The first is always the hardest… at least that was the case for Ajay Rochester, who just became the first cast member to be eliminated from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.
And while we’re sitting at home scoffing popcorn and thinking how relieved the former Biggest Loser host must be feeling to get back to her home comforts, her reaction was actually quite unexpected…
Ajay Rochester has become the first celebrity to be eliminated from the jungle. (Image: Network Ten)
The 49-year-old, whose chosen charity was 4 ASD Kids, broke down in tears as she left the camp on Tuesday night’s episode, telling her fellow camp mates: “You really do make friends for life”.
The jungle opened up some old wounds for Ajay, who quickly made an impression on the celebrities, and the Australian public with her harrowing back story.
Rochester, who went to court over a welfare fraud charge in 2009 pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial benefit by deception which resulted in an over payment of $14,000.
At the time, Ajay was taking steps to pay the money back, which was taken into account by the magistrate – and she avoided a criminal record.
But the 49-year-old was still heavily impacted by the ordeal.
Detailing that time as “four years of hell and torture”, the candid star said it had come at a cost – particular given her son, Kai, has Asperger’s syndrome.
WATCH: Ajay Rochester opens up on her devastating back-story. Story continues below…
“[It] destroyed my career. I left Biggest Loser destitute, with no one wanting to hire me. And I had $7.11 to my name. I was literally homeless – like, literally homeless.”
She explained that for a long period of time, she and her son had house sat at various friends homes because they had no where to go.
Ajay also opened up about her challenging upbringing, and confessed to a shocking circumstance where she arranged to meet her birth mother for the first time at age 22 – only to find that she already knew her.
“My friend and I had worked for her!” she revealed.
READ MORE: I’m A Celeb‘s Ajay Rochester’s shock adoption confession: “I was abused and beaten!”
Ajay was brutally honest and open about her dramatic past while she was in the jungle. (Image: Getty)
Other camp mates were clearly impressed with Rochester’s strength of mind.
Gogglebox star Yvie Jones said Rochester is a force to be reckoned with.
“She gets knocked down and she just gets back up again,” Jones said.
Want more I’m A Celebrity? We’ve got you covered…
