Sam Ashby, a standout contestant from this year's Big Brother series, has revealed he spent over £16,000 on cosmetic injectables, describing his past reliance on fillers and Botox as an addiction. The 27-year-old performer, known for his bold fashion and constant twerking, admitted he once looked very different due to his obsession with aesthetic procedures.
Speaking about his journey, Sam said: 'I’d always loved the thought of aesthetics and I wanted to play with them. Once I started performing and earning money, I got really addicted to it.' He added that any money he earned went straight to treatments, driven by insecurities from his younger years.
It took an intervention from his doctor to make him realise the extent of his addiction. 'I went to my doctor again for another procedure and she was like, “We need to get rid of this stuff because it looks awful.” I said, “But this is me - I can’t be without it,”' Sam recalled. The doctor refused further work until he dissolved the existing filler, leading him to see what he had been doing.
Fortunately, most procedures were reversible. 'It was all fillers and botox, which isn’t surgery, it’s more temporary. I learnt that it wasn’t serving me anymore and it wasn’t healthy,' he said. Now, after reversing the treatments, Sam feels more confident than ever, realising he doesn't need such enhancements to feel attractive.
While Sam admits he will still get occasional tweakments, it is no longer his main priority. 'I’ve learnt that perfection is not accessible. It’s not a reality,' he said. Reflecting on his Big Brother experience, he noted that the show's portrayal was 'so different' from reality, citing the 'code-gate' incident as lacking context. He remains close with fellow housemates Nancy Nocerino and Caroline Monk, and has ambitions to represent the UK at Eurovision.
