Gaby Solomona vows she won't get 'lost in the game' of Celebrity Treasure Island

Pacific celebrities are among 18 contestants competing to be the ultimate survivor in a new series of the New Zealand TV show, Celebrity Treasure Island (CTI).

They will go up against each other in challenges that will test physical ability, cultural knowledge, and strategy to win.

There are household names, even faces you will recognise, and athletes including those retired, announced last week for the upcoming popular series.

The 15th season of the reality TV show is set to up the ante on its diverse list of competitors with its biggest round of Pacific line up yet.

This year’s Pacific celebs include comedian Bubbah aka Tina from Turners, actor JP Foliaki (Red, White and Brass), and Labour Party Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni.

An added surprise is dancer Lance Savali, who was a previous competitor, returns to the show as a co-host.
We chatted with one half of NiuFM’s The Morning Shack duo, Gaby Solomona, about being among those vying for the top spot and the $100,000 prize money for her charity, Taime Pasifika Cancer Support.

1. What made you say "yes" to being on Celebrity Treasure Island?

As soon as I got the call from my agent I jumped at the opportunity. I was quite aware of CTI’s platform and it being on mainstream TV, being on a show like that and what that does for our people. The biggest drive, however, was definitely being able to choose a charity to play and win money for. What an opportunity, and I’m so grateful to CTI and Warner Brothers to have been part of a show like this ‘cause I was able to bring so much more awareness to my charity - Taime Pasifika.

2. Going in, how did you prepare and do you think being on Know Your Roots helped?

Being on Know Your Roots (twice lol) defs helped. I had an idea of what to expect, but I was also very aware how much of a bigger scale and platform being on a show like CTI would be. I was very intentional about what I wanted to do. I’ve been about brown girls off TV and I was not going to waste this opportunity on mainstream TV.

So while mentally and physically preparing myself to starve lol, I told myself every morning leading up I was going to win the $100,000 for my charity. Self-talk is so important for us because as Pacific people, especially us girls, we're too used to the negative and imposter self-talk. Anyway, I could have prepared a lot better now thinking about it, but it is what it is and it’s an experience I’ll never forget.

3. What a lineup of Pasifika for this season, from all sorts of sectors too, what were the dynamics like?

Fun! The banter amongst us is what kept the team morale and our spirits up when times got tough - and let me tell you it was tough. Also, it was crack up playing games and you know us as polys we are competitive as heck. So it was lots of family fun vibes but also determination to win with no mercy lol. But overall dynamics were family vibes with us, and it made the show so much more fun to be a part of.

JP Foliaki. Photo/TVNZ

4. All around it's quite a stacked cast this year, who were you most excited to see/work with?

OMG, can I firstly mention that they do not tell us anything prior to filming so when I turned up to our pickup spot and I’m looking around at my team - Carmel, Wairangi, Duncan, James Rolleston, etc - I was literally hit with the imposter syndrome, like, what the heck am I doing here amongst actual celebrities?

But for me it was ex-Silver Fern captain Casey Kopua. I grew up watching her play, she is an icon and I got to be in the same team as her. That pretty much makes me a Silver Fern too.

5. Tell us about the charity you're backing, Taime Pasifika Cancer Support and why is their work important to you?

I was very intentional going into CTI that as a young Pasifika woman I wanted to represent a charity that helps Pasifika women. I didn’t know any at the time and I spent some time asking around and praying on this. My friend, Idalene, has been quite public on social media with her journey with endometriosis, which is cancer in the ovaries. At the time she was fundraising money to raise awareness for the disease, so I reached out to her and she informed me about Taime Pasifika.

I knew instantly this was the charity I was going to represent, and such a divine alignment because my three aunties that helped raise my siblings and I - Aunty Sally, Aunty Linda, and Aunty Va - all passed away from breast cancer. It’s a bit of a full circle moment especially knowing first-hand how much cancer impacts the whole family.

Shout out to Taime and the work Liz (founder) and her husband do for providing support, workshops, and services to our Pasifika individuals with cancer and their families in a Pasifika way.

6. Being a long-time fan of CTI, what were your expectations versus reality?

I definitely expected CTI to be hard. I did Know Your Roots with Coconet TV, so I had an idea of what it might be like but on a whole other level. I tried really hard, practising, starving myself in the days leading up knowing we weren’t going to be eating lots, but that lasted a few hours.

The game is quite intense, being away from home on a deserted island, no phones, no technology and all the civilised things, on top of that being with strangers. Those strangers though quickly became family. I guess I didn’t expect it to be as intense as it was. So when you see me with my natural Sāmoan hair and you hear me get a bit too competitive, forgive me and just blame it on my hangriness please.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Photo/TVNZ

7. There seems to be a lot of excitement building for this season, why do you think that is?

The cast. Look at this season, one word - stacked! I definitely felt like an imposter being amongst this group of actual celebrities, but what a diverse bunch. I never ever thought I’d see a politician on a show like this so to have someone like Carmel who is also a Pasifika woman on CTI is huge. Then you have some of NZ's biggest iconic sports stars, and the infomercial queen herself, queen Suzanne Paul.

8. What was the biggest lesson you learned from this experience?

So many lol. It’s so easy in our industry to get lost in the game, the game of TV and the game of CTI. I was very lucky to be in the same team as people like Carmel and Wairangi who are so grounded in their identities as Māori and Pasifika.

Because I’ve watched the show over the years, I am familiar with the nature of the game. Being around my team they really exemplified and showed me a new way of being in these environments while playing this game. That was huge for me seeing them play and influence the game in a different way than what CTI fans are used to - which hopefully is what you’ll see this season.

Bubbah. Photo/TVNZ

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Who was the loudest? Spanky - absolute life of the show and party!

Who was a faitatala? Duncan hahaha

Who was the funniest? Millen!

Who was the botz? Haha no comment you’ll see lmao

Who didn't do feaus? Hmmmmmm you’ll see lol

Who surprised you the most? James Rolleston, if you know his story, to see him do CTI years later is so inspiring

Celebrity Treasure Island premieres on Monday, 9 September on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.