BIG Brother legend Chantelle Houghton has revealed she was left with “trauma” after her stint on the show nine years ago.
Chantelle, who made history as the first non-celebrity to enter the house on a celebrity year, issued the new batch of stars a warning before the new series kicks off next week.
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The former reality star, 41, said she is currently having therapy as she admitted contestants should prioritise their mental health before signing up for the fly-on-the-wall show.
Chantelle said: “I’ve previously struggled with my mental health, because of trauma that I went through.
“I’m in therapy taking good care of myself – so I just think if you are prone to having issues with your mental health, then I wouldn’t suggest putting yourself in certain situations.
“One of them would be a reality show where you are going to be really open to criticism, and if you don’t deal with that easily, then you shouldn’t put yourself in that situation.
“I’m not saying if you’ve got mental health issues like anxiety and depression it should stop you doing stuff in life, but I’m sure the people that do stuff with those conditions know their limits.”
Chantelle also opened up about some of the harder moments while appearing on the TV experiment.
This included her acrimonious relationship with US former basketball player and housemate Dennis Rodman, 63.
“So there was a lot of friction between me and Dennis Rodman when I was in the Big Brother house,” she said to WDW Bingo.
“Some of it was shown on TV, but a lot of it wasn’t.
“I was only 21 at the time, but if I was the age I was today I would never let him speak to me like that.”
Chantelle opened up about one incident, she claimed: “Another thing, I was running out of foundation in the house and Big Brother had let me put it on the shopping list.
“The shopping got delivered and I watched him basically get my foundation and put it in his pocket.
“He stole my foundation! I was thinking – how am I going to get my foundation back? I didn’t want to say “I’ve just seen you put my foundation in your pocket”.
“Now, at my age, I would.
“But I was thinking OMG what am I going to do – and then I asked him for it and he said he didn’t have it – then in the end he gave it back.
“But yeah, he stole my foundation and really genuinely wasn’t very nice to me at all.”
Although appearing on a reality show has its down sides, Chantelle admitted she’d jump at the chance of of doing it again.
She said: “I mean obviously I’ve done it twice, but if I was asked again I absolutely would, like of course I would.
“It’s great fun for however long you’re in there, you get paid, your bills are paid for at home, do you know what I mean, all of that. Free food, playing games.
“Of course I would, I’d jump at the chance. It’d be like a retreat! A retreat from life for a bit. So yeah. 100% I would yeah.
“A third time would be ridiculous haha, but I would say yes.”
But it wasn’t all bad for Chantelle as she did bag herself a husband while being on the show.
Chantelle’s romance with Ordinary Boys singer Preston and the pair went on to marry in August 2006.
She said: “Yeah definitely, I love watching romance, I think everyone loves a romance love story don’t they. I mean, he comes from a Love Island background, he went on a TV show to find love, so it’d be great for him to then go on Big Brother and do the same again, but maybe more as himself as opposed to being on a show that is built around finding love, because that would be more authentic wouldn’t it.
“On Love Island we’re all watching everyone trying to find love, whereas Big Brother is not a love/dating show.
“So yeah it would be great to watch him find love with somebody in the Big Brother house.
“I think a house romance would definitely make it easier for you, because you’ve got that person haven’t you.
“Whereas if you have no real friendship or connection, you’re sort of there on your own and it’s quite lonely and there’s a lot of mind games and stuff.
“So as long as it’s a genuine love story, then I think it’s a great thing, but I just hate the showmance ones because people know how to play the game now. You know the same thing is being recreated over and over again.
“But I think the public are really good at seeing through showmances. So yeah, a real love story I’d love to see, definitely! It’s great to watch people happy and falling in love isn’t it?”
Chantelle and Preston’s marriage sadly ended in divorce in 2007.
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