'Big Brother' Star and UD Alum Kalia Booker Speaks about Show, Eating Disorders

Last August, , mother of 'Big Brother' contestant and Dresher-native Kalia Booker. At that point, Kalia had worked her way into the later rounds of the popular reality TV show, but ultimately did not walk away with the $500,00 prize.

Yanina Carter, an entertainment writer, spoke with Booker about her time growing up in Upper Dublin, experience on the show, and battle and victory with an eating disorder and self-image confidence. Carter shares her interview here:

Y:  How has being brought up in Upper Dublin prepared you for your career?

K: The neighborhood isn't very diverse, predominantly Caucasian, so being brought up in that kind of environment prepared me to interact with a culture outside my own. Coupling that with going to Spelman, a black college, and living in NYC, a virtual melting pot, I am able to be around anyone at anytime and that all began with Upper Dublin. UD also had an amazing theater department and under the guidance of my mentor, Debbie Thompson (the theater teacher and director at the high school), I was given major opportunities to shine on stage and hone my love of acting and singing.

Y:  Tell me about your Pageant Experience and being on the stage?

K: One night I was watching Miss America and I thought to myself, all these girls stink! I can do this way better! LOL. So I looked into the local pageants in Philadelphia and Atlanta and got to work on preparations for the pageants.  Miss America requires each contestant to compete on a platform of their choice, so I made my focus I.S.O.M.: In Search Of Me-Promoting positive role models in the media as a way of deterring eating disorders. 

It was a program I created based largely on my own experience with eating disorders, but spinning it with the role media plays in the distorted images around us.  It went over quite well.  That coupled with the interview and talent section, I did musical theater-song/dance, I always placed highly and made lots of money for scholarships.  It was something I loved doing and anytime I am put on a stage, I shine:)

Y:  What are some of your major writing and acting accomplisments?

K: I spent the last six years working as an actor in New York City.  I was very lucky and blessed to have worked as much as I did. It's a tough business and I watched many friends struggle.  I've performed in regional shows at theaters like Walnut Street Theatre, Maine State Music Theater, Prince Music Theater, Weston Playhouse, Virginia Musical Theater, etc. I've performed in the National Tour of Seussical the Musical, and in an Off Broadway original production called SALLY & TOM: THE AMERICAN WAY.

Y:  How did you come to get on the show?

K: It was quite random actually.  I met a producer for the show in a bar one night.  Unbeknownst to me, said producer put in a call to casting saying he'd "found the girl" for the next season.  I was urged to come to a casting and the rest is Big Brother history.  It was all extremely exciting as I'd been watching the show for all 12 seasons prior to my own.  I still sometimes can't believe I was on Big Brother!!

Y:  What do they look for to be a house guest?

K: I think casting just looks for people who are themselves.  There is no false pretense and no airs to put on.  But let's be honest, it's still reality television, so they definitely look for big personalities that will most likely clash with others in the house.  It makes for great tv!

Y: What were some of the challenges?

K: Living in a house with 13 other people is a challenge in itself, but the added pressures of cameras EVERYWHERE, a half a million dollar prize pot, seclusion from the outside world and everything you hold dear, it's a pressure cooker.  It was literally one of the hardest things I've ever done. There were days I just cried in the Diary Room (a secluded room where only producers can see/hear you) all but begging to be "set free," but I'm not a quitter, I go down swinging if that appears to be my fate, so I always stuck with it, fought through to the end.

Y: One of the worse things you had to do?

K: I HATED voting out Dominic week three.  It had to be done to keep myself relatively safe the following week and I knew he was going to be voted out, so my vote made no difference, but it just sucked.  I never realized I'd make such intense friendships on a game/reality show, but I did and Dominic was the first of the friends I said good bye to:( It was the first of several hard decisions that would plague me in the game.  The physical competitions were also the WORST! They were so challenging and most times we'd come back in from them with scars and cuts and bruises.  Ugh, physical ailments became routine in that game.

Y:  One of the funniest?

K: There were countless pranks in the Big Brother house, it sort of comes with the boredom of having nothing to do in the house.  One day, Dani, Jeff, and I decided to pull a prank on Dominic.  We took a chocolate bar and rubbed it on the crotch of a pair of Dom's boxers.  We then laid them on the floor (where he'd left them) and waited for someone to discover his "dirty" undies.  Someone did and Dominic was highly embarrassed. It was hysterical though.  I don't think I've laugh harder than I did in that house at times.

Y:  The controversy with your weight, can you talk about that?

K: I went on my first diet when I was in the sixth grade; just as soon as I realized I wasn't like the other tiny girls in my grade. I developed breasts earlier and had some trouble shedding my baby weight. After a while, it made sense to diet and unfortunately my dieting turned into binging and purging, diet pills, and not eating a large number of calories in a day. 

It lasted for years until my senior year in college, I was rushed to the hospital after passing out at a sorority event.  It was embarrassing to say the least, because my little secret was out, but looking back, it was the best thing that happened to me.  It forced me into treatment, forced me to deal with the issues at hand, and forced me to get better. 

I love my body just the way it is. There are times that I cut back to drop a few pounds, but I never harm myself in anyway anymore and I don't restrict myself.  When i want something to eat, I eat it, but in moderation.  I know my body type and I know it's easy for me to gain weight, so I work out at least 4-5 times a week and I take care of myself. 

When I got on the show, I had no qualms with how I looked.  Of course the other girls in the house were smaller, but I didn't really care.  I still enjoyed myself in a bikini by the pool, still wore what I wanted.  I have no complaints so I don't care much.  I'm lucky for solid self esteem. 

But when I got out the house, people seemed to be really "disgusted" by my weight all summer.  They raged about how much I ate (even though I barely did because of the stress and actually LOST weight on the show), about my bathing suits, about anything they could!  There are sites dedicated to how fat I am, how much I ate. 

It's actually quite disgusting and really sad to be honest.  I understand that everyone is a critic, but my weight (and their inane opinion about my weight) has NOTHING to do with how I played the game.  I think most people loved or hated me and those who hated me dug in deep on whatever they could use to try and hurt me.  What they didn't count on is how strong I am, how little I care about other people's opinions of me, and how my family has reared me to believe that I am amazing and beautiful just as I am, so in short...I believe it and know it to be true no matter what anyone else says.

Y:  How has this experience changed or affected your life?

K: Oh goodness, it's made me realize how strong I am.  There were moments on the show where I didn't think I'd make it.  I relied so heavily on my faith and strong gut instincts.  I thought about my family and how strong they'd made me and I barreled through.  Coming out, I realize I can do anything I set my sites on.  I realize I am pretty darn strong!!

Of course with the show, comes a bit of infamy.  It's funny honestly, to be out and about, and have someone stop me and claim to be a fan, asking for a picture or an autograph.  It can be very overwhelming, but it comes with the territory:)

Y:  What’s next?

K: I have a web show that I'll be hosting in development and will continue to cover events for online magazines.  I love what I do for a living and I plan to continue to do it:)  As I always say, see you at the top!!