– My pedicure lady had done a good job, because I never noticed that I had blue toes, says Rikke Isaksen to Good evening Norway.
During her entire stay at “71 degrees north – team”, Isaksen thought she had well-kept nails with a French manicure.
It wasn’t until she was comfortably settled at home in her own bed that she discovered that the nails on her big toes had fallen off.
Isaksen participated last year in Kompani Lauritzen. This year she is part of the 71 degrees north team. Photo: Martin Habbestad / Good evening Norway
The nails had pierced the hiking boots so many times that they were finally destroyed. They have not yet grown out, but she hopes they will be able to return before the summer season.
Could never have “Onlyfans”
28-year-old Rikke Isaksen started her TV career back in 2018, when she took part in the first edition of Norwegian “Ex on the Beach”.
– I’m not consciously trying to get rid of my “Ex on the Beach” stamp, but it’s been a very long time since I was part of it. So it goes away by itself.
Now she combines participation in various reality programs with working on a fishing boat for six months at a time.
It all started during the corona pandemic when she couldn’t be social or go out on the town. She points out that she wanted to make money quickly and easily, but legally. After taking a safety course, she went straight out to sea.
– I could never have “Onlyfans”, because I like to work hard and properly for my money, Isaksen explains to God kveld Norge.
Many of her reality colleagues have chosen that direction.
There has never been any doubt that money is the motivation for the job. They primarily go towards saving for a house and a car.
– Is it as dangerous to work on a fishing boat as you see on TV in “Deadliest Catch”?
– Uh, yes. Of course, a little more has been done in the series, but it is very tough and cold. Chopping ice off the boat in minus 40 degrees is not just.
– No one cares
Working on a fishing boat is a physically demanding job, but when a large crab comes up from the sea, it arouses the temptation for Isaksen to pick up the phone and snap some pictures too.
She avoids that anyway, because she doesn’t want her colleagues to think that she is “that” type of person.
Nevertheless, she snaps a few photos in secret, to update friends and her around 50,000 followers.
Most of the colleagues on the boat are from Lithuania, and she describes some as very strict people.
Rikke Isaksen likes to work hard for his money. Photo: Private
Working on a fishing boat results in her missing several events on the mainland, such as premiere parties and social gatherings.
– None of my colleagues care that I’m on TV. I was at work during the previous premiere parties, and tried to show it to them. Nobody even cared.
On the boat, TV and influencer life is put on hold. There, she is an ordinary employee on an equal footing with her colleagues. The job of influence is then done in secret.
Most of the people on the boat take a well-deserved break after the season, but Isaksen got blood on his teeth after the first round, and was almost 10 out of 12 months at sea.
She admits that she was a bit overworked, and instead chose to work part-time in a nursery school last year.
– I wanted to knock him down
Rikke Isaksen is currently one of the participants in the “71 degrees north – team” on a team with former handball player Frank Løke (42).
The TV profile admits that she had her thoughts and had read several headlines about Løke. She was very skeptical beforehand, but thought it was a good match, as he is a top athlete.
Rikke Isaksen and 71 teammate Frank Løke. Photo: Haakon Lundkvist / Discovery+
She got to experience that on the journey by being dragged up hills, carried over all streams and rivers, and was challenged to the limit.
– I’m a bit spoiled. He thought it was a good idea if only one of us got wet, in case we were to split up and live alone in a tent for four days. He overthought everything all the time.
Isaksen found it a little challenging to be on a team with Løke, but mostly fun. She was surprised at how caring he was.
– We are two very different people. So living in a tent with him over a long period was very tough.
She adds that there were a few heated exchanges and a couple of “explosions”, but says that there was no direct argument between them.
– I’m not a big fan of walking. 14 hours of hiking that looks like five minutes on TV is not for me. Ordinary travel is the most boring thing I know.
On the trips, Løke was often far ahead at a terrifically fast pace. When he took a drink break, Isaksen barely managed to catch up before he went on.
– Then I wanted to knock him down.
