Carolina Wilga: Celebrity publicist says backpacker could earn ‘serious money' for selling survival story

West Australian

17-07-2025

Celebrity publicist Max Markson says German backpacker Carolina Wilga could earn 'serious money' if she decides to sell her harrowing survival story to a media outlet.
Ms Wilga was discharged from Fiona Stanley Hospital on Wednesday, five days after she was miraculously found after spending almost a fortnight lost in WA's Wheatbelt region.
The 26-year-old spent 12 days on foot and survived by drinking water from puddles and sleeping in a cave, before she was spotted by a passing local.
Mr Markson described Ms Wilga's remarkable feat as an 'incredible story' and said it would likely attract international media attention.
'I think she could definitely sell the story here in Australia, she could definitely sell it in Germany, and she could probably sell it in America, New Zealand and the UK,' he told The West Australian.
'She's definitely worth serious money and she should capitalise it for her sake.'
Mr Markson said people were eager to hear Ms Wilga's survival story, but said her first priority was to make a full recovery.
'People want to hear her story, there's no doubt about that . . . she's so young and it will benefit her in the long term,' he said.
'I'm not saying she has to do interviews all the time, but she should capitalise on it — the fact that she's alive (means) she can earn serious money.
'She's got to sort herself out (and feel better) because it's a really hard experience that she's gone through.'
Mr Markson has been behind some of the country's biggest TV deals, including Nine's controversial rumoured $2 million payment to Cleo Smith's family for her story about her 18-day kidnapping ordeal.
In a statement earlier this week, Ms Wilga thanked the WA community for their dedicated search efforts.
'I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support,' she said.
'The thought of all the people who believed in me, searched for me, and kept hoping for me gave me the strength to carry on during my darkest moments. For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
'Especially to the police investigators, searchers, the German Consulate, the medical staff and the wonderful nurses who took care of me with so much compassion.
'My deepest thanks also go to every single person who simply thought of me – and of course, to my rescuer and angel, Tania.'
On Monday night, Ms Wilga posted photographs from her hospital bed surrounded by food gifted to her by the German Consulate.
'When you need to gain 12 kilograms back,' the photo caption read.