The luxurious queen was put to the test
Tattoo queen Kate Merlant knows the TV circus from the inside, but the jungle plays by its own rules.
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She is a German reality TV icon and is known for her straightforward manners and luxurious lifestyle. Starting August 3, Kate Merlant will face her toughest challenge yet in Jungle Divas. But can she survive without glamour?
Together with Kate Merlan, one of the most experienced and vibrant personalities on German television moves into the new show “Jungle Divas”. The tattoo model from Cologne has seen and done almost everything, but the Colombian jungle will be a new test – especially for her patience and love of luxury.
From fashion house to reality TV icon: your path to the spotlight
Kate Merlan, whose real name is Kathleen Merlan, has worked hard to earn her spot on the reality show. She was born in Saxony-Anhalt in 1987 and initially worked as a department manager in a fashion store. But she was drawn to the camera early, with her first appearances in Rent Buy Live in 2012 and Newtopia in 2015, which helped her gain first fame.
Since then, her television resume has grown significantly. Kate has been seen in countless formats and has always been a topic of conversation: be it Summer Home of the Stars, Battle of the Reality Stars or the adventure format of Reality Backpackers (2025), reports Kate Merlan. She especially remembers her participation in the film “Celebrities Under Palm Trees” (2021), where she starred with the late Willie Herren in Thailand. In Villa of Temptation (2025), she also made it clear where her priorities lay: as long as winnings allowed, money was spent rampantly on cola and other luxuries – much to the irritation of some of her fellow campaigners.
Kate Merlant doesn’t miss a thing in Temptation Villa!
Watch the entire episode 3 here for free on Joyn.
Personal life in the spotlight: your turbulent relationship
Kate’s personal life was also often public. A short but intense relationship with pop star Nino DeAngelo (2017) was followed by a fling with former “Caught in the Act” singer Benjamin Boyce. She moved to Summer House of the Stars with him in 2019, although, according to rumors, the relationship ended before filming began.
Later, she seemed to find happiness in love with football player Jakub Jarecki. The couple tested their fidelity on “Temptation Island VIP” and got married soon after, in November 2021. But in 2022, a separation followed.
Real tourists
Real tourists
Eight reality TV stars. Four teams. There is only one goal: “Reality Travelers” must reach a destination located hundreds of kilometers away. Along the way you will have to reach checkpoints and daily objectives. It’s a race against time. The fastest pair gets the most points. The team with the most points upon reaching their destination wins the Backpackers Deluxe title.
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Jungle Diva: What does Kate Merlant bring to Jungle Divas?
It’s this mixture of years of television experience, a direct, blunt manner and a penchant for luxury that makes Kate Merlant one of the most exciting candidates for “Jungle Divas.” The rules of the new show are its biggest enemy: for every temptation, no matter how small, from a bubble bath to a chilled drink, you have to pay from the total prize fund of 100,000 euros.
How will Kate react when luxury is gone and team spirit is placed above personal comfort? Their behavior at the Villa of Temptation suggests that there is a huge potential for conflict here. Will she be a team player or a selfish diva who will make everyone’s jackpot disappear? One thing is for sure: with Kate Merlan the jungle will be anything but boring.
“Jungle Divas – The Price of Every Temptation” starts on Monday, August 3 at 10:15 p.m. on SAT.1 and free on Joyn, immediately after “Villa der Temptation”.
Villa of Temptation
Villa of Temptation
Verona Poot lures people to Temptation Villa as 14 celebrities move into paradise for two weeks – but looks can be deceiving. Instead of champagne and canapes there are hard mats and meager rations. If you want more, you have to pay – literally. Every temptation, every comfort is deducted from the winnings of 250,000 euros. Those who become weak pay – and at the expense of everyone. In the villa of temptation, the following applies: whoever indulges loses – or maybe not?
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