Hey, hey, hey! I’m Sarah Hanlon, author, multimedia artist and one-time actuality present… dare I say… star?
It’s been ten years since I appeared – and received – Big Brother Canada. And currently, as occurs whenever you enter a brand new section of life, I’ve been considering rather a lot about my time on the present.
Obviously profitable a actuality present comes with perks and pleasures, however there’s a darkish aspect to the expertise that individuals might not count on and even consider.
Here are a number of the greatest and worst components of profitable a actuality TV present, wanting again practically ten years later.
1.
BEST: Fame. Dear reader, I will not deceive you right here on the World Wide Web. As somebody who has all the time beloved the fun of heart stage, I can, with out an oz of disgrace, admit that I really like the celebrity that profitable a actuality present has introduced me. First, there’s the sensation of superiority I really feel in direction of the individuals who bullied me in highschool. More severely although, “fame” gave me the chance to work within the Canadian media business. After the present, editors and producers started searching for collaborations. I’ve been capable of parlay the expertise right into a decade-long profession of writing and internet hosting. It’s not simple, and possibly it isn’t the norm, however actuality TV “acquired my foot within the door.”
More importantly, the ability of actuality TV fame lies in its potential to symbolize narratives and mindsets which can be typically underrepresented on tv. I grew up on tv. I consider within the energy of popular culture and illustration within the media; I see actuality tv as a method to harness that energy.
2.
WORST: Fame. I can not let actuality stardom go away so simply. Look, I notice that the celebrity you expertise as a actuality present contestant is totally different than the true factor fame-fame. But it nonetheless has a wierd and typically scary aspect. Right after my season there have been occasions with hordes of overly pushy, clingy and hungry individuals! I could not consider it. I used to be so shocked to be out on this planet after 70 days of isolation, so I did not have all my potential to push it away. I’ve acquired nice hateful messages about my sexuality and beliefs and I do know that is fairly normal amongst my friends. I as soon as acquired an IG DM whereas at a bar saying “I can see you” after which “I’m you” hooked up with a photograph of me! So yeah, it isn’t all complacency and satisfaction right here!
3.
BEST: Luck! $100,000 tax free?! YES, PLEASE. WIN Big Brother Canada It utterly modified my life financially. I had no financial savings and was making minimal wage at a pot lounge in Toronto with questionable legality earlier than I moved Big Brother Canada home. Never in 1,000,000 years may I’ve dreamed of with the ability to purchase a house in Canada with the true property market the way in which it’s. And that is precisely what I did with my winnings.
4.
WORST: More cash, extra issues. Being thrust into the world of banking and homeownership was stress sufficient, however one of many worst issues about profitable Big Brother it was the way in which everybody had an opinion on how I ought to spend my cash. “You MUST make the most of this second”, “act now – you possibly can’t wait”, “in the event you do not do X, Y and Z” Exactlyunhealthy issues will occur!” $100,000 is some huge cash, however individuals acted like I used to be set for all times. Even full strangers would do that to me on the road. Many individuals make greater than $100,000 yearly and I actually do not I do know. I do not suppose individuals deal with them that means, however now that I give it some thought, possibly we should always begin yelling at wealthy individuals about what they need to do with their cash!
5.
BEST: Security. I lived the dream with my accomplice and our two canine in that home in Hamilton, Ontario for the most effective six years of my life. Since then, I’ve offered that home, purchased a van, traveled North America full time for 2 years with my senior canine, Annie, and located myself in Toronto in spite of everything of that. I’ve had numerous comforts and adventures in life straight due to my time on actuality TV. This may by no means have occurred with out my win and I’ll perpetually really feel so extremely fortunate and grateful for the cash. They say cash cannot purchase happiness, but it surely gave me and my little household somewhat sense of safety that undoubtedly made me joyful.
6.
WORST: Typecasting. As a lot as I’m clearly grateful for the alternatives that actuality has given me, I’d be remiss to not point out the way it has additionally stifled different profession paths I may have chosen, and I typically marvel if I ought to have chosen in any respect. A decade later, I’m bored with placing collectively freelance undertaking after freelance undertaking, always promoting myself and defending what is sort of all the time seen as my “huge break.” I can not know for certain, however I typically really feel like I’ve been rejected for extra “conventional” jobs due to my actuality TV fame and my simply Googleable private data.
7.
BEST: Best Friends! Meeting your greatest pal on a actuality present? Highly beneficial! We needed to be there for one another in such aggravating occasions, it gave us this basis that may’t be rocked. Reality TV places you in contact with individuals you’ll in any other case by no means meet, and whereas Brittnee and I are very totally different, we have fashioned a friendship primarily based on help first and customary pursuits second. I feel this is the reason the franchise is understood for producing many profitable {couples}. And the most effective half? Everything is captured for posterity. We recorded our first hug and all our cute moments supporting one another, feeling so remoted and careworn. And ten years later, I used to be capable of be there for therefore many unimaginable moments and recollections. I really received the second I walked via these doorways and met Brittnee Blair!
8.
WORST: Losing pals in actual life. I’ve gotten the outdated “You’ve modified since you’ve got been on TV” from some individuals and let me let you know: IT HAS POINT. Have I modified? Were we pals within the first place? Who is aware of! Being on actuality TV can actually damage your sense of self as a result of many individuals, even shut family and friends, deal with you in another way afterward. It sucks! In my expertise, individuals started to count on extra from me. They noticed my post-show life as excellent and thrilling, and it made it simple for individuals to cease checking up on me or nurturing the connection we as soon as had. Unwarranted resentments arising from informal friendships had been tolerable, even humorous to be trustworthy, however having individuals who I felt very near me had been clearly dissatisfied with my quarter-hour of fame rocked my world.
9.
BEST: Community! I’m nonetheless near a handful of individuals from my season and the relationships we’ve got are actually particular since we have spent a lot time collectively. I’ve additionally met individuals from different actuality reveals and there is this unusual affinity between them. I additionally met different individuals via Big Brother in lots of oblique methods, whether or not they had been followers of the present, labored on the present, or on an affiliated undertaking, being on actuality TV has linked me with so many wonderful individuals over time. And that is really the present that retains on giving.
10.
WORST: Enemies-Friends. WIN Big Brother he gave me rose coloured glasses to recount the entire expertise and I bear in mind leaving the home considering I had simply began an entire new household. In truth, lots of the individuals chosen for my season have values which can be utterly reverse to mine, in line with the character of the sort of actuality present which goals to showcase a variety of characters. I knew what sort of function they had been going to offer me, and truthfully, I used to be proud to do it. Being radically progressive and proudly Queer, I knew there could be individuals forged as my “reverse,” however I let my optimism and guilt over profitable cloud my higher judgment of their character. I gave these individuals an excessive amount of advantage of the doubt considering they accepted me after they had been simply taking part in. Years later, it turned actually clear to me what they symbolize, and I actually beat myself up for taking so lengthy to see it!
11.
BEST: People come as much as me on the road. The individuals who love TV are my individuals, and often after they acknowledge me, it is such a enjoyable and beautiful change. So meaning in the event you ever see me on the road and wish to say hey and take a selfie, please do!
12.
WORST: People strategy me on the road. Sometimes I look unhealthy! Sometimes I’m going for a pap smear! Sometimes I’m late! This is a warning in step 11, in case you do not wish to take a photograph.
13.
BEST: Being capable of see behind the scenes. THE Big Brother Canada The manufacturing crew is understood worldwide as the most effective, if not the most effective, within the franchise. And I felt so secure with them: individuals criticize actuality TV as a result of they contemplate it exploitative, but when there have been extra individuals within the business like Big Brother Canada manufacturing crew, it could be a significantly better world. Special thanks for internet hosting extra, Arisa Cox right here! Being capable of be in Arisa’s presence was like taking a grasp class in mass work.
14.
WORST: Haters and know-it-alls. Reality TV followers have extra opinions than Andy Cohen Housewives. Many individuals suppose I did not deserve my win and really feel the necessity to let me know on-line and even in particular person. It’s as enjoyable because it sounds! I want individuals to understand that the financial institution did not care about “too many twists and turns getting into its favor.”
15.
BEST: Wild Memories. Crawl via a life-sized ant maze dressed as an ant! Walking via a large prepare! Swimming in a pool in a pretend film studio courtyard! Walking out in entrance of a cheering crowd and being instructed I simply received a present I’ve been watching since I used to be 12! The greatest.
16.
WORST: Wild feedback from strangers. “Did you’ve intercourse on digicam?” “Have you met individuals on the present?” “How did you guys masturbate in there?” “You had been on a kind of horrible reveals, huh?” “Does it hassle you that I do not know who you’re?” People demand entry to actuality TV artists aggressively and a few individuals say the grossest shit simply to show that they’re too good for actuality TV. The smartest thing is the boys who insist on coming and telling me that they do not watch “these reveals”, however that their wives love me. I guess they do, man, I guess they do.
17.
BEST: Becoming a stoner icon. When I went to the present I made a decision that so as to play I could not waste power making an attempt to filter myself. Because of this, I used to be open about all facets of my life, together with my love for hashish. It turned out to be an incredible resolution. I used to be capable of normalize weed on a big scale and symbolize a tradition I care deeply about. A man named Tiny as soon as got here as much as me whereas I used to be at work and instructed me he watched my season from jail and that everybody was rooting for me. This meant rather a lot.
18.
WORST: REGRETS. Even although I received my season, there are nonetheless some issues I want I had finished in another way. Even having video proof of this isn’t supreme. Being filmed 24/7 for 70 days undoubtedly led to some cringe moments that can dwell on the web perpetually (like my freestyle rap session, for instance). Why Sara, why?
19.
BEST: GIFs. Need I say anything?
Do you’ve any questions for me about what it is wish to be a part of a actuality present? Write them within the feedback beneath!
