“Mum said I had so much self-control. Usually, I’d be off the fucking rails,” Hallie Clarke says of her rule-breaking diva antics in the Big Brother house. From her two-hour stint in jail to her innovative display of fashion with her sandwich board, as well as her various diary room rants, the 18-year-old is responsible for some of the revival’s most memorable moments. After opening up about her identity as a trans woman, Hallie also used her time in the house to have insightful conversations with her housemates while dispelling harmful stereotypes about her community – such as Farida questioning whether men who are attracted to trans women are “gay”.
“Instead of firing back at her, I took it as a chance to educate her and she completely understood. I feel like it’s important for me to do that. I’m open to questions. I’m an open book. If what they’re saying is out of line, I’ll tell them. But, the more you ask the more you know. So I love when people ask me questions because it’s a chance to educate,” Hallie tells GAY TIMES, adding: “It was important to me that I was loud and proud.”
On 27 October, Hallie became the fourth evicted housemate after receiving nominations from Chanelle, Jenkin, Jordan and Tom. Following her exit, we caught up with Hallie to discuss her time on the series, whether she would’ve survived under the “vote to save” format and whether I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is on the horizon for this self-proclaimed diva.
Hallie, how is life post-Big Brother?
It’s been incredible, honestly. The love and support has been out of this world. I’ve been feeling the love, from celebs to people in everyday life. My one goal was to make my community proud and inspire people, and that’s something I feel like I’ve achieved. It warms my heart. Yeah, life has been crazy but I love it.
I won’t lie, I was flabbergasted when you were eliminated. You were one of the main characters in there. Were you surprised with the result?
I mean, it wasn’t really a shock. As soon as I sat down on that sofa for the eviction, I had this feeling in my stomach like, ‘I’m going.’ Me, Dylan and Trish all stand for amazing things: Dylan is representing all the amputees, Trish is a feminist and I’m representing the trans community. We’re all such big characters as well, I couldn’t call it. I felt gutted that I was leaving that behind and that I couldn’t share more about myself and my journey. I’m leaving a family behind and life-long friends. When I stepped out on that runway, the noise from the crowd was so amazing. I was like, ‘This is my moment, I’m gonna shine.’ I’m incredibly proud of myself.
A lot of people have expressed how they wish this series was vote to safe rather than evict. Do you think your elimination would’ve been different if it had been?
Not sure, to be honest. Ooh, maybe.
I think it would’ve been.
Because of the amount of love I’ve received, if it was vote to save, I feel as though I would’ve still been in there. However, Olivia made a comment yesterday about me being trans playing a part in how people voted for me and whatnot. I’m not denying that that’s a possibility, however I would not like to think that. There are people out there, of course, who would use that as a reason to vote me out because they don’t like how I live my life. But, I want to think there’s more of a respectable reason for voting me out, like to do with my personality and how I carry myself – not because I’m trans. I think it’s important that Olivia said that because it shows awareness. The way Jenkin and Chanelle shut it down, I didn’t appreciate that because it could be a factor, 100 per cent.
Have you experienced much transphobia on your Big Brother journey?
No. I feel like everyone in that house was so respectful. They asked so many questions and were lovely about it. Farida asked a question that came out wrong and I honestly don’t think she meant offence by what she said. I just think she was very uneducated because she’s never met someone like me. Instead of firing back at her, I took it as a chance to educate her and she completely understood. I feel like it’s important for me to do that. I’m open to questions. I’m an open book. If what they’re saying is out of line, I’ll tell them. But, the more you ask the more you know. So I love when people ask me questions because it’s a chance to educate.
Coming into Big Brother as an openly trans 18-year-old is massive. Were you conscious of how groundbreaking this was before you entered the house?
No, honestly! I didn’t realise it would be as big as it was. However, it was important to me that I was loud and proud. I wouldn’t say I was scared. I prepare myself for the worst for everything because I’ve experienced so much hate over the years with bullying. When I came out [of the house], I prepared myself mentally for abuse online. The fact that I haven’t experienced that has been fucking incredible. I’ve received the odd ‘that’s a man’ and this and that, but fuck off. You need to go do one because I am who I am and you need to deal with it, babe. I’m not going to change for no one. And I ain’t a man, look at me. I’m a fucking woman.
