[Amy]

SEX-SWAP Nadia's mum has become her daughter's biggest fan.

Chef Conceicao Almada admits she feared for her oldest son Jorge when he left for Britain to have a sex-change operation and become Nadia.

But now Nadia is starring in Big Brother, her mum is watching her progress daily on the internet and has been impressed with her courage.

Nadia, the eldest of 49-year-old Conceicao's six kids, left the Portuguese-owned Atlantic Ocean island of Madeira at the age of 19.

Conceicao, who works at a hotel in Madeira, says she was worried sick about him.

She is a protective single parent and all her other five kids still live at home including brothers who work as builders and painters and decorators.

Nadia, now 27, has visited her mum twice in Madeira since she left and Conceicao has visited her in London once.

But the glamorous brunette did not feel completely welcome in her old neighbourhood.

She chose to stay with friends on Madeira when she returned for her visits.

Conceicao had been unaware of Nadia's plans to enter Big Brother, but is now hooked on the show.

Shortly before the latest series of Big Brother began, Nadia calledreporters @dailyrecord.co.uk her mum and said: 'I'm off on a journey.' Her mother now realises that she meant she was going on Big Brother and had agreed to be televised for 24 hours a day.

Conceicao said: 'When he wanted to change sex I felt a big disappointment. You would, wouldn't you?

'It's difficult for a parent. But I would never condemn one of my own children. I think Nadia was really strong in everything she did.

'I think she has shown such courage in her life.

'She has been really strong creating a life for herself away from her family.'

Nadia was up for eviction last night against her close friend Marco and Michelle.

But even if her reality TV adventure is at an end, she has impressed her mum.

Conceicao said: 'I am really proud of her going on the show. I really hope she wins but who knows what will happen.

'I'm not a fortune teller. And it's not up to me. It's up to the British people to decide what happens.' Nadia's mum can only follow her progress on the internet because she cannot see the programme on television.

She follows Nadia's progress daily on the official BB website.

But she first found out Nadia was a television star through a Spanish acquaintance.

Conceicao added: 'I never believed she would do something like this, you can't predict the future.'


Daily Record

[Amy]

Another article on this from Daily Mirror...

Nadia's mum won over by courage of her 'son'

TRANSSEXUAL Nadia has finally won the full backing of her family in Portugal - thanks to Big Brother.

Her mum, Conceicao Mendes Almada, 49, admits she has been moved by Nadia's "bravery" in appearing on the TV show.

She said: "I am really proud of her going on Big Brother. I really hope she wins."

Nadia, born Jorge Almada, left the Portuguese island of Madeira for Britain eight years ago because she wanted a sex change.

And Conceicao, a hotel chef, admitted it was hard to accept. She said: "When he wanted to change sex I felt a big disappointment. You would, wouldn't you?

"It's difficult for a parent. But I would never condemn one of my own children. I think Nadia was really strong in everything she did."

Nadia at 27 is the oldest of the single parent's six children and the others all live at home. But in the eight years she has been away, Nadia has only returned to Madeira twice - and never felt comfortable enough to stay with her family.

Now, though, her family is filled with pride for their new "TV star".

And Conceicao has followed Nadia's progress daily by going on the internet and reading the Big Brother website.

She said: "I think she has shown such courage in her life. She has been really strong, creating a life for herself away from her family."

Conceicao also revealed that Nadia never even told her she was going on the reality show, but called just before entering the house to say, "I'm off on a journey".

And it was only through a Spanish friend who saw the show that her mum found out.

Conceicao added: "I never imagined Nadia would be doing something like this, but you never can predict the future."

Last night Nadia, who was up for eviction, broke down in the Diary Room as she explained how much BB has meant to her.

And she revealed just how important her friends in the house - dubbed the Harem - had become. "What can I say," she said. "I feel that I've been accepted by people.

"I'm gonna miss everything."

[golden~rose]

aww thats really sweet. nadia deserves it, shes has coped really well without her family!!