Hollie by no means tried taking centre stage (Image: ITV)
On Friday evening, Hollie Arnold MBE grew to become the primary contestant to be evicted from this year’s I’m a Celeb… camp.
Although – technically talking – this leaves her in final place, I wish to state the case for why she’s a real winner.
On the planet of actuality tv, being first to go away could also be thought of a failing – however not for Hollie.
I can see why she was evicted: she simply didn’t vomit, scream, argue, cry, fart or moan sufficient to take up numerous display time.
The viewing public love a drama queen and Holly is the antithesis of theatrical.
British viewers additionally love an underdog story. Like Romans on the Amphitheatre, we enjoy watching the contestant with the bottom probability of survival claw their solution to victory. The general public wish to watch campmates transition from cowardice to braveness as a result of it makes us really feel like we had been by some means a part of their journey.
However Hollie was brave all along, and he or she’s already accomplished her underdog story.
On the age of 14, Hollie Arnold was the youngest ever subject athlete to compete within the Paralympic or Olympic video games, which she did in 2008. She went on to win gold in Rio 2016, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Video games and the World Championships.
Hollie doesn’t match the stereotype of the ‘terrified girl’ we see annually on the present. The woman who screams essentially the most within the first few days is often assured a spot within the ultimate… supplied she conquers mentioned worry by the subsequent trial, that’s. Scream an excessive amount of and we’ll assume you’re milking it (we’re fickle like that).
Arnold confirmed nothing however sheer willpower with each impediment she’s confronted within the fortress, which could not achieve viewing figures, however it earned my respect.
Holly by no means tried taking centre stage. No showbiz tales, no romantic dalliances with princes or dance routines to show to the group. Holly flew the flag for the introverts amongst us. The quiet sorts who preserve their head down, muck in and get on with it.
One in every of Hollie’s most memorable moments was when she first launched herself to the campmates as ‘Hollie Arnold…MBE’. The Twitterati had been fast to mock her for utilizing her full title, but I wager none of them have letters after their title.
What’s society’s situation with assured younger ladies who’re pleased with their accolades? Even in Strictly this yr we’ve seen Maisie Smith – a gifted, succesful and assured girl – find yourself within the backside two for the previous two weeks, regardless of being arguably top-of-the-line dancers.
Can we anticipate ladies to be humble about their achievements? If I had been bestowed the honour of an MBE I’d battle to not shout it from the rooftops.
Hollie says that when she launched herself in full, she was doing so as a result of her mum has at all times informed her to be pleased with her title.
I by no means assumed she was boasting, I figured she was in all probability doing her different campmates a favour by going some size to clarify why she had a spot on the present.
The second she launched herself, I fell in love together with her, as a result of I’ve been there.
There’s nothing worse than coming into a room full of individuals whose faces you recognise whenever you’re scared they gained’t have a clue who you might be.
At actually any social occasion I’ve ever attended, I’ll introduce myself not solely by title, however with my relationship to the individual whose celebration it’s, and reminder of the time we now have beforehand met.
‘Hello I’m Nicola – Tom’s girlfriend, I used to stay with Sarah within the flat above Superdrug. We met at Lisa’s hen do in Amsterdam at that bar on the nook with the bizarre taxidermy and the house desserts’.
I do it out of sheer nervousness. Getting half-way via a dialog with somebody then realising you’ve met them earlier than – however can’t keep in mind when – seems like a gradual dying. As does – I think about – having to ask a star campmate fairly why they’re a star.
I wouldn’t bestow it on my biggest enemy, so I am going above and past to keep away from any awkwardness (even when it means I sound like an obsessive fangirl).
I recognise a bit little bit of myself in Hollie, and it’s a part of the explanation she stood out to me from the off.
There’s little question the opposite celebrities within the fortress have been nice, and we’ve seen vulnerability in most of the campmates this yr.
Jessica confirmed us her emotional aspect when she spoke of missing her daughter, Ruthie defined how she struggled to drop her ‘powerful cookie’ façade and Jordan confirmed his bodily vulnerability by spewing on the edge of a cliff face.
The campmates are – gasp – human in spite of everything.
However when Hollie left the camp and confirmed her disappointment at being first to go away, it was refreshing to see her present her true emotions, as a substitute of placing on a courageous face. She was visibly gutted, however I needed to inform her that she needn’t be.
She didn’t have the benefit of a giant voter fanbase like Eastenders, Corrie or shoppers of Quorn mince to hold her via the present, so it’s no marvel she was early to go away.
However life isn’t a reputation contest, it’s about having integrity and getting caught in – qualities that Hollie has in abundance.
Earlier than she flew into Abergele on a helicopter, I didn’t know her title. However she left as my Queen of the Fort.
Hollie Arnold MBE, I Stan you.
