Welcome to AfterEllen.com!

Enter your AfterEllen.com username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Home » Blogs » jamie murnane's blog » "Big Brother 11" casts a bisexual make-up artist

"Big Brother 11" casts a bisexual make-up artist

by
jamie murnane

The cast for Big Brother 11 has just been revealed, and it includes the first queer woman since 2005, when the Cuban-American contestant Ivette was part of Big Brother 6. This season, 24-year-old, tattooed bisexual Lydia Tavera joins the house, which has apparently been systematically divided into cliques. (Thanks to Jam13 for the tip!)

The show's executive producer Allison Grodner said in a recent interview:

We have cast people in groups or cliques from the popular kids to the brainiacs to the athletes to the off-beat. ... You may have graduated, but the truth is we never leave high school and this summer we are going to prove it.

Let's take a guess which category the young, hip make-up artist Lydia is supposed to fall under.

The Torrance, California native has the pleasure of being the only queer woman on Big Brother in the U.S., while the U.K. version currently has three (Lisa, Angel and Saffia). Unfair!

According to an AP article, Grodner also "teased that one of the bedrooms in the house will test the contestants' resolve." I have no idea what that could possibly mean, but I immediately think of A Shot at Love, which might not be a good thing, so we'll just have to see if Lydia ends up in that room — and if anyone is in there with her.

While U.S. Big Brother may be a bit behind the times with its lack of queer female contestants, they're at least catching up in some respects: this season, the house has gone green. The house walls have been made from reconstituted wood panels and the contestants are going to have to recycle and use an automatic composer.

So, maybe we won't see any same-sex hook-ups, but we can rest assured that all contestants are doing their part to save the environment (even if it is by force).

Here's Lydia's bio:

This single woman has been up-close-and-personal with fame as she used to be a nanny for a high profile couple, which surprises people given her tattooed body and eccentric personality. Her fellow Houseguests may judge her by her looks, but she says, "don’t judge a book by its cover."

She describes herself as unique, colorful, silly and mellow, but liars and disrespectful people really get under her skin. Thinking of what her mother would tell her to do really helps calm her down.

Lydia has a very close relationship with both of her parents. Her father, a police officer, isn’t fond of her body art, but he loves and supports her no matter what. She refers to her mom as her best friend. She is extremely close to her siblings as well.

Her hobbies include bowling, swimming and yoga. She does not like to watch any sports whatsoever.

Lydia hopes that her stay in the Big Brother house will bring her many new kind-hearted friends. She loves nice people and knows that they will share a lot together, especially during this experience.

And one thing we know about Lydia though: She's a dedicated Harry Potter fan.

Big Brother 11 premieres July 9. Will you tune in to check Lydia out? What do you think of the producer's thoughts on never leaving high school? (Uh, scary!)

  • jamie murnane's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
    • Submitted by
    jamie murnane
    on July 2, 2009 - 2:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    ash_effect's picture

    Big Brother fan here!

    Submitted by
    ash_effect (56 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 2:58pm.

    I was really hoping they were gonna have a queer woman on the show this season. So yes!! Lets just hope that she has an awesome personality to go with her wicked tattoos.

    And personally I didn't really like Ivette all that much on the season she was on. She hung out with a bunch of really unlikable people on that show and she became very unlikeable for me. I just wish I could re-watch that season and see what I think now.

    ~~~~~~~~

    love trumps fear, every time.

    monica_ca's picture

    Wow...

    Submitted by
    monica_ca (643 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 3:47pm.
    I had no idea that they were still doing this show here in the US.  Do people still watch it?
    Shona's picture

    I know you mentioned this but...

    Submitted by
    Shona (2 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 4:12pm.

    BB this year we had two lesbians, a gay guy AND a bisexual guy... Bit behind guys...

    Jen's picture

    Oh Big Brother

    Submitted by
    Jen (44 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 7:45pm.

    I'll definitely be tuning in! I'd have to agree with the producer's thoughts about never leaving high school. I think past Big Brother seasons have already established this fact though, along with every other reality TV show out there.

    Jaime's picture

    i haven't watched this show

    Submitted by
    Jaime (52 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 8:00pm.
    i haven't watched this show in a long time. I actually thought it was cancelled here in the US. I'll probably tune in for an episode or two. I just hope she doesn't fuel the bisexual stereotype.
    Luckyducksters's picture

    HEY!

    Submitted by
    Luckyducksters (14 posts)
    on July 2, 2009 - 11:20pm.
    my name is Lydia too! I just don't hear that name anymore...let alone a queer lady!
    voy_your's picture

    You guys have to forgive my angst

    Submitted by
    voy_your (22 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 12:30am.

    I can't cheer for Lydia.  BB has been my dream since the moment I saw it in 2000.  I have watched all 10 seasons (including getting the 24/7 internet feeds for the last 5 seasons, I am an addict of this show).  I have vowed to boycott it this year, if there was a lez.

    I submitted my 6th app for this season.  I made semi finals in casting, for the 3rd year in a row, this year.  I was so sure this one was "it".  In all my(except my first tape for season 2)audition tapes, I talked about their lack of lesbian casting & that is what I could bring, being a "real" lesbian that would flirt with girls, align with girls & get girl power together.

