Regina Sorensen
Regina Sorensen | |
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Big Brother 14 |
Regina "Reggie" Sorensen (née Bird; born 19 March 1974)
Small in stature with an unusual nasal intonation, she earned public admiration with her down-to-earth charm, strong work ethic, and naivety. She was the first Big Brother contestant to win twice (2003 and 2022 respectively). "Go Reggie" bumper stickers were a big hit in Tasmania in 2003.[4]
Sorensen was included in Hobart newspaper The Mercury's list of "Tassie's Top 200" movers and shakers in 2007.[5]
Career
In late 2003, Sorensen signed up with manager Harry M. Miller and filmed a pilot for a TV show which never made it to air.[6] Later she appeared as a contestant on 2005 Nine Network celebrity skating competition series Skating on Thin Ice. From December 2004 to May 2005 she worked for airline Virgin Blue as a flight attendant – her "dream job" – although she resigned claiming she had been bullied by her colleagues.[7]
Big Brother
In 2003, Sorensen won
Sorensen was involved in the week 12 task on season 9 of
In 2022, Sorensen entered
Personal life
Before appearing in Big Brother in 2003, Bird and her husband Adrian managed a fish and chip shop in Cambridge, Tasmania.[8] Their marriage ended shortly after the season finale.
She spent some time residing in Sydney and later Melbourne. She now lives in Queensland. In 2007, she gave birth to her first child, a daughter with her second husband, Dale Sorensen.[9][10] In 2009, she gave birth to a son, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at four weeks old.[11]
In 2005, Bird lost $40,000 to a conman who claimed to be a
Health
In 2008 she underwent emergency surgery arising from an
In 2017, Sorensen suffered from a stroke caused by a heart condition.[11]
She was interviewed by 60 Minutes in July 2009, during which she discussed her ongoing degenerative eye condition and her second child due in August 2009.[15] She has also appeared on The Daily Edition in 2016 to discuss her illness.[11]
References
- ^ Richards, Blair (17 December 2009). "Reggie's bionic eye hope". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ a b Christmass, Pip (25 April 2022). "Big Brother 2003 winner Reggie Bird set to rejoin the new season for 2022". 7 News. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ Minchin, Liz (22 July 2003). "Reggie wins Big Brother prize". The Age. with Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 15 May 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
- Sydney Morning Herald. May 19, 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ "Tassie's A list". The Mercury. 19 January 2007. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
- ^ "TV pilot for our Reggie". The Mercury. 26 November 2003.
- ^ Virgin ready for Reggie by The Age. May 19, 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "It's our ticket out of here". Herald Sun. 27 July 2003.
- ^ "Big Brother star Reggie: 'My miracle baby'". Woman's Day. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 1 May 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2007.
- ^ "Pregnant pause for Reggie". The Mercury. 20 December 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2007.
- ^ a b c Big Brother's Reggie Bird tears up detailing her battle with blindness Lachlan Guertin from Yahoo News!. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Life goes on out of the goldfish bowl". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012.
- ^ A stalker and a brush with homelessness: Reggie Bird's life after winning Big Brother. by Chelsea McLaughlin from Mamamia. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Linda (26 December 2008). "Oh, Brother! Reggie's Back". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
- ^ Usher, Michael (3 July 2009). "Reggie's Biggest Battle". 60 Minutes. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
External links
- Regina Bird at IMDb