Contestants on teh BBC reality show The traitors employ various strategies to maintain composure and control during the intense psychological game, extending beyond their in-game deception. From carefully curated outfits to coordinated makeup, contestants utilize personal styling as a means of self-soothing and focus.
Strategic Styling on The Traitors
Frankie, a finalist from the third series, revealed to the Not Another Mummy Podcast that she themed her daily outfits around characters from the board game Cluedo. She wore a blue denim dress as Mrs. Peacock, yellow shorts as Colonel Mustard, and a red sequined dress as Miss Scarlett. “It was just my way of having a little bit of control over the days that you couldn’t control, a little bit of focus in the morning rather than worrying about the day,” she explained.
Coordinated Appearances and the Importance of Self-Care
This year’s contestants, Jessie and Jade, took a different approach, meticulously matching their makeup to their outfits – a task they managed independently. Charlotte, another contestant, noted that while she had her nails done before arriving at the castle, the stress of the game quickly took its toll, causing them to become damaged. This highlights the challenging habitat and the impact of the game on even seemingly minor aspects of self-care.
The Role of Appearance in Psychological Strategy
The deliberate attention to appearance suggests a broader psychological strategy employed by contestants. Creating a sense of normalcy and control through personal styling can be a coping mechanism in a high-pressure situation where trust is constantly questioned and deception is paramount. The effort put into these details, even when ultimately undone by the game’s demands (like Charlotte’s nails), demonstrates the contestants’ attempts to maintain a sense of self amidst the chaos.
additional reporting by Alix Hattenstone, BBC Local
Photography: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry/Cody Burridge/Paul Chappells & david Fisher/Global/Shutterstock
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