Thanks to George da Soulchild for this piece:

Kimberley Musonda, Zambia’s last housemate in the ongoing Big Brother Amplified, was evicted from the show last Sunday, just one week before the show’s finale. The Livingstone-based beautician in a phone interview on Monday, Kim, 26, shared her experience on the continental show. Here are some excerpts:

How would you describe your twelve weeks in the Big Brother Amplified house?

I loved each and every moment of it. I’m glad I went this far, I’m glad I had so much fun, and I’m glad I was there. I’m glad I was so real with myself. I’m glad I was in there, it was a very good experience, nothing I would exchange for anything else in the world. It was a rare experience that I’m going to treasure for the rest of my life.

What are your most memorable moments?

I like the fact that I could break down and cry and not feel bad about it. That’s the kind of person I am. When I want to cry, I want to cry. I liked that I could live relaxed, I liked that I was given the space and privacy to do that in front of 52 cameras. I can’t really pick one moment; it’s been a series of moments.

So what did you personally gained from being on this show? What lessons have you learnt?

I’ve learnt that basically I’m not a mean person…I’m a very jovial person, as you saw by my highlights. I really liked my laughing and crying. What Ive learnt about myself is that basically I can stand up for myself, and I don’t give myself as much credit as I should. I’m really a confident person, and I really am ready to face the world.

What would you say about your relationships with Kenyan housemate Nic (Wangondu) and Lomwe during your stay in the house?

Nic and I had a good thing going on. We’re good friends, we’re getting to know each other.

Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I would have thought it would. It’s something I treasured. He was a good person, and I really was fond of him. (But) I don’t think we’re going to do anything furthermore, seeing that we removed our feelings for each other. And Lomwe is an interesting person.

I’m a lucky person. I came into the house single, and I was given an opportunity to meet new people. I think that was a rare moment. Lomwe is a kind and loving person, and I really like him. I’m not going to comment on what can or cannot be because in the end, he’ll come into the real world. He has to go back to Malawi, I’ll be based in Zambia, so we’ll just wait and see.

Are you concerned about how people in Zambia will view the way you carried yourself in the house concerning your conduct in the same relationships?

Going into the house, reserved or not reserved, from a Christian background or not from a Christian background, I opened my life to continental viewership, and the decision I made looking at every other aspect of my life. When I opened my life to everybody else, I opened it all the way because that was 24/7. There wasn’t any editing going on, so everything that happened to me was the reality of my life.

I respect people’s opinions; each one is entitled to their opinion as long as it is not hindering to the other person’s feelings. That was my life and I’m sorry if it wasn’t the other person’s view of how I should live my life in the house. In the end, sorry guys, this was about Kim, so everybody is entitled to their opinion. I’ve learnt from that experience, and I would like to know what people thought, negative or positive, I’m really just Kim and I love you Zambia.

What went through your mind when you were called up for eviction considering that you had come this far in the show?

When we were still auditioning for the show, I decided not to worry about what the next stage was going to be, just like I never worry about my next step will be in life. I strongly believe in the Bible were it says, “don’t worry about your tomorrow.” So I dwelt with that from week one; coming into the house I didn’t think I was a housemate. When Big Brother said we were not housemates we were still auditioning, that was like a door for me. From that day I decided to live my life each day at a time.

When I wake up I don’t think of what is going to happen tomorrow, so I’m glad I did that because every other nomination I went to, I was ready to follow any path that God led me into. So for me I was ready to do what God wants me to do. That’s why when they called my name…I was more worried about my hair not being messed by people who were hugging me than my name being called. So I was ready for whatever God wanted me to go to. I’m always ready to go do life as God would want me to go do it.

In the early weeks of the show, you told some of your housemates that you had authored some books? Have any books been published and where can one find them?

I said I wrote three books. I can’t give you the titles right now. I can’t talk about them very much because they are still in the process so we’ll just have to wait. Right now I’m dealing with everything else from Big Brother.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to work on my career as much as possible in all aspects of my requirements. I have a lot of things to take care of; I would like to further my education. I would like to open my own range of beauty products. I would like to continue my writing and finally publish some of my works. I’m just gonna concentrate on that, and hopefully things will work out.