Big Brother Australia 2014 - Housemate Bios

Lawson

23

Apprentice Electrician

Perth

Lawson is still learning the tricks of his electrician’s trade, but it’s magic tricks that really spark him up. “I went to university to study performing arts which left me with a lot of spare time. So I started learning magic which I can say, with all modesty, I have gotten really good at.” Lawson has no illusions about what life will be like living in the close confines of the Big Brother house and has a plan to make friends with everyone: “If I don't get along with someone I make a conscious effort to get them onside. There’s a girl at my gym who was arrogant and stuck up and never said hello. So I just continuously said ’hello and how are you?’ until she had to talk back to me. Now we are good friends. “

Jake

25

Student

Brisbane

Jake was a serious tennis player chasing a career as a pro until an injury convinced him it wasn’t the life for him. “I was ranked in the top 100 male tennis players in Australia, but after a series of tough losses on the Australian circuit and an ankle injury I decided to go to university instead. I studied property economics before moving on to graphic design because it was more creative.” Jake is blunt about what he’s like to live with: “I can be really annoying to be around at times. I like to purposely push people’s buttons. I don't really like people who have shallow minds or aren't very open to trying new things. I don't like those people that crawl into a ball and enjoy sulking about at home. They irritate me. I like people that are a bit weird, people that have something to offer the world rather than whingeing about the things they don't have or the things that they want and are too slack to go out there and get.”

Sam

26

Paralympian and Motivational Speaker

Melbourne

Sam broke the 100m Butterfly world record at the 2004 Athens Paralympic, his first games at the age of 16, making international headlines for lying to an American journalist that his leg was mauled off by a kangaroo. “Everything I do is pretty much based around humour. Rather than get angry or aggravated at something I try to find the funny things in the situation, especially with having one leg I see this as an opportunity to pull pranks.” Born without his right femur due to unknown circumstances, Sam had his right leg amputated at the age of five which enabled him to wear a prosthetic. Never letting his disability get in the way, Sam is a double gold Paralympic champion who in 2009 was awarded with the Order of Australia Medal for services to his country and for being a role model for his younger team mates.

Travis

24

Importer

Melbourne

An unashamed home-boy, Travis still lives with his mum, dad and two brothers in Melbourne’s Western suburbs: “Luckily we all get along so there isn't too much tension in the air, unless I find either of my brothers wearing out one of my favourite shirts. I have lived in my current house for around 15 years.” When he’s not playing State League Aussie Rules, single Travis is usually out on the town playing the field: “I will never find myself in on a weekend night, too much fun to be had in the city. I have never really had a serious relationship with a girl. People may get the idea I am a bit of a player but it’s just that the right girl hasn’t come along yet. I like interesting and crazy girls which might have something to do with them potentially not wanting to have anything serious with me either.”

Jason

26

Estate Agent

Canberra

Running his own agency means Jason has to work hard and talk a lot. “My days are crazy. Some mornings I will be at the gym at 5am. I am in the office at 7.30am and currently working 6 days a week. Running an office with 12 staff can be very stressful. I get 30-50 calls a day and the same in emails. The Big Brother house will be a great break.” Jason’s big hate is bullies: “If someone has been intentionally mean to someone I will stick up for them. No matter how big they are.” His big interest is UFOs: “I believe in UFOs and aliens. I have watched quite literally hundreds and hundreds of documentaries about aliens and UFOS and conspiracy theories about 9/11, the Pentagon etc. So many unexplained things that have occurred during our history that people cannot explain.”

Ryan

26

Graphic designer

Sunshine Coast. Queensland/Sydney

“I think I would know more about girls than any of the other guys” is Ryan’s confident boast, but it’s not the bragging of a playboy: “It’s because I was brought up with three sisters. I bet a lot of guys have no idea what a GHD is or what the term ‘I don’t want one, I’m not hungry’ really means.” What Ryan can’t understand are people who argue a point without knowing the facts: “In particular young Australians who hate the Liberal Government. I don’t really know much about politics but when people go on about issues they don’t really know much about themselves, it gets under my skin.” And that’s not all he has a gripe about: “I don’t like watching people eat. If they eat in a decent way I don’t think about it but once that can has been opened I won’t stop thinking about it. Just slow down and breathe.”

Dion

24

Sales rep.

Brisbane

Dion has two obsessions in life. His girlfriend of four years, Jordan, and his fitness. On a typical day he’ll train three times and eat a dozen eggs for fuel. “Lazy people really get on my nerves. Negative people too who have no drive for life. Life’s too short for negativity.” Dion’s a non-drinker and non-smoker who has already bought a house and intends to settle down and raise a family: “People with lack of initiative and lack of common sense annoy me. I also don’t like people who are selfish and put themselves first or people who lie and are dishonest.” He admits to being quick to judge: “My life is quite simple and controlled, much the opposite of the Big Brother house.”

Gemma

29

Nurse

Perth

Gemma is a fiery redhead whose no-nonsense approach to life and people comes from being bullied about her height in school. Gemma has a genetic condition called Marfan’s Syndrome which makes her abnormally tall. “I was 6ft 3” at 13, super skinny, I had red hair and braces so I got teased all the time. By year 10 I had had enough and realised I was actually quick witted so they backed off and my confidence has been sky-high ever since.” Gemma now stands at 195cm (6ft 5”) which makes her a handy netballer but still attracts unwanted attention and comment.

