A Newcastle woman took the leap and appeared on SAS: Who Dares Wins on Channel 4 and has shared her story with The Northern Echo of what led to that decision.
Jordan Barker-Porter grew up in the travelling community and after realising in her teens that she was gay, she knew she was “a bit different” from her peers.
Due to her upbringing, Jordan felt great shame when she came out to her family and endured a difficult time both at home and at school.
It wasn’t until around five years ago after getting into boxing that she realised this skill could be useful not just regarding protection and defence but for emotional strength too.
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This led to Jordan becoming a professional boxer and a personal trainer, meaning she possessed qualities that would stand her in good stead once arriving in the jungle in Thung Ui, North Vietnam.
She decided to apply for SAS: Who Dares Wins after having watched the series before. The application process took three days but Jordan was over the moon to receive a call within 24 hours.
Jordan said: “It was such an amazing experience. It was really intense because you’ve got the cameras on you all the time but after a while you kind of forget their there.
“I was exhausted by the end, not just physically but mentally as well. I definitely think that was the main thing to overcome. I can’t describe the experience really, it was just a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I’m so glad I did it because I’ve really learnt a lot about myself.
“Over time I’ve got more confident in myself and just more comfortable with who I am and I’ve now realised that it’s a case of this is who I am, accept it or don’t, that’s fine.”
On arriving in the jungle in, Jordan was anxious and apprehensive but ultimately she was proud of herself for overcoming any insecurities and self-doubt.
Having been back home in her native Newcastle for roughly four months, the 29-year-old was thrilled to be reunited with her wife and daughter.
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