INTERVIEW. Kaige Bertasso explains his 'downward spiral' on Love Island SA that led him to quit, how he felt, why he entered the show and what advice he has for the Islanders he left behind.

by Thinus Ferreira

Kaige Bertasso (21) from Durban delivered a jaw-dropping moment when he told his fellow denim-and-diamonds clad Islanders on Tuesday night's episode of Love Island South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) that he's decided to leave and quit the show.

Viewers saw him walk off the show after he said he felt that "every day a bit of me was taken away, taken away".

But why did Kaige leave? How did he feel while he was inside the Love Island SA villa? Does he feel that his self-esteem took a knock? Was he too emotionally needy like viewers said, why did he enter, and what advice does he have for those who remain inside the villa?

You said in your speech that you fell into a "downward spiral".

Can you elaborate on that and what you understood that to mean. You didn't mean that you were having suicidal thoughts? 

How did your mood and emotional disposition change in the villa?

Kaige Bertasso: It wasn't so much negative thoughts it was more being able to be myself.

I'm very, like, a very go with the moment kind of a person and happy-go-lucky and loud and that all wasn't 100% there.

You also said that felt "every day a bit of me was taken away, taken away". What did you mean by that?

Kaige Bertasso: Parts of who I am was getting tainted down just based on the way I was functioning in the villa.

And do you attribute that to the people around you, or the show, or the new environment or you?

Kaige Bertasso: It was all to do with myself and the way I was dealing with every situation.

How would you say you felt when you entered the villa, and how you felt when you left?

Kaige Bertasso: Obviously coming it I felt unknown so I was a bit nervous but I felt very much myself.

I felt I was coming in with my big energy, my big smile, big everything - ready to go. I'm a very party person, like really in a good mood all the time. 

And then when I left, I left it on the same note that I came in. I was like "let's leave on a good note and obviously I care about all of you in there" so I was like "let's leave on a good note. Let's celebrate." So I left in the headspace that I arrived in but that was because of the decision that I had to make.

Can you take us through that decision process and what happened? Did it happen on that last day? Who did you go and talk to and how it happened? We saw the denim-and-diamonds event and people calling you, saying you're late - did it start then?

Kaige Bertasso: I had slept on it for 3 days before I made the decision.

I didn't just make a rash decision and I took a lot of time to think about it before I said "Okay, I can either go forward or I can't". So denim-and-diamonds was obviously the event of the night and that's when I gave the speech.

And who did you tell first?

Kaige Bertasso: Asad and Rochelle knew that I was leaving.

And you thought that they would keep your secret?

Kaige Bertasso: Ja, and they did. They never told anyone. So they're definitely two friends that I can definitely trust.

From how it came across you sometimes look emotionally needy - as viewers we don't see everything that happens. 

Do you think you were maybe a bit too possessive in terms of Summer for what the game entails where people have to couple up but also continue to mingle? 

Do you think you could have done some things differently or have acted differently?

Kaige Bertasso: No, I don't regret anything I've done.

I think I was the best version of myself that I could be at the time. I gave my all because obviously, the point of the show is to find a genuine connection and to be with someone. So when I realised that I had actually opened up a bit I thought that I would give my best.

Why did you decide to enter Love Island SA?

Kaige Bertasso: It was to find a genuine connection and to see what comes of it.

And how do you think this experience has maybe changed you?

Kaige Bertasso: It hasn't changed me but it has definitely given me a lot of life lessons that I'm very grateful for. 

I've learnt a lot in the sense of what I want to do and making the hard decisions and seeing the benefits and stuff like that. It's really been a good learning experience.

Do you think your self-esteem took a knock? There were challenges where the guys were ranked in terms of who the Islanders and viewers thought were the fittest and you would end up chosen last - it's almost like your back at school and you're picked last. How did that impact you mentally or wasn't it an issue for you?

Kaige Bertasso: No, no that wasn't an issue at all. I'm very secure in myself so that wasn't an issue at all.

From what you know now standing on the outside, what advice would you have for the people remaining in the show?

Kaige Bertasso: For the people remaining in the show my advice would just be to stay true to yourself and don't let the negative deflect you.

Love Island South Africa is on weekdays on M-Net (DStv 101) at 21:30

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Meet the 10 Islanders of Love Island SA on M-Net: A Hooters girl called Summer, a bodybuilder, personal trainers and a woman who says 'I'm tired of these rats and I wants a real man!'.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Sunday night, M-Net (DStv 101) introduced the first 10 single and sexy love hopefuls in the first season of Love Island South Africa who entered the Love Island SA villa for a "6-week bae-cation".

The 10 Islanders are they will be known, must couple up and live together all in the name of love and the chance to win R1 million in the process. 

Throughout the series, the Islanders will be forced to re-couple where they can choose - or be chosen - to remain in their current couple or swap and change, whilst also undergoing several dates, tasks and challenges, in the quest to avoid being dumped from the villa.

