Trigger Warning: This article includes discussion of suicide.
Former Big Brother contestant Amber Siyavus has died at the age of 46. She competed on the eighth season of the CBS reality series in 2007. Her cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it remain unknown.
Amber Siyavus became known for her emotional moments on Big Brother
Siyavus’ death was confirmed by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Nevada on October 9, according to TMZ. Her loved ones have not released an official statement regarding Amber’s death so far.
Siyavus rose to fame after appearing on Big Brother. During her time on the reality show, she often showed her emotional side. Her frequent crying eventually earned her the nickname Whamber. She was even dubbed ‘the queen of ugly crying’ after images of her emotional moments on the show went viral as memes. Throughout her time on Big Brother, Siyavus experienced several ups and downs. However, she developed strong bonds with fellow houseguests Jameka Cameron and Dustin Erikstrup.
Siyavus did not win the reality show, but she became a jury member. She became the only contestant to reach the jury stage without winning either a Head of Household or Power of Veto competition. Dick Donato, her rival throughout the game, ultimately walked away with the season’s $500,000 grand prize. She finished the season in seventh place.
Siyavus, who lived in Las Vegas and worked as a cocktail waitress, suffered a heartbreaking loss in January 2018. Her 18-year-old daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died. The teenager died by suicide. Her death came months after her best friend died by suicide. Following her friend’s death, Lexi shared three tweets expressing how much she missed her. In one post, she wrote, “I miss you,” while another read, “Never been like this before,” TMZ reports.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
