The 'Grand Prix' stewardess who withdrew from television after a serious illness: "I knew I was dying"

The nostalgics couldn't be happier to be able to enjoy the Summer Grand Prix program again.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
29 July 2023 Saturday 16:25
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The 'Grand Prix' stewardess who withdrew from television after a serious illness: "I knew I was dying"

The nostalgics couldn't be happier to be able to enjoy the Summer Grand Prix program again. The format, which won the hearts of thousands of Spaniards more than a decade ago, has returned to TVE with new energy and renewed, although what has not changed is that it is hosted by Ramón García. The faithful to the space will have noticed the absence of one of the most recognized faces of the program: Pilar Soto, who was one day its co-host. There were many who wondered why Soto is not part of the team this time.

Soto was in charge more than a decade ago of explaining each of the tests that the contestants had to face. Every day she showed them the route and the obstacles they would have to overcome later. The program was a great job opportunity for Pilar, however, a force majeure event ended up keeping her off television.

Born in 1984 in Madrid, she began her professional career at a very young age, in 1993, in the program Give yourself a break. Subsequently, she co-hosted The Wheel of Fortune. In 1996 she presented her own show, called La tarde es joven. Subsequently, she moved to London, where she practiced as a model. On her return to Spain, the Madrid woman managed to become known for her role as Pamela in the series Al salir de clase. However, and despite the fact that everything was shot, she would later pay a very high price for her success on television.

In 2000, he started on Madrid television presenting Mamma Mia with Víctor Sandoval. This gave him the opportunity to present the chimes that same year for Telemadird. She was also a contestant on the reality show La selva de los famosos, where she could see the most intimate side of the presenter. However, after she went through the contest, Pilar disappeared from television, something that she would later tell the viewers.

After more than a decade without doing television, he reappeared in 2014 in the now extinct Sálvame Deluxe. Pilar then explained that she suffered from eating disorders, apart from her addiction to medication. "I lost a lot of weight," Soto explained then. "I knew I was dying. At that moment, I called out to Christ, and with the eyes of my soul I saw his face. I was still on the cross, crying. And I thought: 'My God, what have I done? Forgive me, Lord.' ", he expressed, revealing why he decided to strengthen ties with religion.

Consequently, she moved away from the media focus completely and dedicated herself to Catholicism, and even entered the Toledo convent of Las Clarisas de Madridejos. In recent years, the 38-year-old presenter has not completely abandoned the world of communication. Soto has collaborated in Catholic media such as Cope, Popular TV or ABC. In addition, it should be remembered that in 2016 she participated in the Sálvame snow week. She is sure that now there are many Grand Prix viewers who notice her absence and the particular way of co-presenting her.