Lezel

Written by charmed_dude from the blog Tribal Talk Party on 23 Nov 2006
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Lezel:

Update:
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Lezel by some she may have been thought as a bitch on the show, heck she even jokes with me that her herself thinks she was kind of bitchy as well but she reinstates, she was there for the money, not to make friends but for the Million Rand! Lezel was the most open, friendliest and intriguing of the Survivors, very different to herself on the show, Lezel revealed a self of her tonight I and many other fans enjoyed!

Lezel was the first Survivor I approached, nervously, and greeted her. She smiled friendly and agreed to taking a quick impromptu pic which didn’t come out all that great. I was nervous about meeting Lezel for some reason at first.

It wasn’t until a bit later that evening that I saw the true and Lezel I loved and enjoyed. Lezel and I with another fan of hers sat on the table and talked about everything, from her view on Survivor to actually being on Survivor to the music that was playing in the club! Whilst Gareth and Brigitte joined the public of the club and bravely exited the VIP section, Lezel remained and proved to be great company!

Lezel discussed everything about the show so thoroughly and even gave some hints into Sundays Big 2 Hour Finale. She stated that the first hour would have lots of twists and surprises and that I should keep and watchful eye out and would enjoy it. Lezel said 6pm – 7pm will be a Live Reunion show in the studios, keeping with the American Version of Survivor. Lezel is a self confessed Survivor fan when I asked had she watched the show prior to joining the castaways she insisted so and still does. Lezel even goes on to watching Survivor Panama: Exile Island (Tues 7:30pm SABC3) and quotes, “Exile island is essentially dead man’s island and although I wasn’t there for long, I still experienced it, and then on the American version [Survivor Panama: Exile Island] I see them playing cricket, relaxed and doing their own thing and I’m like what the hell! You’re supposed to be planning and strategising!” She admits to being able to relate to Survivor: Panama and the previous Survivors however admits that the American version is melo-dramatic opposed to the South African version which was more ‘Real’. When I asked her does she watch the show or prefer to keep the mental version in her head, she admits to watching the show and continuously exclaims how very different it was to what they experienced! Lezel lets loose that the producers edit the show to make it look more dramatic than it really is and leave out chunks of stuff—as opposed to what they did with Big Brother a 24 hour show she contrast’s it to. She says there were moments that they castaways bonded and talked and relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company which was removed from the show. The one-on-one interviews with the camera were lengthy however in the show edited to a mere few minutes. Lezel also goes onto to saying that the TV Version opposed to her version of ‘living Survivor’ is very different as it’s edited to be more fast paced, dramatic and memorable. There were parts of Survivor the viewer could not possible apprehend and understand with, and only could be truly seen only through experience.

Our conversations grew over the night as she mingled with people but kept getting back to what she thought of the show, what she did and all her Survivor gore and stories. Like Gareth, Lezel was very opened and didn’t restrict herself because of unfamiliarity, it was indeed because of her openness that a great mutual understand and great conversation emerged! We chatted like old friends like we knew each other for a while. We spoke about her loving for music, yoga, her modelling, her views on Survivor and even her mother in the recent ‘Webcam Conversation’ reward challenge. I even managed to finally ask Lezel why in Gods name did she hug Jacinda when she got voted off, while it was clear everyone voted her off, including Jacinda. Lezel continued that she did that because the friendship was strong and that it wasn’t then important.

When asked what was went through mind when her torch when off, she said, “That I’m finally free, I can relax and go have a good bath and eat!” She giggled. I had always been curious about what happens when they depart tribal council. In Lezel’s case they are taken to the hotel on the island where they remain. This is done because Lezel would be a member of the jury. I always knew about this so called Survivor Hotel and jokingly asked was it 5 Star? She laughed and commented it was like heaven.

Besides being voted off, I asked Lezel what was her worse experience on the show. For her it was her Spider bite when she got bitten and they had to cut it out and basically she had this whole there. I just nodded and tried to remember, “was that from an episode?!” and thought, “it must have been an episode I missed!” but I smiled like I knew what she was saying. The visual provided was horrific tho! Of her favourites was the Skull Challenge in earlier episodes, again I must have missed this one, where they had to put skulls together!

