The dark side of Big Brother: Reggie Bird reveals how winning the show in 2003 brought her into a world of drugs, stalkers and con men – as she admits the $250,000 prize ‘just went’
Reggie Bird has revealed the harrowing aftermath of winning Big Brother in 2003 – and her ordeal is a cautionary tale for anyone thinking about applying for reality TV.
The former fish and chip shop owner from Tasmania said this week that her fame and $250,000 prize money ‘just went’ in flash, leaving her to pick up the pieces.
The 46-year-old mother of two also told the Not Here to Make Friends podcast that being a celebrity exposed her to stalkers and con men who took advantage of her.
The dark side of Big Brother: Reggie Bird has revealed how winning the show in 2003 brought her into a world of drugs, stalkers and con men. Pictured at the Big Brother finale in July 2003
To make matters worse, she ‘couldn’t get a job’ for two years after the show because no one would take her seriously.
She ended up spending ‘all the money [she] had left’ on rent, before being ‘ripped off’ by someone claiming to be a television producer.
The con man claimed he was making a travel show, and asked Reggie to pay for the pilot episode, which never materialised.
Losing it all: The former fish and chip shop owner from Tasmania said this week that her fame and $250,000 prize money ‘just went’ in flash, leaving her to pick up the pieces
She paid the man in multiple five thousand dollar installments, but did not disclose on the podcast how much she was scammed out of in total.
Reggie’s children, Mia and Lucas, have asked her what happened to the prize money, and their questions make her wish she’d made better decisions.
She said: ‘The kids go, “Oh, mum, didn’t you win all this prize money with Big Brother?” And I do wish in hindsight I didn’t do the things I did, but I didn’t know. I was living and I lived life. I wish I had more guidance.’
Career woes: To make matters worse, Reggie ‘couldn’t get a job’ for two years after the show because no one would take her seriously. Pictured at the Big Brother finale in July 2003
Perhaps the most traumatising event after winning Big Brother was being stalked by a man who used ‘many aliases’ and would camp outside her house.
Reggie was even offered illegal drugs while being whisked off to celebrity events at the height of her fame, but she refused them.
‘I got offered so many drugs. And I don’t take drugs and I didn’t know what they were. I remember in Melbourne someone said, “Oh, we’re going to go pick up Charlie.” And I said, “Who’s Charlie?” And they were all laughing,’ she said.
Health woes: These days, Reggie is legally blind after being diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa
These days, Reggie is legally blind after being diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa.
She has lost 90 per cent of her vision and walks with the aid of a cane.
Meanwhile, her son suffers from cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body.
Woes: Her son, Lucas, suffers from cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body