Helena Prestes is the runner-up in Big Brother at Verissimo.

Helena Prestes will appear as a guest on Verissimo today, Sunday, April 6. The Brazilian model, fresh from the Big Brother house, visits Silvia Toffanin’s studio to discuss her experience on the Canale 5 reality program, which lasted six months and finished with a silver medal.

Who is Helena Prestes?

Helena Prestes is 34 years old and was born in 1990 in San Paolo, Brazil, in a neighbourhood she has frequently described as “difficult”.

She was an avid sports fan and began playing basketball at a young age, leaving behind her home and family. At the same time, she began working as a saleswoman, but at the age of 16, she began working as a model to assist her mother and sisters financially.

This prompted her to explore the world, where she got increasingly interested in the world of fashion and eventually relocated to Italy, namely Milan.

In 2022, she appeared on the ninth season of Pechino Express alongside Nikita Pelizon, a former Big Brother champion. Helena Prestes and Nikita Pelizon finished third overall. In 2023, she was one of the key characters of Isola dei Famosi, just missing out on the final.

Helena Prestes discussed her terrible life on the Island of the Famous, saying, “My father beat my mother.” I witnessed the impact of the violence on my mother, who was a really kind woman, and she hardened. I have an excellent connection with her, despite her toughness. I’m terribly sad that she doesn’t talk to my sister.

The Brazilian model left her home and family in her early teens to support her mother and sisters financially: “It made me feel very bad, especially the lack of love, of cuddles, I pretend that this thing doesn’t hurt me, but it doesn’t”.

In 2022, she had a brief romantic involvement with Antonino Spinalbese, Belen Rodriguez’s ex-boyfriend.

Later, she linked herself to model Carlo Motta, Dayane Mello’s ex, in a narrative that ended before she entered the Big Brother House, where she met and became romantically involved with Javier Martinez.

Helena became particularly close to both Lorenzo Spolverato and Zeudi di Palma during her time at the House.

Helena Prestes becomes embroiled in controversy throughout the episodes and is automatically nominated: the Brazilian is unexpectedly ousted at the finale.

This came when Helena Prestes tried to strike Jessica Morlacchi with a pot full of boiling water following a verbal altercation in front of the other residents.

The televoting caused various disputes, and after a week out from the House, Helena returns to Big Brother following a repechage of previously evicted contestants.

Helena Prestes finished second in the Big Brother final, behind Jessica Morlacchi.