Model Ellie Gonsalves feels ‘broken’ after her harrowing experience on SBS’ Filthy Rich And Homeless and says her body ‘went into survival mode’
Australian model Ellie Gonsalves lived on the streets for ten days while filming SBS’ eye-opening reality series, Filthy Rich And Homeless.
And speaking to The Daily Telegraph at the weekend, the 29-year-old revealed she felt ‘broken’ after seeing and experiencing homelessness firsthand.
The actress, who boasts over 1.3million followers on Instagram, wants to use her platform to raise awareness about the Australian homelessness crisis.
A different world: Model Ellie Gonsalves felt ‘broken’ after her harrowing experience on SBS’ Filthy Rich And Homeless
‘I felt so broken after the experience, and returning to my day-to-day life was difficult,’ Ellie told the publication.
She added: ‘It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s so hard for people sleeping on the street – you just don’t feel human.’
She added that her body ‘went into survival mode’ and that the stress from it all caused her period to stop.
Ellie wants to raise both awareness and funds for homeless across Australia.
Taking action: The actress, who boasts over 1.3million followers on Instagram, wants to use her platform to raise awareness about the Australian homelessness crisis (pictured on the show)
Physical toll: She added that her body ‘went into survival mode’ and that the stress from it all caused her period to stop
Earlier this month, Ellie told Daily Mail Australia that she went into the experience feeling ‘stripped back and vulnerable’.
The star said that while many are aware of the ‘exciting side’ to her life, she has never gone about trying to prove any misconceptions wrong.
‘I’ve always shared a lot of the challenging times too,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I try not to live my life proving others’ preconceptions of me wrong, but I went into this experience the most stripped back and vulnerable I’ve ever been.
‘Whether it sheds any preconceptions or creates completely new ones who knows, but I’m proud of being involved in this, and I hope others see it for what it was all about.’
Ellie found the 10 days of homelessness certainly challenging, as would many, describing ‘isolation’ as the worst part.
‘I don’t think I hit my real breaking point until I was put in a boarding house with nine men on my last three days,’ she recalled.
‘My outhouse bathroom windows were smashed, my toilet door did not lock or close, and I had cockroaches crawling on me in my sleep.
‘I’ve never felt so scared, withdrawn and uncomfortable in my life,’ she continued.