    Their so called lesbian of season 6, Ivette, was a faux lez & I shared that with them. She ended up attaching herself (and crying over) 2 men in the house.  That wouldn't be where my loyalty...or tears...would be cemented (with men), if I could get cast.

    I have a friend that is a masculine gay male.  He made finals for season 8 which happened to be the first year I made semi's.  We are both very critical of BB when it comes to gay casting.  10 seasons & 1 faux lez, and now a bi lady (that is if CBS isn't just promoting her as such) and every season but one (the first season) has had a gay male, but it's always the queen type.  I love all my gay brothers, but hey masculine ones do exist & why does casting feel the need to show us in the same light? 

    I vowed in my audition tapes & face to face interviews to make things interesting & insure the lesbian element was a unique presence on TV (even got pemission from my partner to flirt assuring her that my winning the game would result in her permanent retirement) but no call for finals was made to me.  I really thought this would be my year.

    My casting director this time said "3rd time's the charm" (it was my 3rd time to make semi's after 6 app attempts) and "I will fight for you".  I wonder what happened? I would even fit their clique theme, I was an athlete in high school, in the popular crowd & my casting peeps called me adorable & cute. I even told one of them I was voted friendliest as a class favorite. 

    So, Lydia, you are living my dream I almost had in the grasp in my hands & you stole my spot, I can't cheer for you sister.  I have been trying for this since you were a teen!! LOL

    The price of concealment is far greater than the price of confession~~

    jemski's picture

    haha after a 'turkey slap'

    Submitted by
    jemski (13 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 1:01am.

    haha after a 'turkey slap' incident this show has basically been canned in Australia.

    It was crapola anyway. But I dont think we had any gay contestants.....but we did have a transexual

    Bent's picture

    Love this show

    Submitted by
    Bent (147 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 1:42am.
    Being as I am a Big Brother Addict..yes, I'll be watching:-) It is the only reality show I would ever consent to be on, it's that good!lol
    dizznee the daughter of the devil's picture

    omg

    Submitted by
    dizznee the dau... (3 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 4:16pm.

    have neverseen this show but i will watch it now.

    she's similar to me im alos a bisexual make up artist with tattoos. lmao.

    even tho i don't have as much as her but im gettine there.

    can't wait!

    Mongoose's picture

    "If it would help me to

    Submitted by
    Mongoose (20 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 5:09pm.

    "If it would help me to flirt with a guy or a girl, I'm totally for it." - Lydiaa

    source: http://bit.ly/Z08O6

    Arianne Jean's picture

    Aww. she's going to miss

    Submitted by
    Arianne Jean (53 posts)
    on July 3, 2009 - 8:43pm.

    Aww. she's going to miss the next Harry Potter 6 Premier.
    I havn't watched Big Brother in a few years but I guess I'll tune in for the first little bit this time.
    :)

    Tea&Toast's picture

    ><

    Submitted by
    Tea&Toast (596 posts)
    on July 4, 2009 - 5:24am.

    If they show it on E4 in the UK again, I may watch when bored lol :)
    Also, on the UK version, only Lisa is left of the three. Saffia quit a few weeks ago because she missed her kids, and Angel was evicted last week, rightly so I reckon :) So yeah, only Lisa left, who bugs the hell out of me tbh :|

    I really shouldn't be addicted to this programme though, I know how bad it is, yet still I watch. Sucks!   

    ______
    I Tweet therefore I am; http://twitter.com/RainbowPleb

    sleepedver's picture

    Big Brother 11

    Submitted by
    sleepedver (150 posts)
    on July 5, 2009 - 12:13am.

    I am a big fan of Big Brother. But, this season seems a bit weird, not much diversity and cliques!? Come on! I am not sure if I am going to like or watch this season.

    - Peace, love, vegan! -

    Raelynn Harrison's picture

    Man,

    Submitted by
    Raelynn Harrison (31 posts)
    on July 19, 2009 - 7:16pm.
    I really wanted to like her so much, but she's like a total bitch.
    G0dot's picture

    i know right?!

    Submitted by
    G0dot (110 posts)
    on July 22, 2009 - 12:09am.

    i really wanted to like her too, but she sucks at life and the fact that she's hooking up with douchebag jessie makes me like her even less. thank god for the other more likeable bisexual though. michele <3 she's boring, but sweet and hot

     

    Bent's picture

    I want her out

    Submitted by
    Bent (147 posts)
    on July 31, 2009 - 12:50am.
    I was sooo planning on rooting for Lydia, but then after watching her and listening to her, she reminds me of a really annoying ex of mine! Even my mother said, "Doesn't Lydia remind you of Chris?" lol Lydia, grow up, stop pouting, stop trying to get into Jessie's pants when you have a boyfriend..basically stop being a whiny, know it all moron. Thanks.
    ash_effect's picture

    Me too!

    Submitted by
    ash_effect (56 posts)
    on August 5, 2009 - 2:18am.

    I really liked her in the first what two episodes? But then she went and got together with Jesse and it all went downhill from there. Now I can hardly stand her. Ugh...Big Brother is horrrrrible at picking queer people to be on their show. I dislike the queer men and woman they have on their show every single time.Except marcellous(sp?) in one of the first seasons. Although...even he turned out to be a pretty big idiot in the end!

     

     


    Home » Blogs » jamie murnane's blog » "Big Brother 11" casts a bisexual make-up artist