Big Brother Australia is a breeding ground for budding reality TV talent, but no contestants have made their mark quite like these five housemates.
While some OG Big Brother royalty returned to the house for the show’s 2022 season under the fans versus favourites format, producers really missed out on some of the best personalities to have ever graced our TV screens.
Under the watchful eye of Big Brother (and the nation), these competitors won our hearts – but what have they been up to post-show?
Lucky for you, we have stalked the depths of the internet (and Instagram) to report back on WTF the most beloved contestants in Big Brother Australia history are up to now!
Sara-Marie Fedele – 2001
Ah, the bum dance… reality TV was so much more simple back in 2001 when Sara-Marie Fedele won the hearts of the nation during Big Brother‘s inaugural season.
Sara-Marie came third during the series, and after leaving the house spent several years working both childcare and retail jobs.
In 2018 the beloved star returned to the screen briefly for a guest stint on Studio 10, but quickly retreated back out of the public eye and moved to Western Australia.
We were hoping the OG queen of the bum dance would return for Big Brother Australia 2022 but alas, our dreams were dashed.
Chrissie Swan – 2003
She may have come second to 2022 returnee Reggie Bird when she took on Big Brother in 2003, but Chrissie Swan certainly didn’t lose out on a life in front of the camera.
Many Big Brother housemates have gone on to be TV or radio presenters and Chrissie is certainly one of the most recognisable alums.
She has become an Aussie household name after a stint on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Australia, co-hosting The Circle, The Great Australian Spelling Bee, Long Lost Family Australia and Can of Worms, as well as proving her radio chops on the Chrissie, Sam & Browny show on Nova 100. Chrissie is also a regular co-host on The Project.
On June 9, Chrissie was announced as a new Masked Singer Australia judge, alongside Abbie Chatfield, Mel B and returning judge Dave Hughes.
Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald – 2004
Many may have forgotten, but Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald of NOVA’s Fitzy & Wippa actually got his start on Australia’s OG reality show.
The former AFL player has had a tremendously successful career since leaving the show in 2004, going on to host his eponymous breakfast radio show alongside Michael “Wippa” Wipfli.
Name any mainstream Network Ten show – The Project, Studio 10, Family Feud – Fitzy has been on it. He is pretty much a part of the furniture now when it comes to Aussie pop culture.
Ben “Ben from Brisbane” Zabel – 2013
Best known as “Ben from Brisbane”, Ben Zabel was one of the quirkiest personalities to come out of Big Brother Australia.
Ben experienced a largely positive shift in his life after the show, as Australia adored all the weird traits he had once been bullied for and anybody who watched the 2013 season will recall Ben’s iconic “snort-laugh”.
Ben often appeared on Nine Mornings and later became a roving reporter for Studio 10, based in (you guessed it) Brisbane. He also launched a Cameo account as a little side hustle.
But his biggest post-show project was his 10-part web doco Graceland Happiness Project with returning BB contestant Tim Dormer.
Ben opened up about his experiences with anxiety and depression while exploring Elvis Presley’s hometown.
Skye Wheatley – 2014
While she wasn’t necessarily most viewers’ favourite housemate, Skye Wheatley was certainly iconic.
Her diva antics kept everyone entertained, and accordingly, it’s no big shocker that she is still very much in the public eye today.
All these years on, the blonde bombshell is one of the nation’s most high-profile influencers with a whopping 650k Instagram followers (and counting).
Further, her YouTube videos are pretty much everyone’s guilty pleasure because surprise, surprise, Skye is still slightly unhinged in the best way possible.
She is also a mumma to two adorable boys, Forrest and Bear, with her partner Lachlan Waugh.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 191 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
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