Big Brother icon Nadia Almada reveals incredible six stone weight loss in black swimsuit as she drops to a size 12 following gastric sleeve surgery

Big Brother legend Nadia Almada has revealed her incredible six stone weight loss following a gastric sleeve in Turkey back in March. 

The reality TV star was crowned champion of series five in 2004 and made history as the first ever transgender contestant to star on the Channel 4 programme.

And now 20 years on from her win, Nadia has revealed she has slimmed down from 17st 6lb down to 11st 8lb after being a ‘fully-fledged carbo-tarian.’ 

The star recently took to Instagram to reveal her slimmed down frame after dropping from a size 20 to a size 12 as she wowed in a black swimsuit. 

Speaking candidly about her decision to undergo the surgery, she told OK! Magazine that she was eating an enormous amount prior to the surgery, despite being a vegan. 

Big Brother icon Nadia Almada has revealed her incredible six stone weight loss in black swimsuit Instagram snap as she drops to a size 12 following gastric sleeve surgery 

20 years on from her win, Nadia has revealed she has slimmed down from 17st 6lb down to 11st 8lb after being a ‘fully-fledged carbo-tarian’ (pictured in 2004 on Big Brother) 

Nadia explained: ‘I was a fully-fledged carbo-tarian. It was so bad that I’d eat two large pizzas with three sides in one night – and that was meant for a family of four. It’s crazy.’

She continued: ‘I was a size 20 and a shadow of my former self. I had no stamina, no energy, no vitality – and there was a higher risk of having major heart problems or a stroke from the weight that I’d been carrying.’

The TV star also joked she couldn’t wear heels due to the swelling in her feet but now feels she has had a ‘fresh beginning.’ 

She said: ‘It’s a new start, a fresh beginning. I feel prettier slender, but it’s not just the physical side, I’m also happy that I’ve been able to reverse a lot of the damage that I’d done to my body.’ 

Revealing that within the last three months her cholesterol and thyroid levels had gone down, she described the surgery as life-saving and admitted she now has loads more energy. 

Nadia also explained she struggled to adjust post-surgery to her want to emotional eat versus what her body actually needed. 

Explaining how she has adapted her life and eating habits she said she now uses side plates rather than big past bowls to help manage her portion control. 

It comes after the star issued a heart-wrenching apology to her younger self for ‘fat-shaming’ and ‘objectifying’ her looks during an appearance on Loose Women in August.

Nadia explained: ‘I was a fully-fledged carbo-tarian. It was so bad that I’d eat two large pizzas with three sides in one night – and that was meant for a family of four. It’s crazy’ (pictured with Davina McCall in 2004)

The TV star also joked she couldn’t wear heels due to the swelling in her feet but now feels she has had a ‘fresh beginning’ (pictured in February 2023)

Back in 2004, the Portuguese hairdresser was showered with praise for providing representation for the transgender community.

And during the interview, the ITV show displayed some images of Nadia from her time on Big Brother and the star seemed to get choked up as they flashed across the screen.

She fought back tears as she said: ‘Looking at those pictures I need to profusely apologise to her for fat shaming her, for objectifying her, for mistreating her.

‘Somehow along the line I compartmentalised that young lady for not being your standard.

‘Now I’m talking to me, really. I’m sorry for doing that to Nadia because it was a special moment and I had to put her in the attic or the basement. 

Reflecting, Nadia continued: ‘It comes from maturity and experience. 20 years on, I have to embrace a different strength in me. I embrace it and I feel better for it.’