REALITY BITES
Makeovers, break-ups and being abused in the street. Four ex-housemates reveal what really happens after Big Brother
'I WANT MORE FAME'
Charley Uchea, BB8
With a yet-to-be-released book (titled Misunderstood), an album in the
pipeline and plans to open a Carnaby Street boutique that will be filmed for
TV, self-styled It girl Charley Uchea is still banging on fameıs door Ĵ and
sheıs still locked out.
"I just want people to see the real me," says the 23-year-old Londoner. "I have a heart and I want people to know."
Desperate to shed her aggressive persona, Charley says she was too young for fame when she went on BB in 2007. "I remember a girl yelling at me in the street: 'Youıre a tramp.' It really hurt. I just thought: 'How can you say that?' Iım not a bad person. I was totally naive.
"People think that if youıve been on reality TV, youıre public property and they can pick fights with you everywhere you go. When I left the house the psychologist handed me a huge folder of cuttings. Many of the stories were lies and hurtful. Seeing so many people calling me a bitch was horrible. I didnıt recognise myself."
Charleyıs family were affected too, and she recently won £20,000 in damages
from a newspaper. Charley explains: "Iıd worked as a lap dancer before
Big Brother. My mum never knew. I just did it because I wanted to be flash.
I wanted a nice car, nice clothes and to go to cool bars. The money was good
but I never wanted my mum to find out. That upset her. One paper even
claimed I was some kind of vice girl. I won damages from them because that
was totally untrue."
Yet despite this, Charley has no regrets. She has money, hopes of a singing
career, and still gets VIP entry to clubs. "Since Big Brother I haven't
had to work. I've bought a nice car and Iıve made money from photo shoots
and magazine interviews," she says.
Charley also wants to put her fame to good use. "I've been working on a documentary going out to soup kitchens and speaking to girls whoıve been on crack and have found themselves homeless. Girls where I live look up to me because I have had exposure and I want to use that in a positive way," she explains.
"When I went on the show I was desperate for fame, but Iıve realised it comes at a price. Now I want to be happy and to be recognised for doing something other than being on Big Brother. I used to be flash, but I think I'm more real now."
'BB GAVE ME A BABY'
Sophie Pritchard, BB3
Some girls get a menıs mag photo shoot out of Big Brother; Sophie Pritchard got a son. The 31-year-old ex-recruitment worker from Buckinghamshire fell for housemate Lee Davey in the third series. They got married and had Max, now three, but there was no happy ending after Sophieıs post-natal depression ended the romance.
"The depression lasted for 10 months," she says. "I lost my grandmother the day before I had Max and got so low. I'd cry all the time. It was hard as Lee didn't know what to do. We drifted apart and three months after Max was born, we split up. It was terrible, but I'm stronger because of it and Lee and I are still close."
Did BB change her? "Definitely," Sophie says. "I used to be a party girl, but because Lee was quiet, I tried to be like him. We had such an intense relationship inside and outside the house. We were together constantly for two years. We felt like we had to prove we were genuinely in love Ĵ it was a lot of pressure."
Four years after BB, having dealt with sudden fame and her break-up, Sophie's finally back to her old, bubbly self.
"I like being independent again and I love being a mum. Max is so sweet and tells me he loves me all the time. I feel fulfilled," she smiles.
Despite a brief presenting stint on Channel 4's RI:SE, Sophie says she never wanted fame. "Big Brother was amazing. It gave me my son, but now Iım looking forward to the next part of my life, which is training to be an art teacher," she says. "I still get recognised sometimes, but itıs always positive. Iım glad I didnıt do anything on the show that could stop me fulfilling my dream of being a teacher."
'FOR TWO YEARS I COULDN'T "DO" NORMAL'
Sissy
Rooney, BB4
When Sissy Rooney, now 32, was kicked out three weeks into series four, she could barely leave her house without being harassed by the public.
"I didnıt work for two years. I couldnıt go on a bus or do normal things, so I lived off the £25,000 I made from interviews after I left the house,² she says. ³Iıve never been the type to fall out of nightclubs or go to every party in town. I've never used being on Big Brother to queue-jump Ĵ I'd be too ashamed!
"I went back into my career in fashion and worked hard. I don't think the show changed me but I have changed as a person since.
I'm more independent and confident and Iım working to achieve the things I want in my life."
Sissy stood out among the housemates as a loud Scouser, but now her voice is being heard in a different way, inspiring young people to become entrepreneurs and express themselves through fashion. She now runs Street Style Surgery Ĵ a scheme that encourages young people to become designers.
She explains: "We start by asking them to bring in a blank top, then I show them how they can customise it with coloured sprays, buttons, sequins and appliqués. Theyıll create their own design, paying for the materials they've used. It's about inspiring young people, motivating them, helping them recognise their talent and making them feel good."
Sissyıs work saw her nominated for a UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur award and in December she went to India to visit children working for the UK fashion industry.
