Will Maria Botelho Moniz be rewarded for her excellence?

Big Brother Verão is drawing to a close, and with it comes Maria Botelho Moniz 's season as host of Sunday nights on TVI. For now, the question remains: will she return to host the Diaries in the new season of Casa dos Segredos, which is about to begin, or will another project be in store for her? Meanwhile, many fans are already expressing their longing for the host. But the question remains: will the network reward Maria for her work and achievements?

Before the reality show's premiere, rumors swirled within TVI that Maria wasn't the first choice for the format. José Eduardo Moniz reportedly even considered names like Manuel Luís Goucha or João Patrício . Even so, when invited, the presenter immediately accepted the challenge, seeing it as an opportunity to establish herself.

The ratings leave no doubt. While, initially, many told Pedro Bianchi Prata's partner that this would be a "poisoned gift," in her own words, Maria proved that any opportunity can be valuable when grabbed with "tooth and nail." What's more, she demonstrated that excellence continues to exist on Portuguese television and that a "breath of fresh air" was more than welcome in a format that has been exhausted in recent years. Therefore, immediately after the premiere gala, thousands of fans were already dubbing her the "Queen of Reality Shows." A nickname that, until then, had been associated only with Teresa Guilherme, whose name, let's be clear, will forever be conflated with the history of reality shows in Portugal.

Maria knows this opportunity may not come around again. But she also knows that no one can take away the merit she's earned. Because you either have panache and elegance, or you don't. And Maria has proven she has them in spades, the result of years of dedication.

For my part, I only wish her projects capable of making her shine, as much as she made Big Brother shine. It's exactly the same thing I wish for all those who work hard in pursuit of their dreams. Because one thing is certain: when success is slow in coming, but it does arrive, it always comes with the most precious reward: excellence.

Text: Luís Duarte Sousa; Photos: Impala and DR

Follow Nova Gente on Instagram