She is best pals with Khloe Kardashian, but is breaking away from the reality star’s shadow to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house.
But it all became too much for US starlet Malika Haqq, 34, as she broke down in tears just seconds before entering the famous compound after sharing an emotional hug goodbye with her God-sisters.
A little taken aback by her display, host Emma Willis remarked: ‘Oh my god, she is crying already!’ as she helped Malika up the stairs in her towering heels, as the beauty joined a VERY glamorous Jess Impiazzi for the show’s first all-female series.
Speaking in her VT, Malika name-checked her connection to the Kardashians, as she said: ‘Khloe is my best pal, the girl I can talk to about anything.’
As the nation marks 100 years since women won the right to vote for the very first time, the latest series will have an all-female cast of celebrity housemates in a salute to a centenary of women’s suffrage. Presented by Emma, Celebrity Big Brother will initially explore how the women interact, from politicians to performing artists, as they enter the house first, ahead of the male housemates.
Commenting on this year’s theme, Malika said: ‘This year’s theme is actually really special, its women’s turn to be celebrated but i think the year of the woman is every year.
Tears: Malika Haqq, 34, broke down in tears just seconds before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house after sharing an emotional hug goodbye with her God-sisters
‘Being a role model is a responsibility that I’m proud of, I’m young successful and you have to be mindful that you’re sharing a message to other young women.’
She added: ‘I’ll be the fun housemate, talkative, the housemate that cries.’
Prior to Malika’s appearance, Ann, 70, had been the first female to enter the house. Host Emma confessed she ‘never, ever thought’ she would see the former Strictly star enter the Celebrity Big Brother house, but proving everybody wrong, Ann admitted she was enticed by the theme to this year’s all-female series.
Kicking things off: Ann Widdecombe, 70, became the first contestant to enter the all-female house this series
She said: ‘I think there is pretty well nothing a woman can’t do if she wants to. I do think we should be equal, I fought very hard for that and I think we’ve achieved it.’
On living among her fellow celebrities, she added: ‘I do live alone. Ask me to share with 15 other people and that might be a challenge? I say what I think. I snore. I am what I am.’
During her interview with Emma before heading into the famous compound, Ann admitted she would prefer to have ‘a few men around the place’, insisting ‘human interaction between the two sexes’ is ‘only normal’.
And the former politician suggested she won’t hold back when it comes to her fellow housemates, as she teased: ‘I certainly don’t regard myself as a role model.’
Following Ann and Malika into the house had been Boris Johnson’s sister Rachel – a journalist, former editor and television presenter, who quipped: ‘I’m paid to have opinions. I don’t think I’m opinionated, I just think I’m right.’
She added in her VT: ‘ The worst thing about me is that i am incredibly intolerant. I have the opposite of charm, anti-charisma.’
During her entrance interview, Rachel learned that she would be in the company of Ann in the house to which she remarked: ‘She’s a one. I’m not sure looking forward to it.. but she’s a right character!’
Rachel was announced as the first to enter the famous Borehamwood mansion on Christmas Eve by Channel 5 on their Twitter account.Rachel is the sister of Foreign Secretary Boris, and the daughter of former MEP Stanley, who recently found success on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity.
Big Brother UK wrote on their Twitter page: ‘We can confirm that journalist @RachelSJohnson will be one of the female Celebrity Big Brother housemates entering the House live at 9pm, Tuesday 2nd January on channel5_tv!’
Rachel is a journalist and novelist as well as being politically outspoken – she was a member of the Conservative party until 2011, and last year confirmed she had joined the Liberal Democrats in protest at the Tories’ stance on Brexit.
She is married to Ivo Dawnay, who is the London director of the National Trust, and the pair live with their children Oliver, Ludo and Charlotte in Somerset.
Rachel was then joined by India Willoughby, the first transgender news reader, followed closely behind and said on her entrance that she is hoping to dismiss the misconceptions associated with transgender.
She said: ‘Transitioning was the best thing I ever did, it took me 50 years to be the woman Iam today, it was a tough fight and nobody is going to take that away from me.’
As the females housemates are set to be joined by a slew of male contestants in the next few days, India claimed: ‘I’m definitely looking for love but the big problem I have is that guys think that if they go out with somebody like me it makes them gay. It’s completely different.’
She added: ‘I’m hoping people will judge me on the person that they will see in the house, not what they’ve read in the newspapers… if you’re not being yourself, you’ll get found out. I’ve learnt the hard way that it is really important to be yourself.’
Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, who admitted she was so ‘nervous’ about appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, having been a super-fan of the show since her younger years, was next to enter the house.
Sharing her nerves with Emma, Ashley confessed: ‘I’m nervous, I’m so scared. I don’t know what’s happening, i don’t know what’s to come.’
‘I’ve watched it since I was little, this is so surreal, if my 12 year old self knew. I used to watch it live, this is so cool.’
The reality star turned blogger and DJ is often seen sharing empowering messages via social media and claimed she feels ‘proud’ to be entering the show in the year that it is dedicated to strong women, adding: ‘I needed to be involved!’
Next up had been Maggie Oliver, a detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police over the Rochdale grooming scandal, and coming over all giggly as she joined Emma for her pre-house chat, she joked: ‘I haven’t been drinking!’ as she expressed her nerves.
Insisting that she is just a normal person, Maggie said in reference to her being among the celebrity lineup: ‘When I believe in something, I stand my ground, I haven’t done anything special, I just spoke out. I think i said what most people would have said or thought, I didn’t realise that was going to come this far.’
She revealed that she hadn’t told her Rochdale girls, who are ‘close to her heart’, about her upcoming appearance on the series, but she has written them letters that they are soon to receive detailing her stint on the show.
Entering the house she spotted Ann and cried: ‘I know who you are, I saw you on Strictly!’
The final housemate to enter the house had been former Coronation Street star Amanda Barrie, 82, who cried on her entrance into the house: ‘All I can say is that it’s a bl***y miracle I got up those stairs.’
Speaking in her VT, she addressed her decision to re-marry at 79 years of age and embrace her sexuality.
She said: ‘I was married for about 14 years and then I got married again to a different sex when I was 79. It may sound a little too late, but it isn’t too late girls. What I’ve discovered since coming out is that I don’t feel like I’m telling a lie or covering up and that is the most amazing gift.’
Speaking of her decision to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house, she said: ‘I thought if ever there is a time to do it, it’s time.’
Kicking off this year’s series, Emma had greeted an all-female audience with Beyonce’s hit track Run The World blaring out around the studio.
Emma cried to the crowd and viewers at home: ‘I think it’s about time women were in charge, don’t you? I can’t tell you how excited I am about this evening.
‘We are doing things a little bit differently this year and that’s because we are celebrating 100 years since women were given the right to vote… no boys allowed! Not even in the audience! I bl***y love it. ‘
She then took viewers for a tour around the all-new and improved Celebrity Big Brother house, as she explained: ‘They’ve gone very sophisticated with the decor, it’s like a spa but without the treatments.’
‘The living area looks really comfortable, inviting and really homely, so people will naturally relax and open up,’ she suggested, before revealing: ‘There’s a heated swimming pool an outdoor snug area and a sauna.’
And proving show bosses have gone all out this time round, Emma revealed the copper roll top bath in the bathroom cost a huge £4000, while it took FOUR DAYS to polish the kitchen’s work surfaces.
Housemate Ann was first to get a taste for the new house, but it’s modernised revamp didn’t sit well with her, as she branded it ‘ghastly’ and criticised it for having ‘absolutely no tradition’, as she said: ‘Ugh it looks like an Ikea showroom,’ on her first look.
Meanwhile, host Emma looked simply sensational for the live launch, as she cut a vibrant figure despite the downpour in a fuchsia pink tailored coat she threw atop an all-black ensemble. The presenter favoured a low-cut cami top with high-waisted trousers and towering heels.
CBB’S ALL-FEMALE LINE-UP: FIRST LOO
RACHEL JOHNSON (CONFIRMED)
AGE: 52
FROM: London
FAMOUS FOR: She is a journalist and novelist. The sister of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, last year she confirmed she had joined the Liberal Democrats in protest at the Tories’ stance on Brexit.
DID YOU KNOW…? She is married to Ivo Dawnay, who is the London director of the National Trust, and the pair live with their children Oliver, Ludo and Charlotte in Somerset.
JESS IMPIAZZI
AGE: 28
FROM: London
FAMOUS FOR: Jess made brief appearances on TOWIE as a ‘Sugar Hut Honey’, when she was seen to text Mario Falcone behind his then-fiance Lucy Mecklenburgh’s back. She later starred in the second season and then the fifth of Ex On The Beach,and also works as a MMA ring girl
DID YOU KNOW…? Jess is a staunch supporter of charities for the blind and has lobbied parliament for guide dog rights
MALIKA HAQQ
AGE: 34
FROM: Los Angeles, California
FAMOUS FOR: Malika was pursuing an acting career when she was catapulted to fame as Khloe Kardashian’s ‘professional best friend’ on Keeping Up With The Kardashians which debuted in 2007.
DID YOU KNOW…? She has starred in the Kardashian spin-off, Dash Dolls in 2016. Last year she was in a relationship with Jersey Shore’s Ronnie Magro-Ortiz
INDIA WILLOUGHBY
AGE: 51
FROM: Newcastle
FAMOUS FOR: India is the world’s first ever transwoman newsreader and has also made history when she scooped a role as a panellist on Loose Women last year. The trailblazing journalist previously revealed she always felt like she was a girl and the boys’ clothes felt like a straitjacket to her.
DID YOU KNOW…? India admitted she struggled to tell her family about her decision to swap gender yet finally gathered the courage to come about
ASHLEY JAMES
AGE: 30
FROM: London
FAMOUS FOR: A fleeting stint on Made In Chelsea in 2013 after she was introduced to producers by pioneering star Francis Boulle. She has gone on to throw herself into a career as a social influencer.
DID YOU KNOW…? Ashley was famously linked to David Walliams yet neither party confirmed the rumour
AMANDA BARRIE
AGE: 82
FROM: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire
FAMOUS FOR: For twenty years, Barrie took on the role of Alma Sedgewick in ITV’s Coronation Street. She has also starred in a number of other popular British shows such as Holby City and Doctors. The TV veteran is currently starring in the sitcom, Benidorm playing Psychic Sue.
DID YOU KNOW…? Amanda was in a romance with singer Billy Fury in the 60’s. However, she did not accept his marriage proposal
ANN WIDDECOMBE
AGE: 70
FROM: Bath, Somerset
FAMOUS FOR: She is a former British Conservative Party politician. She also served as MP for Maidstone, Kent for 23 years. Ann is very vocal about her support for Brexit.
DID YOU KNOW…? Ann is not a fan of reality stars – which is sure to ruffle a few feathers
MAGGIE OLIVER
AGE: TBC
FROM: Greater Manchester
FAMOUS FOR: Maggie was a detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police over the Rochdale grooming scandal.
DID YOU KNOW…? Maggie was portrayed by Lesley Sharp in Three Girls – a series on the Rochdale child sex abuse ring,
MailOnline can reveal that Rachel is set to be rivalled on CBB by reality star Malika Haqq, who is not only best friends with the Kardashian clan, but has also carved a name in her own right with reality show appearances.
Malika, 34, fuelled rumours when she took to her Instagram with a cake that read: ‘Congratulations on CBB’ – leaving many fans of the show hoping she will spill juicy Kardashian related secrets.
She wouldn’t be the first friend of the family to appear on the show, as Kim Kardashian’s best friend Jonathan Cheban also appeared on the series in 2016 – but left the series voluntarily in order to return to his creature comforts.
Straight-talking: Rachel Johnson was announced as the first to enter the famous Borehamwood mansion. She is the sister of Foreign Secretary Boris (R) and the daughter of former MEP Stanley, who recently found success on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity
Three’s company: Malika Haqq (R) is best friends with Khloe Kardashian (M) also pictured is Malika’s sister Khadijah Haqq
Glamorous girls: Made In Chelsea beauty Ashley James (L) will be adding some glamour to the series, and has gone onto carve out a successful DJ career. Jess Impiazzi (R) found fame on Ex On The Beach and as a MMA ring girl
Made In Chelsea beauty Ashley James will be adding some glamour to the series, and has gone onto carve out a successful DJ and presenting career following her fleeting stint on MIC a few years earlier.
The reality star has been honest about her battle with body dysmorphia and how it led her to panic attacks, previously telling MailOnline that her experiences have led to her wanting to empower and inspire other women.
She said: ‘Body confidence was something I had in a cock sure way as a teenager then I lost it because there’s so much pressure on women. Girls are harsh, so everything I do now is to not tear women down.’
Surprise addition: Former detective constable Maggie Oliver – who helped to expose the Rochdale child sex abuse ring will also be a part of the show
Continuing with the glamorous trend is Ex On The Beach star Jess Impiazzi, who also works as a ring girl for MMA.
Jess is no stranger to reality TV having made a brief appearance in TOWIE as a Sugar Hut Honey before going on Ex On The Beach in 2015 and then returning for the all-star series.
Amanda Barrie, 81, is famed for her role in Coronation Street, exiting the show in 2001 after her character Alma Sedgewick died from cervical cancer.
The actress, who first found fame in the likes of Carry On Cleo and was married to fellow thespian Robin Hunter from 1967 until his death in 2004, went on to marry again and tied the knot with crime writer Hilary in 2014.
Lovely ladies: Former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe (L) first sparked rumoured she would be joining the series after she was recently seen at an Elstree hotel. Amanda Barrie (R) famed for her role in Coronation Street, exiting the show in 2001
Meanwhile, former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe first sparked rumoured she would be joining the series after she was recently seen at an Elstree hotel.
Ann, 69, is a former MP turned novelist and TV personality, who memorably appeared in 2010’s Strictly Come Dancing. She is single and lives in Dartmoor, Devon.
MailOnline can reveal that India Willoughby will also be appearing on the show and is set to fly the flag for transgender women.
Transgender model Talulah-Eve had also been rumoured to enter the house, but it has now been claimed that former Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model contestant Talulah-Eve has dropped out of the series after finding out that her rival India has signed up for the show.
A source told The Sun: ‘It’s now the second time Talulah’s turned down CBB. But this time for a different reason, the reports of India going in put her off.
‘They both knew each other and got on in the past, but they recently appeared on Good Morning Britain and ended up having a very heated debate,’ it was continued, before it was noted that her showdown with India ‘would not have gone down well at all.’
Also entering the house is Maggie Oliver, a former detective who persuaded young girls who were being sexually abused in Rochdale to speak to police.
Nine men were convicted for their involvement in the sex ring which saw young women, one as young as 13, plied with alcohol before being passed around for sex.
The mother-of-four later resigned from Greater Manchester Police over the Rochdale grooming scandal.
The scandal was dramatised for ITV miniseries Three Girls, where Maggie was portrayed by Lesley Sharp.
‘Confirmed’: Rachel was announced as the first to enter the famous Borehamwood mansion on Christmas Eve by Channel 5 on their Twitter account
‘Their showdown wouldn’t have gone down too well’: Former Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model contestant Talulah-Eve (L) allegedly dropped out of the series after finding out that her rival India has signed up for the show
Despite the show opening with a team of ladies at the helm, male housemates will be dropped in when they least expect it. Rumoured males include Jonny Mitchell: The Love Island hunk is said to be headed into the house to send temperatures soaring; Andrew Brady: The Apprentice star is said to have been snapped up for his ladies’ man ways and lad behaviour.
Also Ginuwine: The R&B hitmaker, who has fathered nine children with five women, will reportedly shake things up in the all-female house; Spencer Matthews: The MIC star famously left I’m A Celeb due to steroid addiction however he is now pegged to return to reality TV, and Nathan Henry: Holly’s Geordie Shore co-star Nathan is another male reportedly making his way to the show.
Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves – famed for his love of surgeries and his nearly entirely operated-on frame – was also said to be appearing on the show, but told MailOnline that he decided to have his ribs removed instead so dropped out of the series.
RUMOURED MALE CONTESTANTS: FIRST LOOK
JONNY MITCHELL
AGE: 26
FROM: Essex
FAMOUS FOR: Jonny appeared on ITV2 dating show Love Island this summer, where he romanced Camilla Thurlow and Tyla Carr. He then dated Made In Chelsea’s Stephanie Pratt, but they split in October amid cheating and abuse allegations – which he denies
DID YOU KNOW…? Jonny, who is rumoured to rake in £100,000 a month, once flew a girl to Bali for a £50,000 two-week date at a five-star villa
GINUWINE
AGE: 47
FROM: Washington D.C
FAMOUS FOR: The singer has worked with the likes of Missy Elliott and Timbaland and shot to fame with his Nineties hit Pony – which later became the soundtrack for Channing Tatum’s film Magic Mike
DID YOU KNOW…? He has fathered nine children by five different women and previously confessed to being quite the womaniser
SPENCER MATTHEWS
AGE: 28
FROM: London
FAMOUS FOR: Eton-educated Spencer appeared on Made In Chelsea from 2011 until 2016, during which time he had an on-off fling with Caggie Dunlop and Jonny’s ex Stephanie Pratt
DID YOU KNOW…? He is now living with Irish DJ Vogue Williams and his brother James Matthews is married to Pippa Middleton, meaning he is the royal’s brother-in-law
NATHAN HENRY
AGE: 26
FROM: Darlington
FAMOUS FOR: He joined Geordie Shore in 2015 and quickly made a name for himself as a party animal alongside BFF Chloe Ferry. Openly bisexual when he joined, he was the first cast member to identify as anything other than straight. Nathan, who is dating Craig Richards, came out as gay in 2015
DID YOU KNOW…? The former hairdresser, who admitted he has always dreamed of fame, also appeared on Channel 5’s series of Celebrity Sex Pod with Chloe Ferry, who showed him her vagina while teaching him about the female body
ANDREW BRADY
AGE: 26
FROM: Cheshire
FAMOUS FOR: Andrew appeared in this year’s The Apprentice and was fired in week eight. The ‘ladies man’ was rumoured to have slept with fellow contestant Anisa Topan – who was engaged to be married – but he dubbed the claims ‘fabricated bulls**t’
DID YOU KNOW…? Andrew, who has experience as a coal miner, starred in an erotic photoshoot after The Apprentice with glamour model Gail Harris, which saw him dressed in his Apprentice suit and pulling her hair. He reportedly ‘hit it off’ with Gail and they later ‘spent the night together’
It comes after the first look of the Celebrity Big Brother house showed the famous Borehamwood mansion decked out in a cosy Alpine theme.
The celebrity cast will be able to enjoy a relaxing soak thanks to the bathtub in the living room and sauna in the garden. The celebrities will also be able to chill out in a cosy heated outdoor area, festooned with lavish fur blankets.
Over the course of the series and as their male counterparts enter the house, the housemates will take part in a series of tasks and hidden experiments to test their assumptions and challenge gender stereotypes.
Alpine chic: The first look at the Celebrity Big Brother house didn’t leave fans disappointed, showing the famous Borehamwood mansion decked out in a cosy Alpine theme
Simply stylish: The living room is decked out in a stylish pastel colour scheme
Lavish: The celebrity cast will be able to enjoy a relaxing soak thanks to the addition of a sauna in the garden
Bold addition: The living room boasts a large bronze bathtub in the middle of it, no doubt in anticipation of many late-night antics
Pioneering: As the nation marks 100 years since women won the right to vote for the very first time, the latest series will have an all-female cast a salute to a centenary of women’s suffrage and will be presented by Emma Willis (pictured)
It comes after the first look of the Celebrity Big Brother house showed the famous Borehamwood mansion decked out in a cosy Alpine theme.
The celebrity cast will be able to enjoy a relaxing soak thanks to the bathtub in the living room and sauna in the garden. The celebrities will also be able to chill out in a cosy heated outdoor area, festooned with lavish fur blankets.
As the nation marks 100 years since women won the right to vote for the very first time, the latest series will have an all-female cast of celebrity housemates in a salute to a centenary of women’s suffrage.
Presented by Emma Willis, it will initially explore how the women interact, from politicians to performing artists, as they enter the house first, ahead of the male housemates.
Over the course of the series, as their male counterparts enter the house, the housemates will take part in a series of tasks and hidden experiments to test their assumptions and challenge gender stereotypes.
Getting cosy: The house still boasts two bedrooms, decked out in muted shades of nude, mahogany and light blue
Dining in luxury: No doubt preparing for a raucous first night, the wooden kitchen table was laid out with champagne flutes
Oh baby it’s cold outside: The stars will be able to warm up by the wood-burning fire overlooking the garden
Thought-provoking: Over the course of the series, as their male counterparts enter the house, the housemates will take part in a series of tasks and hidden experiments to test their assumptions and challenge gender stereotypes
A teaser clip of the show revealed a glimpse of seven mystery housemates for the upcoming show – which will again be hosted by Emma Willis.
Featuring seven female eyes, fans were quick to speculate who the line-up could be, with Made In Chelsea’s Louise Thompson, retail guru Mary Portas and Wayne Rooney’s party girl Laura Simpson names thrown into the mix.
Following the reveal, fans took to Twitter to say they were convinced the first eye is that of Tattoo Fixers star Paisley Billings.
One wrote: ‘Got to be the lovely @MissPaisleyxo’ while another said ‘as everyone suspects I also think that this one is Paisley Billings, going by the end of the eyelash it looks so similar.’
Who will it be? Featuring seven female eyes, a teaser for the new series prompted fans to speculate who the line-up could be, with MIC’s Louise Thompson (left) and Wayne Rooney’s party girl Laura Simpson (right) as a few of the names thrown into the mix
Is it her? Paisley Billings was the first celebrities to be named by eagle-eyed fans, after pictures of women’s eyes were used to tease the new series
The vivacious 23-year-old receptionist, is no stranger to reality shows having previously appeared on Celeb’s Go Dating.
However a representative for Paisley denied claims the star is set to appear in the show.
Eagle-eyed viewers also spotted a distinctive iris in the second eye, with many suggesting it belongs to BBC newsreader and Loose Women host India Willoughby.
Powerhouse: Mary Portas, 57, is a consultant and broadcaster, known for her retail- and business-related television show and is also believed to be heading in
The 51-year-old broadcaster made history by becoming the first transgender woman in the world to present an all-female talk show.
Meanwhile the third eye, which featured a dramatic black eyeshadow sparked debate on Twitter, with the names Mary Portas and Ultimato founder Michelle Mone being put forward.
Mary, 57, is a consultant and broadcaster, known for her retail and business-related television show.
She has a direct no-nonsense approach, having been previously appointed by David Cameron to lead a review into the future of Britain’s high streets.
Michelle revealed she turned down a £350k offer in the past to appear in the show- but could next year be her year?
A representative for the Ultimo founder was quick to deny claims, and said: ‘Michelle loves the show but has turned the offer down.’
Ultimo boss: Michelle Mone revealed she turned down a £350k offer in the past to appear in the show- but could next year be her year?
The fourth eye bears a striking resemblance to former Coronation Street actress, Shobna Gulati. Bosses were rumoured to have been ‘in talks’ with the soap star back in summer.
The last three eyes have proved more difficult for viewers to distinguish, with names such as Louise Thompson, Laura Simpson and Jacqueline Jossa being linked to the show.
The MIC starlet cheered on her younger brother Sam when he appeared in the hit TV show earlier this year where he struck up a brief romance with X Factor Amelia Lily. Sam was pipped to the post by Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding.
The 2018 series of Celebrity Big Brother begins on Tuesday 2nd January at 9pm on Channel 5
Hostess with the mostess: Emma Willis will be on hand to greet the seven female celebrities when they enter the Celebrity Big Brother House on Tuesday night