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Amber Siyavus’ family is facing a devastating loss.
The reality TV star, who competed on season eight of Big Brother, has died, the Clark County medical examiner in Nevada confirmed to E! News Oct. 12. She was 46.
Siyavus died on Oct. 9, according to her death records. Her cause and manner of death are both listed as pending.
Siyavus appeared on the CBS reality show in 2007, where she became known for her emotional moments in the house, which earned her the nickname “Whamber.”
She was ultimately evicted from the house, finishing out her season in 7th place, though she formed close bonds with fellow houseguests Jameka Cameron and Dustin Erikstrup before her exit. (Dick Donato came in first place.)
At the time of her elimination, the reality star shed light on her hopes after leaving the show.
“I was on TV, I was shown into the world,” she said through tears following her eviction from the Big Brother house. “I feel like there’s something in this for me whether It’s for me to be an inspirational speaker, go to nursing school, something will come up out of this.”
And upon Siyavus’ exit, Cameron emphasized how much their bond meant to her.
“I don’t know how this happened,” she said in a video message. “Words can’t express to you how much our conversations, how much how much I enjoyed our interaction, how much you mean to me, and how much I’m looking forward to hanging out outside of the house.”
Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Fox/Getty Images for Fox
Years after she appeared on Big Brother, Siyavus faced tragedy as her daughter Lexi Tomcavage died in 2018 from an apparent suicide. She was 18.
Though Siyavus didn’t speak out about her daughter’s death at the time, she frequently shared insight into their special bond as well as the difficulties of being a single mother on the show.
And while some labeled her as overly emotional during her time on the reality series, she always saw wearing her heart on her sleeve as her biggest strength.
“I love the fact that I cry. Not many people show their emotions at all, period,” she told Reality TV Café in 2007. “I cry back home. I cry when I’m happy. I cry when I’m sad. I’m a from the heart person. I’m empathetic. I’m sympathetic. I feel people’s pain as if it were my own.”
She added. “I love that I showed America that it’s okay to cry.”
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