I went on to questioning Lezel about the reward challenge, specifically the Web cam one where they saw their loved one through a web cam conversation (proudly sponsored by: iburts- instant, fast, wireless internet [see the product placement. lol]) Anyways I question how emotional was the whole experience being the fact that essentially you’ll had only been on the island for 25 days apprx. She said, in her own personal experience; “Survivor takes you out of your world, a world of comfort and puts you on this island where you competing and all alone and have to endure daily tasks to outlive your fellow castways. Its really hectic and then that reward challenge reminded me that there is a life you have outside Survivor and the people who love you and it’s quite emotional.” She even commented at crying when she saw Zayn’s mom calling him ‘nunu’. She goes on to describing herself as an emotional strong person but knows how to get in touch with her emotions.

And in case you’re wondering who she didn’t get along with that hot on the island, it was Brigitte, not Jacinda who double crossed her at the end. I went on by commenting that the two of them seem close, which they did. Every time they passed each other they smiled and greeted each other, would chat a lot and came across as good friends. She tells me that Brigitte possibly did the most harm to her on the show, but she is not one to hold feuds and anger to. She has forgiven them. When I asked are you guys friends, because they all seems so close. Lezel said that their contract had stipulated that the castaways may not get in touch with one another till the show was finished end its run on TV. So tonight essentially was the first time seeing each other in 3 months since Panama. Both Lezel and Gareth told me this! Lezel also seems to agree on the notion that Mzi is some what overated!

Even though she wasn’t not generally a liked character on the show, Lezel admits this, but is able to easily move around and acquaint herself with various people at the party. She’s a very open and friendly person and people began to quickly see this. She loves smiling and loves engaging in conversation. She tells me she is going to be extremely tired by Sundays Reunion special because they fly to Cape Town at 6:30am, and party the next night in Cape Town, fly the next day to Joburg, party then and Reunion Special on Sunday. However she is very eager and excited to returning home to Cape Town.

I told Lezel that the person she played on Survivor was very different to the person I got to know [and enjoy] tonight. How did your friends and family react to seeing you so ‘bitchy’ and different on Survivor from real life. She commented that again it has to do with a critical view and that she believes that her family and friends know the real and true Lezel. In fact Lezel said throughout the broadcast friends and family routed for her and defended her more!
Commenting on the Survivor aftermath, she has experienced new work as a model, which she was prior to the show. However she wants to evolve and do more and work harder and achieve more success in her life. She defines herself as an adventurous person and although Tom Boy-ish, Lezel was elegent enough to be a Princess. She states the real reason she entered Survivor was because a friend whom had entered too, had urged her. When she received news about being accepted to being a castaway, she was over thrilled and excited. She viewed Survivor as a once in a life time opportunity and that is why she fully embraced it- with no regrets what-so-ever. In fact she even has no regrets in playing the game because she believes that she has learned from the outcome.

Lezel was very quick when I brought up the topic of her demise in the show and stated that towards the end she was uncertain about her allies and formed new ones which she admits confused and caused her elimination. Although she states her and Zayn had agreement from early in the show and more recently Jacinda, she views what she did to Gareth as a mistake. But there are clearly no hard feelings between the two now.

Lezel remains a stronger and wiser person since Survivor which has taught her life lessons and her friendship with her former castaways remains intact fully strong. She has an outgoing, ambitious personality and enjoys talking judging from meeting her tonight! Tonight I got the opportunity to see the Real Lezel- and I enjoyed it! Thanks you TVSA!

*This is the edited version of tonight* There is a longer and extended version in my memories and experience but there is only so much that I can remember and type as well! There were times I wanted to play Veronica Mars and whip out the pen and pad but thought that it would ruin the social conversation by turning it formal!

*?* Got any Q about meeting Lezel? Her mistakes on the show? What she thought about the show? Her view on the International Survivor? Etc
P.M Me and I’ll gladly answer it and add it to this post!