"My dream would be to have my logo as a worldwide ethical and Fairtrade brand," she says. "I would love to have a bag designed by a 15 year old in the UK, then manufactured in India and sold in mainstream stores, with the profits being invested in India to help children on the streets over there."
Sissy, whoıs based in Didsbury, Manchester, is also working on government sponsored schemes with homeless youngsters and those who fall into the NEET group, which stands for Not In Education, Employment or Training.
"I've worked with people who have been on the streets and involved in gun and knife crime and helped them to do something positive," she says. "It's the most rewarding thing I have ever done and I feel so lucky that I can change lives and have a positive impact on young people."
Sissy reckons it's a blessing that after the initial interest she suffered no backlash from being on the show.
"I was true to myself and think thatıs why I came out unscathed," she says. "Thankfully there weren't any negative stories in the press. All my friends were very loyal and kept their mouths shut! After things settled down, I just got on with my life."
'I COULDN'T GET A JOB'
Emma Greenwood, BB5
Infamous for her removal from the BB house in series five after a vicious row with Victor Ebuwa, Emma Greenwood says back then she was ³dippy, ignorant and out of control, but Iıve worked to turn it around."
Five years ago, Emma and Geordie Michelle Bass were put in a secret bedsit and made to watch their fellow housemates bitch about them for days. When they were put back in the house, all hell broke loose and Emma and Victor had to be separated after making threats to kill each other. The police were called to the Big Brother studios in Elstree and the following day, Emma was removed from the house for her own safety.
"I'm glad I stood up for myself because they really slagged me off," she says. "But I'm a different person to the girl I was in there."
Determined Emma, 25, now lives in a plush house in the country and runs a property website. But to do that she has had lessons in reading and writing and has worked for two years with a life coach to express herself in an articulate and professional manner.
"People are so surprised when they hear me now because Iım nothing like I was on the show. Iım intelligent and well-spoken and I'm proud of what Iıve achieved," she says.
After leaving BB, Emma made £80,000 and spent the first three years partying, swanning off on holidays and turning up to every club and bar opening in London. She boosted her income working as a glamour model and on an X-rated TV channel, but after a night presenting a risqué show, she decided sheıd had enough.
Emma recalls: "I was working at a boxing event in just a bikini and the crowd were yelling at me to get my boobs out. I just thought: 'I've had enough of this,' and walked out. It was the best thing I ever did."
Emma decided she wanted to start a career in advertising, but struggled to find anyone who would take her seriously. ³Employers thought I was an idiot from Big Brother. Theyıd seen me screaming and shouting on TV and thought I was a liability," she says. "I had to re-educate myself with a tutor and life coach."
Soon Emma was working selling advertising space in the Times Education Supplement. "I went from being unable to write a sentence to dealing with professors from Oxford and Cambridge. It was amazing," she recalls.
"It's been hard to get to where I am. I spent days in the job centre feeling so low. I still feel I have to justify myself because of what I was like on Big Brother. But now I can use it to my advantage. If I want to close a deal and I feel the client isn't keen, I'll chat about being on the show. It makes people warm to you and it has helped."
Emma says she is now happy to live a quiet life out of the spotlight with her boyfriend Nicholas.
"I only go out once a month now. My partying days are well and truly over, but when I do go out, I make up for it. I still see Marco Sabba and Michelle Bass, but that's it. I spend most of my time working or with my head in a cookery book at the moment, I'm a real domestic goddess. Big Brother gave me a great opportunity to change my life and I think it's worked out pretty well."
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...
Craig Phillips, BB1 The winner of the first series still does pantomime and DIY shows.
Helen Adams, BB2 Split from fellow housemate Paul Clarke and works as a hair stylist in Bristol.
Jonny Regan, BB3 Works as a computer programmer for Siemens.
Cameron Stout, BB4 Works for the Scottish National Trust.
Nadia Almada, BB5 The 2004 winner is unemployed and lives in London.
Orlaith McAllister, BB6 Expecting her second baby with property developer Gary McCausland.
Pete Bennett, BB7 Still trying to make it as a successful musician.
Gerry Stergiopoulos, BB8 Published a book called Treat Them Mean And Keep Them Keen.
Rachel Rice, BB9 Training to be a drama teacher after winning the show last year.
Photography: Lancton, Channel 4, Kent News & Pictures Ltd Hair make-up: Caroline Piasecki, Sara Bowden Styling: Lucie Clifford
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This article has 3 comments
where is Charley's black dress from?
By beca.. Posted June 8 2009 at 9:39 PM.
I watched the early series of BB but not the later ones as it seemed they were all just totally fame-hungry by then. It's nice to see these housemates have made something of their lives and haven't been wrecked by fame!
By pam.. Posted June 3 2009 at 10:43 AM.
id love to read charleys book...
By sam.. Posted May 31 2009 at 4:50 PM.