He was one of the most controversial contestants on this season’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, but Justin Lacko managed to stay true to himself to the very end – quite literally.
The former Love Island star ruffled feathers and caused a stir on the show from the get-go when he was dumped with nine other Aussie celebrities in the middle of the jungle.
In those first moments, there were many exclamations of recognition between the celebs, but as for Justin? Well, his blank expression said it all.
In fact, upon meeting former MasterChef contestant Justine Schofield, Lacko mistakenly called her Simone a few seconds later – and thus marked the moment we knew we were in for a season of pure gold.
Justin made quite the impression this season. (Image: Network Ten)
As the episodes progressed, Justin never let a dull moment slide.
From his self-indulgent tirades, to mistakenly thinking he was the same size (and stature) as the Roman statues of Italy, to that chap stick meltdown that had us all throwing our hands in the air and begging the question – is this guy for real?!
Indeed it seems he really is, because even after leaving the South African jungle as the ninth celebrity to be eliminated, the first thing Justin did was buy a new ChapStick.
“If I don’t have my ChapStick, I feel I just shouldn’t exist,” Justin tells Now To Love in an exclusive chat.
“I’ve had it since I was born, in fact, I think I was born with a chap stick somehow, I carry it with me everywhere, like my heart.
“As soon as I couldn’t find it on this particular day, I freaked out and I had a bit of a Britney Spears meltdown.”
Watch the hilarious chap stick moment in the player below. Story continues after video…
And while his stint on I’m A Celebrity was a particularly gruelling one (with no word of a lie – his drastic 11kg weight loss is nothing to sneeze at), the model hasn’t cast off reality TV for good.
“I’ve already put my name down for being the next Mr Bachelor, because I am still looking for love and it’d be kinda nice to have someone fight for me for once!” he remarks.
But finding love or not, there were plenty of key things Lacko learnt while battling the jungle elements.
Keep scrolling as he tells us what irked him, what’s next on the cards and the one very surprising thing that he missed the most…
Justin! How are you feeling about your experience and portrayal in the jungle?
I feel like I’ve had a lot of love and support, and I think a lot of people can see that I’ve gone into this experience with an open heart and as a leader to support my charity, the Kids Foundation.
Everyone that’s stepped into the jungle has been fighting for something bigger than ourselves which is the most important thing.
You mentioned that you don’t like to take yourself too seriously, (which was apparent when you were talking about those life size Roman statues!), can you tell us more about this?
In my every day life I sit and contemplate about certain things and one of them obviously is the Roman days.
I lived in Italy for several years and I’ve lived in Milan where religion and culture is huge, and seeing the Roman statues and going to these places, you can have a big opinion about it but I think it’s nice to take the p*ss out of yourself and go ‘do I look like one of those guys?’.
I have sculpted myself into looking this ridiculously good looking [laughs], so I just think that is who I am as a person.
I don’t take myself too seriously. Otherwise I think people might just find me really ignorant and they might feel a bit stand-offish and not want to engage with me.
WATCH: I’m A Celeb’s Justin Lacko tells Yvie: “I look amazing”. Story continues after video…
Tell us more about that infamous ChapStick meltdown!
I had an absolute meltdown – if I don’t have my ChapStick, I feel I just shouldn’t exist. I’ve had it since I was born, in fact, I think I was born with a ChapStick somehow.
I carry it with me everywhere, like my heart. As soon as I couldn’t find it on this particular day, I freaked out and I had a bit of a Britney Spears meltdown.
But it’s all good, I’ve managed to pick up another one on the way out [of the jungle].
What did you miss the most in the jungle?
I missed my hairspray definitely! I have a bit of an obsession with my hair and I can’t stop fiddling with it or doing something with it.
I also missed the food, that was definitely a real challenge for me.
Was there anyone in the jungle you didn’t get along with so well?
Oh it changed all the time. Every day it was like, ‘I don’t like Tash,’ and then the next day I was like, ‘I don’t like Luke,’ and then I was like, ‘I don’t like Shane’.
But in saying that there was a lot of love between us, and there wasn’t hate – but there was dislike!
It really changed all the time, but ultimately I think everybody that came into the jungle came in with a warm heart and an open mind to the experience.
Despite their ups and downs, Justin made some lifelong friends in the jungle. (Image: Network Ten)
This was your second stint on reality TV after Love Island, would you ever have another go at reality TV?
I’ve already put my name down for being the next Mr Bachelor, because I am still looking for love and it’d be kinda nice to have someone fight for me for once! I feel like I’m scaring all the ladies off these days.
I didn’t have the best experience on Love Island, I didn’t find love obviously so it couldn’t have been that amazing. But I loved my experience on I’m A Celeb and I will cherish this forever.
You had some tense moments with Gogglebox‘s Angie in the jungle, can you tell us how you guys are going now?
I absolutely adore Angie, she’s such a beautiful woman and has a heart of gold.
There was never a dull moment and we never had a fight or anything. We had a moment where we snapped at one another, but that was resolved.
I’m sorry if I hurt her feelings and I’m hoping we’ll still be friends when she gets out.
WATCH: Is romance blossoming between I’m A Celebrity‘s Angie and Justin?
