Big Brother UK has only just kicked off, but one housemate is already making waves—and winning hearts.
Meet Zelah Glasson, a 25-year-old personal trainer from South London whose humour, warmth, and openness have quickly made him a fan favourite—ours too.
In his intro video, Zelah delighted viewers with a string of self-deprecating jokes, describing himself as a “spaniel dog” in need of his 12,000 daily steps, poking fun at his mullet, and noting that he doesn’t always vibe with “bro-y guys”.
But it was one poignant comment that truly resonated with viewers and the LGBTQ+ community.
“I think I’m living proof that being transgender is not a choice,” Zelah said, revealing he lived as a woman for the first 23 years of his life.
“Because why would I choose to go from the luxury, the sanctuary that is the women’s toilets to the horror that is the men’s?”
Later, in a candid moment in the Diary Room, Zelah shared that he initially planned to keep his gender identity private inside the house. That decision, he admitted, had left him feeling “self-conscious” about his scars “for the first time”.
Zelah and his support teddy 🥹 #bbuk pic.twitter.com/512nO2fPBI
— Big Brother UK (@bbuk) September 29, 2025
Fans Show Their Support
Fans were quick to flood social media with messages of love and reassurance.
“Never feel ashamed of your scars. They tell your story,” one person commented on Instagram.
“He must be protected at all costs,” wrote another.
“Zelah is a great example of positive transgender representation,” added a third.
While Zelah isn’t the first trans contestant to appear on Big Brother, his presence on the show feels particularly timely. As trans visibility on mainstream reality television becomes increasingly important, his casting has struck a chord with audiences looking for authentic representation.
And it doesn’t hurt that he’s quick-witted and easy on the eyes.
As one viewer put it simply:
“Zelah is our winner already.”
