanta” is a disguised psychoanalysis. We take stock of our life, what we want, what we no longer want … It is not trivial that my change of life took place in the wake of my third “Koh-Lanta”, in 2018. I am now in a new phase of my life and I wanted to lead my adventure like this: in harmony with myself.
How did you go?
Being a lesbian had been in me from the start, but I didn’t dare admit it to myself. However, I evolved in a sports environment, where there were lesbians. I was totally OK with it, but I couldn’t project myself … So I put that under the rug. Subsequently, since I was in a relationship with a man and had two children with him, I was supposed to be straight. It was one more barrier to cross. And then I met Marie.
Was your coming out a difficult stage?
My relatives have had different ways of reacting. Most were happy for me and for others it was a bit more complicated. But my decision was not negotiable. Yes, before talking to Marie about my feelings and knowing that they were reciprocal, I could have sleepless nights, but after that, there was no longer any doubt: people accepted or not, I knew. However, I found it important to give everyone time. Today, everything is going well, whether it is with my two sons or the rest of my family, my grandparents receive all four of us with Marie… It reassures me: my great fear was that my relatives would suffer.
It’s crazy how the brain can destroy a whole part of your identity, like a veil.
Why did you decide to speak publicly about this change in your private life?
With “Koh-Lanta”, we become known. I didn’t want the information to come out without my knowledge, I wanted to master my own narrative. I also wanted to show that it can go well. It’s a happy coming-out story, everything is going well for me, for my children… The more we hear like that, the more it will become commonplace. 99% of the public’s reactions were positive.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the rights of LGBTQI + people: at the time of marriage for all, of assisted reproduction for lesbians… Did you pay attention to it?
Not at all. Of course, I had my opinion, I was pro-gay marriage because for me, love has always been something universal. But I didn’t feel concerned. I remember my first “Koh-Lanta” casting. I was barely 19 years old. The casting director asked me: “Clémence, do you like women?” I felt immense embarrassment without knowing why. I was outraged, I answered very strongly … It’s crazy how the brain can annihilate a whole part of your identity, like a veil.
Read also : Hair removal, oral hygiene, rules… Clémence Castel lifts the veil on Koh-Lanta
What advice would you give to those who follow your path?
To listen to their little inner voice and not to hesitate. If we don’t listen to it, we can’t be fully happy. It works professionally, emotionally, vis-à-vis children… As women, we are used to paying close attention to the people around us and that has an influence on our choices. We tell ourselves “I can’t afford this … ”, where guys may have fewer questions. Today, I am fully happy, liberated, because I take responsibility for my choices and who I am. By doing that, we are no longer afraid of much.
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