In a touching moment during the rebooted Big Brother series, 18-year-old contestant Hallie, a youth worker, revealed her heartfelt intention to utilize the contest’s prize money for gender-affirming care if she emerges as the victor. This emotional revelation came during the second episode of the show’s revival, where Hallie courageously came out as a trans woman, moving her fellow housemates and the audience.
The outpouring of support from her fellow contestants was overwhelming, with many participants also openly sharing their preferred pronouns, marking a poignant moment of trans acceptance within the Big Brother house.
Later in the episode, Hallie opened up about her ongoing gender journey and her aspirations. During a candid conversation with another contestant, Kerry, she disclosed her plan to undergo full gender transition if she emerges as the winner, stating her desire for a “designer vagina.” Hallie also expressed her intention to use the prize money to repay her mother for the years she had supported her in accessing gender-affirming treatment.
The exact amount of this year’s Big Brother prize has yet to be disclosed, but in the 2018 season, it totaled £100,000. Hallie’s revelation shed light on the financial burdens associated with gender-affirming care. She shared that she had been on hormone replacement therapy since the age of 16, but had to pause treatment due to the high costs of private healthcare and extended NHS waiting times. Hallie’s full treatment could cost up to £30,000 under private healthcare.
In response to these challenges, Hallie remarked, “It’s five plus years on the [NHS] waiting list. I don’t want to wait that long. I’ve never had a boyfriend, I’ve never had sex, never done anything sexual with anyone because I’m just not comfortable in my body. At the end of the day, sex isn’t the most important thing. The mind doesn’t match the body, that’s the best way to describe being trans. I have a female mind but the body just doesn’t match.”
While Hallie received a warm reception within the Big Brother house, online reactions varied, with some viewers criticizing the show’s perceived shift towards being more socially conscious. Big Brother has a storied history of providing a platform for diverse communities, with past winners like trans woman Nadia Almada and transgender man Luke Anderson making history with their victories.
The rebooted Big Brother series continues to air on ITV 2 on weekdays from 9 pm, providing a space for candid discussions about important issues, including gender identity and acceptance.