MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban actor Adrián Di Monte, born in Saint Clare on July 31, 1990, was crowned this week as the winner of the first season of the reality show “The Island: Extreme Challenge” on the Telemundo network. At 34 years old, the Cuban took home the $200,000 prize after beating Colombian Hubert “Wakanda” Riascos.
The grand finale of reality showheld this Monday, October 14, took place in several locations in Türkiye. Adrián, representative of the Los Tiburones team, faced extreme tests of physical and mental survival in wild environments, from beaches and mountains to dense forests.
From one challenge to another
Adrián Di Monte is not a rookie in the world of reality shows. In 2017, he participated in the fourth season of the Mexican program dancing for a dreamin which she won first place with her dance partner Montserrat Yescas.
At the age of 15, Adrián left Cuba with his family in search of new opportunities in USA. Although he was initially inclined to study architecture, a career he completed but never pursued, his true passion was always in art. He began his acting career with small participations in Univisión and Venevisión soap operas, such as Eva Luna, My heart insists on Lola Volcán and Aurora.
His talent did not go unnoticed and he soon made the leap to more important productions. In 2015, he joined the Telemundo network. Later, in 2017, he emigrated to Mexico and was hired by Televisa. That same year, he signed an exclusivity contract with the Mexican television station.
“The Island: Extreme Challenge”: A challenge… unprecedented?
He reality show “The Island: Desafío Extremo” premiered on July 30 and has kept the audience on the edge of their seats ever since. With an innovative format, 24 participants were divided into three teams: Los Águilas, Los Tiburones and Las Panteras. Every week, they competed for territories that determined the living conditions: from the comfort of Playa Alta to the adversities of Playa Baja.
The contestants faced tests that tested not only their physical strength, but also their mental and emotional resilience. Coexistence in extreme situations, isolated from the outside world and with the constant pressure of nominations and eliminations, generated alliances and betrayals that added intensity to the program.