Sandra

30

Fashion store manager

Wagga Wagga, NSW

Country girl Sandra had a healthy small town upbringing which involved large doses of sport and saw her representing NSW at softball. Post school she attempted university degrees in psychology, Arts and Physio. “I have finally unsubscribed from the theory University Degree equals success. Throughout my degrees, I also poured thousands of schooners, fitted many bras in an iconic lingerie store and took abuse at a phone company.” Sandra says she got the innocent country girl knocked out of her after living on the Gold Coast for a couple of years. Now she’s back in Wagga Wagga managing a store that sells underwear.

Lisa

29

Executive Assistant

Sydney

Lisa is a proud “Westie” who was brought up in the outer Sydney suburb of Penrith but now lives the cosmopolitan life in the city. “I remember Dad being so poor that we used fold out deck chairs as our couch for many years, but I didn't care. We spent our days baking scones and spending weekends at the BMX track or tinkering with the car.” After school Lisa moved to the more fashionable eastern suburbs and started working in high-end real estate sales. “The girls at the office used to tease me as I spoke with a "Westie" drawl and I ate McDonalds most days for lunch. I decided that I wanted to be more like them so I began to read magazines and teach myself how to dress and speak properly. My dad was so proud. I have never forgotten where I come from and I’m still a Penrith Panthers supporter, although a more refined one.”

Priya

27

High School Teacher

Adelaide

Indian-born Priya was raised in a rural town by middle class parents who worked hard to send her to a Catholic convent school so she would learn English. She moved to New Delhi after finishing school and had to become the family breadwinner at 17, earning money by teaching English while finishing her university degree. “I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I bought myself one and then plated it with silver. I worked my arse off until 22 and then moved to Australia with my husband.” The couple struggled here at first taking jobs in call centres and shops. “Now I have two Masters degrees, I own a nice property, have a decent job and live a fulfilling lifestyle.” Priya also dabbles in stand-up comedy and writes poetry.

Katie

25

Cupcake queen.

Sydney

One of six children, Katie knows you have to be loud to be heard. Her Greek/Italian father is a Uniting Church minister. “As you can imagine my father was very strict on me growing up. He knew what I was capable of so tried to keep me sheltered for as long as possible. Well, that didn't work. I moved out on my own when I was 16. We have an amazing relationship now that he understands that I don't fit the mould of "the Rev's daughter" and embraces me, foul mouth, tattoo and all!” Katie’s hobby of making cupcakes has now turned into a business. “I realised I had a talent for creating cute little cakes and I thought maybe I can make a living out of this.” Working for herself suits Katie’s big personality: “I'm a serious bossy boots and I have a bad temper, I can’t keep a secret and I’m the world’s biggest hypocrite.”

Aisha

22

Retail assistant

Sydney

Aisha was sports mad when growing up playing netball and filling in for her brother’s rugby team when they were short. She’s still super fit and has a personal trainer’s certificate. Unusually for her age she is a budding wine connoisseur. “I owe my appreciation of red wine to my gran who is also my bestie. She introduced me to fine wine and what foods it goes with. Now I love it.” The time to steer clear of Aisha is when she hasn’t eaten: “I get really hangry. Deny me food and I get flustered and short tempered.” Otherwise she’s ready for a good time: “I know how to enjoy myself and I never take things too seriously.”

Skye

20

Coffee shop girl

Gold Coast

Still young and searching for her calling in life, Skye has tried hairdressing and beauty therapy and is serving people coffee as she looks for a career that excites her. “I struggled academically and saw school as a social gathering for my entertainment. It’s safe to say that school was not my thing!”. Neither is keeping her thoughts to herself. “I am outspoken, honest, blunt, funny, imaginative, questioning, intuitive, super caring, loyal, opinionated and genuine. I could keep going but I'm also humble.” Skye’s sunny personality suits her present job where she sees a lot of the public. “I'm happy to be alive, anyone who isn't needs help. Breathing is a beautiful thing.”

Cat

31

Midwife

Melbourne

Cat started out as a mild mannered accountant with a big Melbourne firm but discovered crunching numbers wasn’t her vocation: “I worked there for almost 4 years and it's fair to say I hated every year of it.” She returned to university to study midwifery and found a career she loved. “I have been able to witness some of the happiest and saddest times in people's lives (mostly happy).” Cat was married for seven years before separating and opting for the single life. “I'm just truly enjoying being on my own. I'm ready for something new and exciting in my life. I think living in the Big Brother house is it.”

Leo

30

Personal Trainer

Gold Coast

Leo says he is very trusting, but he is not afraid to confront someone if they are out of line: “I’m not a pushover. I trust people and I believe in people’s goodness but that doesn’t mean I will let them walk all over me. I will definitely confront people if I feel like they are doing me wrong, or doing the House wrong.” After leaving Calgary and spending a year backpacking through Asia, Leo landed on the Gold Coast in search of eternal summer. Leo doesn’t own a TV and hasn’t watched any of this year’s Big Brother season, saying “I thought it would be an unfair advantage if I got to watch them before they got to watch me.” Leo is “super excited” about going in to the Big Brother House, saying he feels like he is “standing at the top of a rollercoaster. I can’t wait to get in and mix it up”. Leo thinks that his older age and maturity will allow him to make better connections with the females in the House, and he hopes that the males of the House follow his lead. One day, after waking up and walking past a mirror and not recognising himself, Leo decided to make a positive life change. Leo went from all-night party animal to fitness fanatic, and has been working a lot on his self-development ever since. He credits his Mum with teaching him how to be a gentleman and he believes that chivalry is not dead, always striving to be the best he can be.