Who is Sinitta? I’m a Celebrity South Africa contestant and pop icon
Let's hope the pop icon will fare better than she did the first time around.
I'm a Celebrity South Africa is returning for a second outing on ITV with a new line-up battling it out to be crowned this year's Legend.
The second season of the all-stars spin off is set to start next week, Monday 6 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, and with the first episode only a matter of days away now, ITV has finally confirmed this year's celebrity cast.
Amongst them is pop icon Sinitta, who was really put through the wringer during her first season of the show. Whilst in Australia she was chosen to do trial after trial before ultimately being the second person voted to leave the jungle. Let's hope she fairs better the second time around.
But what has Sinitta been up to in the 15 years since she last appeared on the show? Here's everything you need to know about the singer ahead of the first episode.
Who is Sinitta?
Age: 62
Job: Pop icon
Instagram: @thesinittaofficial
Pop icon Sinitta, originally from Seattle, Washington, rose to fame in the '80s thanks to her hit single So Macho and is also known for her close friendship with ex-boyfriend Simon Cowell.
She regularly helped the music mogul during the judges' houses stage of The X Factor, famously turning up in one episode in a dress made out of leaves.
The X Factor judge is not her only famous ex as she also dated none other than Hollywood actor Brad Pitt from 1986 until 1988 in an on-off romance.
Sinitta is no stranger to the reality show circuit, having appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, The Masked Singer, Celebrity Big Brother 2018 and Celebs Go Dating in 2022.
What season of I’m a Celebrity was Sinitta on?
Sinitta first took part in the ITV show 15 years ago in 2011 for only a short stint after she was the second to be voted off. She's back again to give it another go and is hoping to last longer her second time around.
Why is Sinitta returning to I’m a Celebrity?
Sinitta is hoping that taking part in the South African version of the show will make her braver, boldly admitting that she is afraid of "everything".
The pop icon said: "It’s really nice I’m A Celebrity… invited me back. During my first time, I got voted to do trial after trial and then I was out. It would be nice to have more time."
She added: "I thought doing the show would cure me of all my phobias, but it didn’t. It desensitised me for while as I can remember watching a spider crawling across the ground on my last day.
"Instead of running to the other side of the camp, I just sat and watched it because I had experienced so much. But as soon as you get back to the London environment and there is a big spider in the bath, you are cowering again because it’s so unnatural.
"I’m hoping the South African jungle will cure me of my phobias, because it is quite debilitating being afraid of everything."
I'm a Celebrity... South Africa returns on Monday 6 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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Authors
Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a Freelance Writer who covers pop culture and entertainment programmes for the Radio Times. She previously worked as the Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab where she managed its local department. She obtained a BA (Hons) in English Literature from University of Nottingham.
