Reggie Bird, an icon of Aussie reality TV, delivered a gut-wrenching moment on Tuesday night’s episode of I’m a Celebrity Australia 2025. As she opened up about her experience losing her vision, the Big Brother alum’s story left viewers (and Matty J) reaching for tissues.
This season, hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin, has already brought plenty of laughs and nail-biting challenges in the South African jungle. However, moments like Reggie’s remind us of the real stories and humanity behind the big names of the I’m a Celebrity cast.
Who is Reggie Bird?
Reggie is reality TV royalty. Her star rose as the first woman to win the Australian version of Big Brother back in 2003, stealing the hearts of the nation as a humble fish and chip shop manager from Tassie. She made history again in 2022 as the first-ever two-time winner of the series.
But life hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Reggie. Shortly after her first Big Brother win, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye condition that eventually rendered her legally blind in 2008, after losing 90 per cent of her central vision.
Her battles didn’t end there. In 2022, just months after her second Big Brother triumph, Reggie was diagnosed with Usher syndrome — a genetic disorder affecting both her hearing and vision. What’s more, she has also become an advocate for cystic fibrosis awareness following her son’s diagnosis with the condition.
These days, Reggie inspires others as a professional speaker. Her LinkedIn page says it best: “Things that individually would break most people but Reggie still greets every day with a beaming smile and infectious personality.”
Reggie opens up about going blind
Opening up to fellow campmate, The Bachelor’s Matty Johnson (aka Matty J), Reggie shared just how tough life has been since her Big Brother days.
From being conned by fake TV producers and losing a fortune, to navigating trust issues after a broken marriage and the daily challenges of caring for her son, Lucas, who has cystic fibrosis, Reggie’s story is one of strength and perseverance.
Breaking down during an emotional Tok Tokkie to camera, Reggie admitted, “I try to keep going all the time. Sometimes you get knocked down because you try to keep going.”
The most poignant moment came when Matty asked her about losing her vision, asking, “Are you scared?”
“I reckon I’ll probably change when it’s all totally gone. I won’t be able to do as much as what I do now,” Regggie shared in the candid heart-to-heart, explaining what hits hardest for her is the thought of not being able to see her children.
“I just take each day as it comes. I try to make the most of each day because you just don’t know what’s around the corner.”
Despite the immense challenges of her degenerative eyesight, Reggie sees her time on I’m a Celebrity 2025 as a chance to embrace life to its full while she still can.
“That day is gonna come, and that’s why I’m so blessed to be here, to enjoy and see all this stuff [and] chuck it in the memory bank.”
Reggie’s story moved Matty to tears who, in his own Tok Tokkie, reflected: “She’s a mum who’s afraid of never being able to see her kids again because she’s going blind. Suddenly, my struggles seem so insignificant compared to what she’s going through.”
What a woman! Whether or not Reggie is crowned Queen of the Jungle this season, she’s already a Queen in our hearts.
