In an exclusive interview, Big Brother 6 contestant Orlaith McAllister reveals what life has been like for her since appearing on the iconic reality show in 2005.
Orlaith opens up about her career shifts, memorable celebrity encounters, and how her life has changed in the two decades since her time on Big Brother.
Read on to discover Orlaith’s reflections on the transition from fame to finding balance in her everyday life.
Life After Big Brother & Returning To Normal Life
I wanted a modelling career and that's the route I went down. Not that I didn't care, I was quite adventurous in my modelling career and I enjoyed doing what I did. I enjoyed the glamour end of it, I enjoyed the modelling end of it – I enjoyed it all.
I have always been grounded. I come from a very grounded family. No one ever made a fuss of me. No one would give me any special treatment, which is great. It's so good to be grounded.
So going out into the world of work and being Orlaith from Big Brother for me was quite daunting because I was like, oh my God, I'm going to be facing the public. People are going, oh my God, that's your girl from Big Brother. What's it going to be like? Am I going to make other people in my workplace awkward but being who I am in my own self? I am so glad that I am where I am in my life. That was my twenties and I loved it but I couldn't do that life now with who I am and what I have.
It's just being normal, you know, and not having to play up the camera. So there's just something nice about it and there's no camera following you.
Crazy Celebrity Moments Living In London Post-Big Brother
Oh my God, I met so many, many people. So Jude Law was the first one that I met and we were going up to the Big Brother house and I was in a taxi. I didn't even have my shoes on and I told the taxi driver to stop the car and I jumped out with my sandals kind of off and I was like ‘hi Jude’. Honestly, it was incredible.
I remember being on a boat party with Bob Geldof. I was pregnant at the time and it was fancy dress. So I was a pregnant Marilyn Monroe. Myself and Bob and we just stood the whole night talking and that was incredible.
Then there was an experience of when we were at a function with Ewan McGregor and Paul McCartney. Again, I was pregnant at more or less the final stages and Paul McCartney sang to my baby bump. He just put his hand on my tummy and sang. I can't remember the song because it was just chatting there going, whoa what is going on? And two weeks later actually, my waters broke early.
Sienna Miller, I remember meeting her in a nightclub, so so many. Whenever you look back on it and you're like, whoa, like that actually happened. You can't really explain it and you can't explain the feeling either. It was just one of those moments that was great. You look back and go wow.
I remember having dinner at the Ivy and Elton John walked in and I was like, oh my God. So, the Ivy has just opened in Belfast and I was asked was I going to go and I went, no, I've been there, done that, I had Elton John walk in and that’s not going to happen in Belfast!
I also remember meeting Baby Spice. There were friends of ours who were into music and they invited me out one night and we were just sitting somewhere in London and Baby Spice walks in with her husband Jade and that sounded normal. It's incredible how normal people are.
One of my best friends that I could say hand on heart was the loveliest, Chris Moyles. He was just the best. I did a radio interview with him and from that moment we just clicked. He did a celebrity singing show with Simon Cowell and he invited me along to that and I went to that.
What I Do Nowadays
Now, I work as a patient coordinator for work, we specialise in eyes so we do cataracts. I love chatting and meeting people.
What Made You Decide to Go in That Direction After Being an Estate Agent?
Well, I get a Friday off! Friday was the bonus. And I think I just needed something that was more…no jobs ever relaxed and every job has its challenges, but it was more the company that sold it for me, and the people. I like working with nice people and when I went for my meet and greet it was, it was just such an easy flow. When I went for the interview, I had the job, it was a very easy process.
No stress. I'm 45 now. I don't want stress in my life, so I just want to have a nice job. I start at half seven in the morning and I finish at half five and then I go to the gym and then I cook for my family. It's more the kind of simpler way of life and just happy. It's being happy and deciding what brings the happiness out in you, instead of kind of trying to chase the dream that I already had. You know, it's nearly 20 years on from that. I don't need that anymore.
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