Amanda du-Pont is swapping the cameras, red carpets and business meetings for a very different kind of spotlight as she prepares to test her physical and mental limits on the 12th season of Tropika Island of Treasure.
The actress, media personality and founder of skincare brand Lelive is among the personalities stepping into the competition, which this season heads to the tropical setting of Réunion Island.
For Amanda, however, the decision to take part is less about finding the perfect moment and more about confronting herself.
“I don’t think there’s ever a perfect time to challenge yourself. If not now, then when?” she says.
“I love challenging myself every so often because it reminds me of what I’m capable of and what I can achieve when I really put my mind to something.”
The actress says the experience is an opportunity to move beyond what is familiar and discover what she can achieve under pressure.
Preparing for the physical demands
While Amanda already maintains a fitness routine, she knew the competition would require a different level of endurance.
Rather than dramatically changing her lifestyle, she added mild cardio, including running and cycling, to gradually build her stamina.
“I enjoy an approach to fitness that I can actually maintain, so I stuck to the training routine I’m used to rather than completely reinventing the wheel,” she explains.
She opted for a slow-build approach, gradually increasing her endurance instead of attempting to train intensely all at once.
That preparation could prove important on an island where contestants are expected to deal with physically demanding challenges while working alongside partners.
Amanda is also realistic about where she could find herself at a disadvantage.
“The fact that I’m short!” she jokes when asked what she expects to be her biggest personal challenge.
“If there are any high-reaching or jumping challenges, I might struggle.”
She also expects long-distance running and swimming to test her.
“I can do both at a cute level, but nowhere near an athletic level and there are some serious athletes in this competition!”
Faith will be part of her strategy
For Amanda, preparation has not been limited to physical training.
Her faith is central to how she approaches difficult situations, and she says it played a major role in getting herself mentally ready for the competition.
“I’m a big believer in God, and much of what I do starts and ends there,” she says.
“I have a strong belief that Christ will carry me when my body fails me, so my faith was a huge part of my preparation.”
She also attempted to prepare for the mental elements of the competition by doing puzzles and brushing up on her general knowledge.
But she acknowledges that there is only so much preparation possible when contestants do not know exactly what awaits them.
“The pressure and uncertainty are things you can’t completely prepare for,” she says.
“At some point, you have to rely on your character and how deeply you’re willing to dig.”
Amanda is also aware that she will be competing alongside contestants with significant physical abilities.
“It won’t be easy, especially with the calibre of contestants this year,” she says.
Finding the right partner
Teamwork is another major part of Tropika Island of Treasure, making the relationship between partners potentially as important as individual fitness.
Amanda says she would ideally like to be paired with someone who shares her faith and can complement her physically.
“I’m praying to find someone who also stands strong in their faith,” she says.
She would also welcome a partner who is physically strong and cardio-fit, particularly in areas where she may struggle.
But physical ability is not enough.
“Ultimately, though, I think a great partner is someone who knows when to lead and when to listen. You need both.”
The comment highlights one of the less visible challenges of a competition built around partnerships – knowing when to take control and when to trust someone else.
More than just a television competition
Away from the physical challenges, Amanda says she is looking forward to experiencing Réunion Island itself.
The ocean is particularly important to her, given her environmental work and involvement in campaigns focused on protecting it.
“Honestly, just being at the beach. I love the ocean so much, and I’ve dedicated a lot of time to trying to protect it through my work and missions with Greenpeace,” she says.
She hopes the intensity of the competition will still leave her with an opportunity to appreciate her surroundings.
“I really want to take a moment to absorb the wonder of nature and everything Réunion Island has to offer.”
Her environmental interests have formed part of her public work beyond her career in entertainment, making the island’s natural landscape particularly meaningful to her.
A year of acting, business and new opportunities
Tropika Island of Treasure arrives during an already busy period in Amanda’s career.
The actress says she has spent 2026 working on both a new series and an independent film, while also receiving recognition for her work in voice-over.
She has been nominated for the South African Voice Over Awards, adding another dimension to a career that has moved across television, acting, presenting and entrepreneurship.
Her skincare business, Lelive, has also continued to expand.
Amanda says the brand has grown significantly and was nominated for the South African Fashion Awards, an achievement she describes as an “incredible honour”.
She says the growth of the business has made her particularly proud and that she is keen to continue developing it alongside her entertainment career.
At the same time, she wants to spend more time acting.
“I’ve missed it so much and I’m excited to get back into that world and explore some new roles,” she says.
What Amanda wants to discover about herself
Ultimately, Amanda says she is entering Tropika Island of Treasure with more than a competition mindset.
She wants the experience to reveal something about herself that everyday life may not.
“I’m hoping to come away knowing myself even better,” she says.
For her, an experience that removes the routines and distractions of normal life can become an opportunity for self-discovery.
“I think challenges like this have a way of stripping away the noise and forcing you to be present and authentic.”
The real test, therefore, may not simply be whether Amanda can complete a physical challenge, swim a certain distance or make it through an endurance task.
It could be how she responds when the comfort of her normal environment disappears and she has to depend on her partner, her character, her preparation and her faith.
The 12th season of Tropika Island of Treasure premieres on Wednesday, 23 September at 21:00 on SABC 1. A repeat will air on S3 on Thursday, 24 September at 18:00.
