Loana Petrucciani, the great winner of the first French reality TV show Loft Story, was found dead at her home on March 25. Victim of endless media attention, she marked an era from her rapid rise to her setbacks.
She was the icon of the first French reality TV show. Loana Petrucciani, winner of the first season of Loft Story on M6 in 2001, was discovered dead at the age of 48 on Wednesday, March 25. Her body was found at her home in Nice by firefighters and police. Nice Public Prosecutor Damien Martinelli announced the opening of an investigation into the circumstances of her death. According to initial information, the death dates back “several days,” the magistrate told AFP.
Damien Martinelli declared on Thursday, March 26 that “the first observations confirm a death dating back several days,” mentioning “the presence of a wound at the back of the skull and bruises in the lumbar region,” which could suggest that a “fall backwards” was the cause of death. At this stage, “nothing indicates the involvement of a third party.” Alerted by a neighbor, firefighters entered the apartment through a window. In addition to Loana’s body, they found the body of a dog.
11.7 million viewers followed her daily life Loana Petrucciani was propelled into the spotlight in 2001, when she participated in – and won – Loft Story, the first French reality show broadcast on M6. Adapted from the Dutch format Big Brother, the show locks up candidates for several weeks, filming them continuously.
The program became a social phenomenon. On the night of the finale, 11.7 million viewers watched her victory announcement.
In 2024, a series dedicated to the first season was launched on Prime Video, “Culte,” where Marie Colomb played her role. “It’s strange to see someone who looks like you, living your life. I cried the first time,” Loana said. However, she regretted not being consulted: “They never asked me: ‘Should we do this?'” reported the magazine Voici. M6 praised “a personality who deeply marked a whole generation,” mentioning “her spontaneity, sensitivity, and authenticity.”
A life marked by violence Born in August 1977 in Cannes, Loana grew up in a violent family environment. Discovered in Nice while working as a go-go dancer, she was selected by Endemol from among 13,000 candidates. Her IQ test revealed a score of 140.
During the show, an intimate scene in a pool with another candidate sparked a lasting controversy that would follow her throughout her career. “Behind her image was a sensitive and extremely intelligent woman,” recalled producer Alexia Laroche-Joubert.
Following her victory, Loana appeared on numerous TV shows and published an autobiography, “Elle m’appelait Miette,” which sold over 100,000 copies. But her media exposure gradually turned into a downward spiral. She tried to reinvent herself – as a model, singer, host – but failed to establish a lasting presence.
She made occasional appearances on reality TV shows, notably in 2006 in “Je suis une célébrité, sortez-moi de là!” where she finished third.
“We applauded her light… without protecting her shadow” Over the years, her personal struggles became public. In 2009, she was found unconscious and claimed to have been assaulted. She later attempted suicide.
Her close friend, Laurent Amar, told Paris Match: “You always feel guilty in those moments. I wonder what more I could have done.”
Since 2020, Loana had been hospitalized multiple times, facing psychological issues and past violence. She accused her former partner of beating her. In 2024, she seemed to be finding some peace: “Every day that I feel good is an extra day of happiness,” she said.
That same year, she spoke on television about a recent rape, in a state of great vulnerability.
Benjamin Castaldi, the host of Loft Story, summed up a collective responsibility: “We are all a little responsible. Because we watched. Because we commented.” Before concluding, “We applauded her light… without protecting her shadow.”
