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Big Brother winner Nadia Almada has apologized for “fat-shaming and abusing” herself following her historic victory in the reality show 20 years ago.
The Portuguese hairdresser was the show’s first trans winner and is being hailed as an inspiration for representation of the trans community, but she was teary-eyed as she told Loose Women how bad she felt about being unkind to her younger self.
Almada added that if she were to take part in Big Brother now, she would still hide the fact that she is a trans woman because it is “nobody’s business”.
What, how and why?
When Almada won Big Brother in 2004, she was praised for her portrayal of the trans community and launched a successful career thanks to her popularity with viewers.
But when she appeared on Loose Women to talk about her reality TV win 20 years ago, Almada became emotional as she looked at photos of herself from the time of her victory.
Having chosen not to tell any of her housemates on the show that she is trans, Almada told Loose Women of her stay in the Big Brother house: “It was a cardboard prison but I was so emotionally and mentally free in there because it was a world within a world. It was very liberating.”
The program showed some old photos of Almada from 2004 and she said: “When I look at these pictures, I have to deeply apologize to her (I’m talking about herself) for denouncing her for her obesity, objectifying her and treating her badly. Somehow, at some point, I labeled this young lady because she did not meet your standards…”
Almada fought back tears as she interrupted her speech, with Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan comforting her.
The Big Brother winner continued: “Now I’m really talking to myself. I’m sorry I did that to Nadia because it was a special moment and I had to put her in the attic or the basement. That comes with maturity and experience. 20 years later, I have to embrace a different strength in myself. I embrace it and feel better for it.”
Nadia Almada would continue to keep her gender identity secret
Almada also admitted that despite better representation of transgender people on television, she would continue to keep her gender identity secret if she were to participate in Big Brother now.
Brenda Edwards was asked if she would hide her transsexuality if she were on the show now, and Almada said, “Yeah, I would do the same thing, and it’s really nobody’s business. I think it was a big secret because that’s the way it was, we weren’t represented as trans women anywhere. It wasn’t something we came out about publicly and were visible in any aspect of our society.”
“My narrative was that it’s just a facet of me. In the house, I took control and created my own narrative. Before I went into the house, I was pigeonholed and labeled with all sorts of derogatory terms, so I just wanted to be that young lady.”
She continued: “After I left the show, I became the first point of reference for many people. Right now, the situation is very toxic, there is a lot of discord. What is important is that the world recognizes the humanity behind the person, as opposed to any religion, gender…
“Let’s look beyond that. Stop segregating us women in terms of chromosomes, biological things.”
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1.
