'Love Island Adria' Host Opens Up
Dragana Mićalović talks to RTL.hr about her unexpected new role, her philosophy of going with the flow, and her grandmother's witty recipe for longevity.
Dragana Mićalović talks to RTL.hr about her unexpected new role, her philosophy of going with the flow, and her grandmother's witty recipe for longevity.
When she got the call to take over one of the world's most-watched television formats, Dragana Mićalović didn't hide her surprise. The host of 'Love Island Adria' admitted in an interview with RTL.hr that she never pictured herself in that role, but it was precisely her awareness of the project's magnitude that prompted her to accept the offer as a major professional challenge.
"Well, I was quite taken aback because I really didn't envision myself as a host," said Mićalović, adding that she is aware she is taking on one of the world's most famous television production formats.
Her acceptance wasn't purely business-related. As she explains, everything coincided with a period in which she decided to let life lead her in unexpected directions. Accepting the engagement thus became part of a broader life philosophy about recognizing signs and being open to new opportunities.
"A person just needs to recognize the signs along the way and follow them, and that's exactly why I completely let go and relaxed and dove into all of this," she emphasized.
What particularly impressed Mićalović is how difficult it is to distinguish real-life situations from television dramaturgy. It's precisely that tension, similar to a scripted series, that makes each episode unique and unpredictable, the host believes.
"From a professional standpoint, I really like that at certain moments in every episode, you ask yourself whether it's reality or a series. Each episode has its own tone, its own drama and emotion, as well as lively moments needed for those scenes," she explained.
She summed up that realization with an emotional sentence: "So, I talk about 'scenes,' but really, it's all life happening there."
When asked directly whether she believes in love at first sight, Mićalović answered affirmatively and without reservation, revealing herself as a true romantic. For her, love isn't limited to one form or one person; it can appear in different moments and relationships.
"I'm a romantic, and I absolutely believe in love at first sight. I believe in love for life, and I believe that everything can be love," she said.
Speaking about the best love advice she's ever received, the host shared a family anecdote with a laugh. "To be honest, my grandma said: 'Dear, don't fall in love if you want to live to 150,'" she recounted, noting it was a humorous remark.
But behind the joke lies a more serious message that Mićalović considers the only right path in love and life. "The love advice I received and truly believe is the only correct one is to be honest. That way, you'll never go wrong," she stressed.
That philosophy of honesty is closely tied to her belief that everyone must try different things to discover what truly suits them. If something doesn't feel right or brings too much resistance, it's probably not meant to be, the host believes.
"A person has to try everything in life to know whether something is for them or not. If you don't do that, you're just going through the motions, spinning like a hamster, and that's not really living," she vividly described.
She concluded with a message about the importance of listening to your own heart and living in the present moment, regardless of others' opinions. "Whatever you do, do what your heart asks of you at that moment. You only have one life. Do what brings you joy, makes you happy, and fills your whole body with love," Mićalović said.
'Love Island Adria' can be watched exclusively on the Voyo platform starting this fall.
