Reality television personality Reggie Bird has experienced another setback in her job search, having recently been rejected for a retail assistant position at an Aldi supermarket on the Gold Coast. This follows a previous rejection from a role at Subway.
Bird, 52, shared a screenshot of the Aldi rejection letter on social media. The letter stated that her application for the retail assistant position would not be progressed. In a caption accompanying the post, Bird expressed her disappointment, noting that she believed she would have been a suitable candidate for the role.
Many of Bird's social media followers offered messages of support and suggested seeking assistance from disability employment services. This latest rejection comes weeks after she was unsuccessful in securing a position as a sandwich maker at Subway.
Bird, who has won the reality competition 'Big Brother' twice, including in 2003 and again in 2022, spoke in December 2024 on the 'Mental As Anyone' podcast about her ongoing struggles to find work. She revealed that despite her reality television success and prize money, she still faces difficulties securing employment and feels like a "failure."
She voiced her confusion as to why employers have been reluctant to offer her opportunities, stating her desire to work and her capabilities, such as answering phones and interacting with people. Bird attributes her employment challenges partly to a rare degenerative eye disease that has significantly impaired her vision. She has described her condition as having "nine degrees of pinhole vision, no peripheral vision and no night vision left," likening it to looking through a straw.
Bird also lives with Usher syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects both hearing and vision. Despite these challenges, she has expressed a strong desire to contribute in the workplace. Her two 'Big Brother' victories made her the first contestant to win the show twice.