An Australian Idol contestant is warning people about the brutal reality of what happens after you appear on a reality  TV show.

Jacinta Guirguis was on the most recent season of the Channel 7 singing competition, which wrapped up with Kesha Oayda winning on April 14.

The 25-year-old Victorian singer, better known as her stage name CYNTA, reached the top six before being eliminated.

But she’s given a “really honest update” now that she’s back to her normal life.

“These last two-and-a-half weeks have been the most confusing, challenging, emotional, exciting time,” she told her fans.

“I’m feeling a little bit displaced.”

She said she spent two months in a bubble in Sydney while filming the show, living out her dreams, and that had “been a hit”.

But she had to make some tough decisions to appear on Idol, and those choices have now come back to bite her.

“Before I went on Idol, I gave up my job and my rental. I’ve come back to no job and no rental,” she shared.

“I’m lucky enough to be living with my sister in between houses at the moment.”

She said she was applying for jobs because she needed work, and was also trying to organise gigs.

Jacinta added that she was also in the recording studio and her debut single would soon be out.

“I never see people talking about what happens after these shows, and I think people assume it’s all sunshine and rainbows, and it’s all uphill from here, but that’s not necessarily the case, and that hasn’t been the case for me,” she said.

“I’ve had a lot of trouble sleeping. I’m just trying to navigate the world post-Idol, and it’s a lot. I feel really displaced at the moment and really confused.

“I’m just hoping I find my way back to myself soon.”

While shows like Idol, Bachelor, Married At First Sight, and The Block can help elevate everyday Aussies into mini stars, they can also completely disrupt a person’s way of life.

Being on a program like that typically requires you to give up two to three months of your life, and, like Jacinta said, you usually have to quit your job and vacate your rental if you can’t find someone else to look after it.

Depending on how you’re portrayed on the show and your behaviour, it can also see you lose your job or ruin your career.

Australian Idol contestant flooded with support after grim update

Jacinta finished the video by thanking the people who had supported her and taken the time to send her beautiful messages.

Her video was met with loads people praising her for speaking out.

“I respect this so much. Not a lot of people are brave enough to show this side of the journey. It’s easy to celebrate the highs, but the in-between moments are just as real—and honestly, where the real growth happens,” one fan said.

“Please don’t stop believing in yourself. I can only imagine how challenging things must feel after Australian Idol, going from that incredible support system to suddenly navigating everything on your own. That’s a big shift. But your voice is truly something special,” another added.

“Life is tough and add the life changing situations and it can be really challenging. Take a breath and breathe through your worries. You’ll get through this and find your safe place soon,” a third assured her.