Audrey Middleton, who will be competing on Big Brother's upcoming seventeenth season, was born a man.
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Middleton, a 25-year-old digital media consultant from Villa Rica, GA, will become the first transgender contestant to appear on the American version of Big Brother and is using the show as a platform to raise awareness, TMZ reported.
CBS confirmed Middleton is transgender in a subsequent statement.
"Audrey Middleton is a Big Brother super fan who applied online, like many other hopeful Houseguests, and was open about her transition in the application process," a CBS spokesperson said in a statement obtained by E! News.
"It is customary for Big Brother Houseguests to share personal news inside the house, and Audrey plans to discuss her story with the Houseguests in her own words during the premiere episode on Wednesday, June 24."
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Middleton is reportedly trying to follow Caitlyn Jenner's lead, who's recently come out as transgender and hopes to send a positive message to those experiencing the same gender struggles. She has received overwhelming support from the public since making the announcement.
Middleton admitted she's inspired by Caitlyn Jenner's story, according to the website, but is also a huge fan of Big Brother.
Middleton reportedly grew up in a small town in Georgia but only transitioned from male to female a few years ago. Her family is completely onboard with the changes, but it took them a while to accept the situation.
The transgender contestant is reportedly prepared to face challenges in the Big Brother house although she's excited to teach her fellow houseguests about the topic. The show has dealt with its share of racist and homophobic houseguests in prior seasons, so hopefully Middleton won't experience any discrimination.
Big Brother's seventeenth season will continue to follow a group of strangers living together in a house outfitted with more than 80 HD cameras and 100 microphones, recording their every move 24 hours a day for a live feed. Each week, the houseguests will vote to evict someone from the house.
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Big Brother, who will award the last person standing with a $500,000 grand prize, premieres with a two-night event on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25 from 8-9PM ET/PT on CBS.
Following the show's first two broadcasts, another episode will air on Sunday, June 28, at 8PM ET/PT. Big Brother's first live eviction show will air Thursday, July 2 at 9PM ET/PT. The season's Thursday-night episodes will continue to air in that same timeslot going forward.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski