Nikki Grahame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikki Grahame
Grahame in 2016
Born	Nicola Rachele-Beth Grahame (1982-04-28)28 April 1982 Northwood, London, England
Died	9 April 2021(2021-04-09) (aged 38) Stanmore, London, England
Cause of death	Anorexia nervosa
Occupation	Television personality model author
Years active	2003–2021
Height	5 ft 1 in (155 cm)

Nikki Grahame (born Nicola Rachele-Beth Grahame; 28 April 1982 – 9 April 2021) was an English television personality, model, and author. She became well-known after being a contestant on the reality TV show Big Brother UK in 2006. She finished in fifth place on that show.

Later, Nikki starred in her own reality series called Princess Nikki. In 2010, she was the runner-up in Ultimate Big Brother. She also appeared on Big Brother UK again in 2015. The next year, she competed in Big Brother Canada, finishing in sixth place. Nikki won a National Television Award for being a very popular TV personality.

Nikki Grahame lived with anorexia nervosa for much of her life. She wrote two books about her experiences with this illness: Dying to Be Thin (2009) and Fragile (2012). She sadly passed away from complications of anorexia nervosa on 9 April 2021, at the age of 38.

Early Life and Health Challenges

Nikki Grahame was born on 28 April 1982 in Northwood, London, England. She remembered her early childhood as very happy. However, when she was eight, her parents divorced. Around the same time, her grandfather, who she was very close to, died from cancer. Nikki was very sad about her parents' divorce. After this, she was raised by her mother, Susan. Nikki attended Northwood School, London.

Understanding Anorexia Nervosa

Nikki developed an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. This is a serious mental illness where a person tries to keep their weight as low as possible. It can make people very unwell. Because of this, Nikki's parents had her admitted to a special hospital unit for children with eating disorders. She stayed there for six weeks.

After leaving the hospital, she started to eat very little again. Several months later, she had to go to an emergency hospital. She then moved to another special unit where doctors helped her gain weight and get stronger. After eight months, she was able to go home. Nikki stayed home for 18 months and went to school. But then, she started losing weight again. She returned to the special unit and later went to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Eventually, Nikki was admitted to Rhodes Farm, a clinic for eating disorders. After six months, she started to get better. She said she woke up one morning and realized she needed to change. By age 16, her weight had improved, and she left the clinic. Nikki had a relapse when she was 18. She spent time in an adult eating disorder ward. While working to overcome her eating disorder, she also developed obsessive-compulsive disorder. This included a strong fear of germs.

Television Career

Early Appearances (2003–2005)

Before she became famous on Big Brother, Nikki Grahame appeared in other TV shows. She was an extra in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. She also played a footballer's wife in Sky One's Dream Team. In 2003, she was a contestant on the ITV dating show Blind Date. Nikki also took part in the 2004 Miss Hertfordshire beauty pageant, where she finished fourth.

Becoming a Star on Big Brother 7 (2006)

In May 2006, Nikki Grahame joined the seventh series of the Channel 4 reality TV show Big Brother. On the show, she became known for her strong personality. This included her funny tantrums and her dramatic moments in the Diary Room. She also became romantically linked to Pete Bennett, who won the series.

During her time on Big Brother, newspapers reported that Nikki had suffered from anorexia nervosa for many years. Some people criticized the show for including a contestant with past mental health issues. However, Nikki later explained in her book that she had not told the Big Brother team about her health history until she was already in the house.

Nikki was nominated for eviction four times. She was eventually voted out on Day 58. But less than four weeks later, she was voted back into a special "House Next Door." The other contestants then chose her to return to the main house. This meant she could still win the show's prize. This decision led to many viewers complaining to the TV watchdog. Nikki finished the show in fifth place.

After Big Brother 7 (2007–2009)

After leaving the Big Brother house, Nikki Grahame appeared on other TV shows. She presented a section on The Friday Night Project. She also co-presented several episodes of Celebrity Soup. A reality TV series called Princess Nikki was announced, following her attempts to hold everyday jobs. This show started on E4 in September and ran for six weeks.

Nikki made many public appearances. She took part in shows like Celebrity Scissorhands and 8 out of 10 Cats. She also appeared at student events and clubs. In March 2007, Nikki was on a special "Goodies and Baddies" episode of the game show The Weakest Link. She also played in a charity football tournament.

In June 2007, Nikki returned to the Big Brother world as a reporter for the spin-off show Big Brother's Little Brother. She interviewed people about their thoughts on the show. She also wrote a Big Brother column for OK! magazine.

Ultimate Big Brother (2010)

On 24 August 2010, Nikki Grahame competed in Ultimate Big Brother. This show brought back popular housemates from past series. Nikki was the only housemate from Big Brother 7. She was nominated for eviction but survived the public vote. On 10 September, Nikki became the runner-up of the show. She received a very positive reaction from the audience. She finished three places higher than her original Big Brother appearance.

During her time on Ultimate Big Brother, Nikki seemed more comfortable talking about her anorexia. She had conversations with other housemates about her experiences.

Later Projects and Big Brother Canada (2015–2021)

In 2015, Nikki Grahame returned to Big Brother as a "time warp housemate." In September 2015, she worked with JYY London to create a clothing line for smaller women.

On 23 February 2016, Nikki was announced as one of four international contestants who could be voted into the Big Brother Canada house. She was voted in and became immune from eviction for that week. Nikki was nominated for eviction several times but survived. However, in a double-eviction twist, she was nominated again and became the tenth house guest to be evicted. She left the show on Day 63, which was her 34th birthday. Nikki was part of the jury that decided the season's winner.

In August 2017, Nikki appeared on the Channel 5 documentary "In Therapy". In this show, she had therapy sessions on camera. She spoke openly about her depression and anorexia. Nikki often appeared on the panel of Big Brother's Bit on the Side. In 2018, she entered the Big Brother house for the final time.

Passing and Tributes

In March 2021, Nikki Grahame's family shared that her anorexia had become very serious again. They said she felt weak and was struggling daily. Her family started a GoFundMe page to help pay for private treatment, as other treatments had not worked. They raised over £60,000 for her care.

On 24 March, Nikki was admitted to Dorset County Hospital after a fall. She stayed there until 8 April. The next day, she was found in her flat in Stanmore. Nikki passed away from complications of anorexia nervosa at the age of 38. She had been planning to go to a special treatment facility the following week.

Many people shared their sadness and paid tribute to Nikki. These included former Big Brother UK presenter Davina McCall, Big Brother Canada host Arisa Cox, and other Big Brother stars like Rylan Clark-Neal and Pete Bennett. A tribute to Nikki was shown at the start of an episode of Big Brother Canada 9. After her passing, her GoFundMe page was reopened to help pay for her funeral and to raise money for eating disorder charities.

Filmography

Awards

Books

• 2009: Dying to Be Thin (autobiography)
• 2012: Fragile (autobiography)