Big Brother contestant Holly Young has spoken exclusively about her whirlwind television romance with fellow housemate Colin Ridley, following her eviction during Sunday night's dramatic finale.
The Final Eviction and Tense Confrontation
The West Australian model, one of the season's most discussed personalities, was voted out shortly after a particularly tense 'family meeting'. During this confrontation, the entire group of housemates sat in a circle and aired their frustrations directly at Holly and Colin regarding their constant public displays of affection.
Holly was visibly unimpressed by the intervention, later describing the housemates involved as 'Karens'. Speaking to the Daily Mail after leaving the iconic house, the 31-year-old admitted the Big Brother experience was far more intense than she had ever anticipated.
"It was super intense," Holly revealed. "So many strong personalities all living under one roof. I learned so much about myself because it pushes you to grow so quickly."
A Connection That Dominated the Series
However, the central storyline of Holly's journey was her rapid connection with Mixed Martial Arts hopeful Colin Ridley, which sparked on the very first night. "He is such an incredible human. The light he shines is something I have not experienced in a really long time," she gushed.
"When he came up and shook my hand on the first night, we clicked straight away. I was not looking for any kind of connection in the house, but sometimes you cannot help it." Holly explained that the pair bonded quickly, offering each other mutual support in the high-pressure environment. "Honestly, without him I feel like they would have eaten me alive. We had each other's backs from day one."
Scrutiny, Secrecy, and Future Plans
This closeness made them the season's hottest topic, becoming a 24-hour talking point on the live feed. "From the moment we opened our eyes to when we went to sleep, everyone wanted to talk about us," Holly said. She believes the intense scrutiny stemmed from a mix of jealousy and frustration among other contestants, suggesting a bit of 'tall poppy syndrome' was at play.
Despite the drama, Holly insists the romance was entirely genuine and not a strategic 'showmance'. She confirmed their relationship will continue now the cameras have stopped rolling. "We have a plan. We are excited and just want things to grow naturally," she said, laughing about looking forward to "proper one-on-one time without 21,000 people watching us on a live stream."
As for the secret lipstick note she famously slipped to Colin before her exit, Holly remained coy. "It is a secret note for a reason. It was something for him during the tough times. Just a bit of HY love."
Reflecting on her time, Holly acknowledged her confidence may have intimidated some. While she didn't win the grand prize, she leaves with a surprising and unexpected relationship forged under the unique pressure of the Big Brother house.