The show featured some discussions in regards to Kerry and Henry’s political views, which we know are aligned with the Conservative Party…
I didn’t know Kerry had said what she said, and about Rishi Sunak, until I got out. I understand where people are coming from in the sense that, ‘How can you be a Tory and also…’ But, she was nothing but genuine to me and wanted the best for me. I do think, if she had heard what Rishi Sunak said the day before I’d gone in the house about a “man is a man and a woman is a woman”, maybe her opinion of him would change. As the leader of our country, for you to say that is disgusting. It’s not on. He must know it makes people feel like shit, because it does. It hurts. You’re the prime minister of the country I live in and you’re saying that about me? It feels personal.
Like you said on Late & Live, you existing in that house as your authentic self is huge for trans representation, and disproves archaic claims that trans people are some kind of “threat”.
Exactly. 100 per cent. I wanted to show that we’re all the same. I’m no different to you. At the end of the day, we’re all from the same pile of mess called life. We all come from the same struggles. We all came from a vajayjay. Just because I’m trans, it doesn’t automatically make me different in any sort of way. I have a heart that beats. I have fucking organs, the same as you. When I cut, I bleed. We’re the same.
What was it like sharing a house with people who align with a political party that have constantly tried to tear down the trans community?
I’m not educated on politics, but when it concerns me, I am. Honestly, Henry was always supportive of me. Kerry, as well. So, I never felt like it created a divide. It was nothing but love in there, so it never caused a rift or argument. I know that Noky was frustrated about the Tory thing with Henry, but at the end of the day, no one let it get between us.
Before the show premiered, viewers claimed that the cast was too “woke”. As we know, that’s absolutely barbaric because Big Brother is known for its diverse and inclusive roster of housemates.
It’s always been woke! Look at Nadia [Almada], she won Big Brother in 2004, the year I was born. Also, there was Luke Anderson. Big Brother has always shown visibility and been inclusive.
Now that you’ve been out for a few days, have you had a chance to watch any of the episodes back?
I haven’t watched any episode. I’m going to, as soon as I get home. My mum’s got them all recorded, so I’m definitely gonna watch. I’ve seen clips on TikTok and whatnot, but it’s not the same as watching an episode, so I would love to see the side of people I didn’t see in the house.
How do you feel about watching back your diva moments?
I’m excited. I can look back now and laugh because I think it’s hilarious, but in the moment, you’re so pissed off and raging that you don’t think. With me, I embrace it. My family cracked up, but my mum said I was holding back. Mum said I had so much self-control. Usually, I’d be off the fucking rails. You’re gonna have moments where you’ll want to be a raging bitch. It’s about being authentic, so I didn’t let that side of me disappear. When I was angry, I’d make it clear I was angry. I don’t know how much of it was shown, but I would go to Big Brother and moan a lot. I would go in there like, ‘Listen, you have us in here doing fuck all. I’m bored!’ There’s a lot of downtime. It’s not just task, task, task. There are days where you do absolutely fuck all.
Was that the hardest part of the experience?
The hardest part was missing my family and being bored shitless. It was long.
A lot of contestants throughout Big Brother’s history have gone on to achieve wider fame, from Josie Gibson to Alison Hammond. So what’s next for you? What do you want to do with your post-Big Brother career?
I definitely want to go into TV again. I want to be the face of brands because trans visibility is important. Imagine me on the face of a lingerie brand as a trans woman? It’s so empowering. I just want to be unapologetically me across all platforms and share more of my story. I don’t know what to expect, but expect the unexpected.
What about the jungle? Would you go in if they ask?
My mum said that to me as soon as I got out. No! When we heard insects in the morning of the ant challenge, my heart fell out of my arsehole because I thought that we were gonna be doing some kind of Bushtucker Trial. I can’t have bugs crawling up my arse. I don’t know if I could do I’m a Celeb. My mum said I’d be hilarious on it, but I don’t know if I could. Imagine eating the penis of a sheep or something?
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