Reality TV is nothing new to the Australian entertainment landscape. However, its perception has shifted dramatically in the last decade. Not only has the popularity of shows including Big Brother, Married At First Sight and My Kitchen Rules surpassed the demand for free-to-air scripted drama, but the intentions of many contestants have changed too.
Being on reality TV is no longer about just winning the final prize, finding love or having a wild once-in-a-lifetime experience – with fleeting fame thrown in, and maybe a radio deal if you’re one of the lucky ones (here’s looking at you: Ryan ‘Fitzy’ and Chrissie Swan). The rise of social media has widened reality stars’ chances of growing their star status through potential brand partnerships, which makes you question: are these reality TV contestants there for the premise of the show or to become an influencer?
Mia Wijewardene, who was eliminated from Big Brother Australia 2025 last week, says her intentions behind applying for the show were not driven by the desire to “just build a brand”.
“I just wanted people to see someone that was real, that was not performing,” Mia tells Draw Your Box. “Someone who wasn’t there just to build a brand, get the money, win.”
Already a fan of Big Brother after growing up watching it with her brother Jude, the 23-year-old Bunnings retail assistant says a recent volunteering trip to Fiji put a bounce in her step, making her realise she should audition for the show.
“I’ve never applied for anything before, but I thought, ‘Oh my God, it would just be so fun’,” she explains. “Growing up, I would just want to see someone that looks like me – someone that was South Asian, someone that was queer, just someone that was just authentic.”
The Sri Lankan Australian says she entered the Big Brother house with “no ulterior motives”.
“I wanted to be someone that was just fully themselves,” she reflects. “No ulterior motives, just there for a fun experience, and someone with purpose as well,” she continues, adding she did feel a “huge responsibility” to represent various communities she’s a part of, but navigated that pressure by being her authentic self.
“I found that I had this huge responsibility, but at the same time, I’m also just me at the end of the day, and I only have my own lived experiences,” she explains.
Whether it was walking into the BB house in a sari and jhumkas, calling out male housemates’ sexist tradwife and gender role comments, or confessing her feelings to crush Ed, it appears Mia hid very little and instead wore her heart on her sleeve. This sparked mixed reactions from some co-stars, whom she hints “aren’t necessarily being their full authentic self” on the show.
“I was being told that I was the most annoying, but then the least memorable. So I was just like, ‘How does that work?’ Like it was very confusing,” she says. “I felt like I really needed to just advocate for myself and stand up for myself.”
Mia says it was “really tough” at times to navigate the strategic element of the social experiment.
It was “a house where people aren’t necessarily being their full authentic self, or they’re holding back, and then there’s someone like me who is fully unfiltered,” she reveals. “I say every thought, pretty much, that comes into my head, and then everyone else is in the mindset of playing this game and navigating the experience like that… yeah, I found it really tough.”
Mia’s parents, who were born in Sri Lanka, migrated to Australia which is where Mia was born. While she didn’t make it to the final, Mia is thrilled she made her family – and herself – proud by taking the plunge and going on BB. Her advice for other young people, particularly South Asian Australians, is simple: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something”.
“Listening to all that noise only holds you back. We are so capable of anything we set our minds to,” she says.
“It’s just that we can get into our heads, and when we’re told we’re not deserving of that, or we don’t have a place at the table… you create that seat for yourself!
“Everything that makes you different is actually your strength. Don’t be afraid to stand out and be unique, because there’s only one of you. And why would you want to be like anyone else?”
Top image source: Channel 10
Hosted by Mel Tracina, Big Brother Australia airs Monday to Friday at 7:30pm on Channel 10, and you can also watch and live stream 24/7 on 10 Play.
The 2025 Big Brother housemates are:
QLD
- Allana, 45, social worker and a mother of three.
- Bruce, 25, tradie
- Conor, 31, disability advocate
NSW
- Colin, 21, aspiring MMA fighter (Wollongong)
- Michael, 49, publisher and single dad of three
- Coco, 30, early educator and single mum of three
VIC
- Abiola, 24, musician
- Mia, 23, Bunnings retail assistant
- Vincent, 21, barber
- Jane, 67, retired
WA
- Emily, 30, primary school teacher
- Holly, 31, model
SA
- Edward, 30, sales manager
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