‘Teen Mom’ Star Maci Bookout Had One of the Shortest Ever Stints on ‘Naked and Afraid’
Armchair survivalists need not apply. Teen Mom star Maci Bookout thought she had what it took to last 14 days in the jungle of Nicaragua on Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid. But just a few hours in the wilderness taught her how difficult it really is to survive on the show.
Maci Bookout appeared on ‘Naked and Afraid’ in 2018
Bookout made her much-hyped appearance on Naked and Afraid in 2018. Despite her lack of survival experience, she felt good about her chances of completing the challenge.
“Being a mom prepares you for a situation like this because the motherly instinct kicks in and gives me an edge,” she said.
The reality star had also watched plenty of Naked and Afraid episodes, and she had strong opinions about people who tapped out early. She vowed she wouldn’t be one of them.
“When I watch this show the one thing that drives me crazy is people quit way too early. They don’t give themselves a chance,” Bookout said. “The first sign of distress they tap out, they’re done. It’s going to suck for sure, but I’m not going to quit.”
The ‘Teen Mom’ star tapped out after just 24 hours
While Bookout felt good entering her Naked and Afraid challenge, she soon faced the reality of trying to survive in a hostile environment with no clothes, food, or supplies.
Though Bookout was able to start a fire, she struggled with walking barefoot on thorns. At one point, her partner had to carry her piggyback because she couldn’t walk. “My feet feel like they’re dying,” she said.
After spending one night in the jungle, Bookout realized she couldn’t continue.
“Last night was hell … Sitting on your couch watching the show is not the same. It’s really f*cking hard,” she said.
Bookout opted to quit the challenge for both her mental health and her partner’s sake.
“I’m tapping out of this challenge,” she said. “It’s the best decision for me. I feel like if I stay here any longer, I’m legitimately going to lose my mind. How I was doing mentally was not doing anything good for him, so it’s best for me to get out of his way.”
Maci Bookout said her ‘Naked and Afraid’ experience was ‘amazing’
Though Bookout had one of the shortest stays in Naked and Afraid history, she had no regrets about signing up for the show.
[Naked and Afraid] was the most amazing (and painful) experience.. even though I didn’t complete the challenge,” she tweeted after the episode aired. “I am proud of myself for trying something completely terrifying and out of my comfort zone. I’m excited to see my partner Justin kick ass.”
“The entire process of N&A (training/attempting) did change my life,” she added in a follow-up tweet. “My perspective & outlook is so much healthier than I could have imagined. Thanks to all who watched tonight, I hope you arent too disappointed, but if you are disappointed i hope ur grateful for ur couch & TV.”
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