With 5 men and 5 women start Love Island SA, there will doubtless be more so-called Bombshells introduced to try and break some of the couples up to try and form new couples. Who will couple up with who and which couple will outlast the rest?

Leandie du Randt is the Love Island SA host while the voice-over artist Warren Robertson navigates viewers through the show. 

One-hour episodes of Love Island SA will be broadcast from Mondays to Fridays on M-Net at 21:30, with so-called "unseen-bits" that will be broadcast after the 20:00-movie on Sunday nights.

Here are the 10 Islanders that Love Island SA introduced on Sunday night:

Asad Boomgaard

Asad, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Johannesburg, says that he’s an old soul and a romantic at heart.

He enjoys surprising the people he loves and once flew cupcakes from Cape Town to Johannesburg for a love interest, only to end up friend-zoned. Asad enjoys being active and outdoors and is looking for "a good woman to keep me grounded".

Durang Atembe

This charming 22-year-old is from Cape Town and a personal trainer. He is confident that he’s what the ladies are looking for.

"I’ve got swagger, everyone said that I should join the show, I’m going with it and I’m interested. So, it will be a blessing having me on the show."

Durang says that he values the small things in life and knows that being humble and working hard gets you places. When he’s not in the gym training his ripped body, Durang spends his time taking road trips and listening to good music.

Erin Japhta 

The 22-year-old Erin, from Cape Town, is a marketing student who studies in Los Angeles. 

She believes that Love Island SA is her second chance, and says "I’ve moved around a lot; I somewhat believe I deserve another chance at love and really hoping this is my opportunity."

Erin has lived in Indonesia, Los Angeles and now Cape Town. She’s a social butterfly and enjoys singing, going to the beach, hiking, hanging with friends, games nights, and fun night clubs.

Ian De Beer

Bringing Afrikaans boy charm to Love Island SA is the 24-year-old Ian who describes himself as "confident and funny. I love awkwardness".

Ian is a law student and a bodybuilder and is determined to bring a ripped torso to the Love Island SA villa.

"I will come shredded for the show – I will have the best body," he says. He is looking for a mature girl because he has two older sisters and that is what he is used to. He knows his way around the girls and believes he won’t struggle to get them to like him. His hobbies are working out, hiking, running and gaming.

Jay Freemantle

Jay is a Sandton social media star.

At 23 Jay is the founder  and CEO of a digital marketing agency and a fitness influencer. "I hate the term influencer. An influencer is someone like Gandhi and Mandela, not a social media 'star'," he says.

He says dark eyebrows are a massive pull for him. His most significant relationship was with his high school sweetheart. Since then, he has not had a significant relationship and is hoping that Love Island SA will change that. 

Apart from being a fitness fanatic, Jay also spends his time cooking and doing photography.

Kaige Bertasso 

Kaige is a feisty 21-year-old from Durban, and says that "People confuse my confidence with arrogance – I love to boast".

In 2017, he experienced a life-altering event when his motorbike accident ended his professional tennis career. The experience taught him to never give up even when his whole world turned upside down.

Making lemonade out of the experience, Kaige became a professional tennis coach. He says that he will be loud and proud in the Love Island SA villa and believes he has the best banter with looks to match.

Millie Terblanche

The 20-year-old Millie is a quirky and outgoing influencer from Cape Town.

She says that she's here to entertain and bring about loads of banter. "I am funny... but dumb... but not dumb... but funny... but dumb."

At 17 she left her hometown to study in Cape Town, lost lots of weight and began taking care of herself while also creating a life that she loves. Millie entered the show to find love in a new and interesting way. 

As a creator, she enjoys creating art and watching and creating YouTube content, but she also loves a good party.

Rochelle Van Vuuren

This stunning Demi Moore lookalike, Rochelle, is 23 and from Pretoria. 

She is a digital creator, qualified in BCom Strategic Management and also heavily involved in the fitness world. 

She competed in IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) in 2019 and won her first competition. She obtained her Gauteng North Colours and went on to compete for South Africa. This has taught her a whole new side to discipline.

Rochelle says that her weakness is that she forgives too easily – her ex cheated on her many times. "My ex wasn't even a trophy, maybe a bronze medal," she says.

Summer Da Cruz

A real Hooters girl, Summer who is 21 hails from Johannesburg.

She is a professional dancer and has worked on MSC Cruise liners, where she got to visit several beautiful and exotic countries.

"I’ve travelled the entire world and still haven’t met someone who sparks something in me, I’m sure he’s in South Africa ... somewhere," she says.

Summer is funny and clumsy but thinks on her feet. As a Love Islander, she brings her competitive streak and bubbly personality to the table and is looking for the guy with the good teeth.

Thimna Shooto

This 26-year-old from Mossel Bay is confident and charismatic. 

Thimna says that she considers the current dating world to be very superficial and is looking for a real connection.

"I'm tired of these rats and I want a real man."

She says that her intelligence and independence can be intimidating to some men. In 2018, she was in a long-distance relationship that taught her a lot about knowing her self-worth. She is not jaded and not afraid to express her feelings.

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