Linford Christie's niece to appear in Big Brother after being stripped of Miss England crown

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated:

Contender: Rachel Christie will appear in the final series of Big Brother

Contender: Rachel Christie will appear in the final series of Big Brother

The controversial former Miss England who was stripped of her title after a nightclub brawl with a love rival has been revealed as a contestant in the final series of Big Brother.

Linford Christie's niece Rachel, 21, will be one of the final housemates to enter the Big Brother house when the Channel 4 programme starts next week.

According to the News of the World, a Big Brother source described Miss Christie as the 'perfect housemate.'

'She's sexy, sassy and with a real life story to tell.'

'Rachel is no stranger to controversy. We think she will help make the final series unmissable television.'

The aspiring Olympian was the first black woman to take the Miss England title, but four months later had to relinquish the crown after she was arrested on suspicion of assault.

She allegedly fought with Miss Manchester Sara Beverley Jones over TV Gladiator David McIntosh in November last year.

No charges were ever laid against the beauty queen, who revealed earlier this year that she was 'angry and disappointed' with herself.'

'I let myself down, my family, all these people who had such high hopes,' she said.

But now she hopes to redeem herself in the public eye with her appearance on the popular reality TV show which draws to a close this year after catapulting many unknowns into the world of celebrity.

Miss Christie hopes to follow in the footsteps of her Olympian uncle by competing in the 2012 London games in the heptathlon and the 400m women's team event.

She apologised for her behaviour when she lost her Miss England crown, saying she had lot of people down.

'I regret ever going to the club that night,' Rachel said in January. 'So many people helped me prepare for Miss World and I let everybody down.

Brief reign: Rachel as Miss England 2009 with Katrina Hodge, who has since been awarded the title

Brief reign: Rachel as Miss England 2009 with Katrina Hodge, who has since been awarded the title

'It keeps dawning on me what's happened. It's a horrible, horrible feeling. I'm just so angry and disappointed with myself. I know I made a mistake but it's been made out to look like something it wasn't.'

Violence was never far from Rachel's youth. Her father Russell's life was one of drugs, crime and jail, and at Christmas 1996, when Rachel was eight, he was fatally stabbed in a fight over cocaine.

'I'd hate to think that people will think, "like father like daughter,"' she said.

Redemption: Miss Christie wants to make her family proud again

Redemption: Miss Christie wants to make her family proud again

'I couldn't face my family after I was arrested,' she added. 'I stayed in Manchester for two weeks. I was so ashamed.

'It is hard but I have to come back from this. There must be something I can do to make my family proud again.'

The final series of Big Brother airs from June 9.




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