Interview with Big Brother 8's Daniele Donato

Happy Friday, everyone! I promised some fun surprises in the run up to Big Brother 9, and I meant it. ;) Today brings the first treat: Daniele Donato from Big Brother 8 was kind enough to sit down with bb9dish and give us a terrific interview. Enjoy!

If you'd like to link to this interview, the direct url is:
http://bb9dish.blogspot.com/2008/01/interview-with-big-brother-8s-daniele.html

CAROLYN: Congratulations on making it to the final 2. From my end, I always perceived it as a win for both of you, rather than a 1st place, 2nd place. How have you been enjoying the spoils of victory?

DANIELE: THANK YOU!! You know I love that I'm finally getting to travel and do things.. money doesn't equal happiness, but it sure makes things easier. Not having to worry every month if I'm going to have enough for rent is wonderful.

CAROLYN: Dani, You made some pretty major changes while you were inside the house. How long did it take you to re-adjust to your life outside the Big Brother house? Or do you feel like you're still adjusting? Rebuilding?

DANIELE: My life is a whirlwind of changes. I feel as though it is still changing daily. Sometimes I miss what it feels like to be on solid ground. But you take it and run with it. The only constant is change, right? Plus, change isn't always bad... I'm making the most of it and enjoying it. :]

CAROLYN: Speaking of adjusting... Fame... How does that feel? Do you feel like a famous person? How has your life changed since being on the show, as a result of "fame"?

DANIELE: I think it's just silly. I don't consider myself as famous. I had my first experience with fans screaming and crying, saying how they were so happy to meet me..

Them: "You don't understand!!"
Me: "I really don't understand."
It's so weird to me. I'm just a normal girl from Huntington Beach.

CAROLYN: Looking back on the season, and frankly even while we were in it, the central theme was always the rebuilding of your relationship with your dad, and for the majority of the viewing audience, we couldn't have asked for a more fairytale ending. Do you feel like that's a solid thing now, as a result of your time & travails together in the house?

DANIELE: I certainly feel that it has brought us together. The biggest thing I take from the house is life lessons. I cannot even tell you how much I have learned from this experience. I have definitely grown as person. On this topic, I finally realized that you may not have the story book family, but that doesn't mean you don't need your family.

CAROLYN:. It's ironic that the most private person ever to enter the BB house (you!) was forced to deal with the most personal issues on a national stage - old boyfriend, dad, new boyfriend - can you comment on the boyfriends situation for us? as much as you're comfortable...

DANIELE: Well, you live.. you learn. I regret the way I handled the situation, period. But, I can say it has made me a different person, and I've learned from it.

CAROLYN: Do you feel like you've gotten closure now - on both ends?

DANIELE: It's hard to just move on from a person whom you shared such strong feelings for.. as for romantic feelings, this is the first time I have been single in a very long time. It is hard adjusting to that, but I am not looking to date anyone right now. I am enjoying discovering who I am and growing as an individual.

CAROLYN: Now that you've had a few months outside the house to reflect, what specifically would you go back and change, if you could?

DANIELE: I would change a few things, but... I can neither confirm nor deny any of them.

CAROLYN: The Incest Charge... Dustin, Dustin, Dustin. Care to comment? Have you ever called him on it? Has he ever apologized to you for his despicable accusations?

DANIELE: I have not talked to Dustin since the show.

CAROLYN: How about Amber?

DANIELE: I saw her at the Reality awards in October, but I didn't talk to her.

CAROLYN: Apart from your dad, who do you maintain relationships with from your cast, and who is the most surprisingly different outside the house?

DANIELE: The only person I talk to is Kail. I love her and her family to death. We talk alllll the time. As for people being different, I think most of them are, good or bad. This is why, if I have not communicated with a houseguest outside of the house, I do not have an opinion of them. Everyone gets all these opinions of houseguests from the show, but I've met so many past houseguests who people may have a bad misconception of, whom I just love.

CAROLYN: Being in there really just makes everyone kinda nuts, huh?

DANIELE: It really does. Not to say some people don't enter the house already a bit nutty...but I think that's the basic idea. You know, people say, "Oh, so it's like you're in jail?" and I say "No, it's like you're in a mental institution."

CAROLYN: Well, you're now a part of a very exclusive club: Big Brother Alumni. Which of the houseguests from seasons other than your own have you met and built friendships with?

DANIELE: Haha! I say I didn't make friends in the house, because I spent too much time making friends in the Diary Room. I made a lot of good friends out of those guys. As for past houseguests... Kaysar and I hangout, I talk to Marcellus, James, Will (season 5), Diane and that's pretty much it.. so far.

CAROLYN: What was your favorite part about being on Big Brother?

DANIELE: I enjoyed my time with Nick, as well as the competitions... I really miss them. When my dad and I were on the block together were always great weeks, it brought us together.

CAROLYN: Least favorite part?

DANIELE: Least favorite? Not being able to talk to my friends and family. It gets lonely and super boring. Soooo boring it drives you crazy. I also hated the fact that you couldn't just get some privacy..if there weren't people next to you, it was a camera you can hear zooming in on you.

CAROLYN: What advice would you like to give to the new crew of houseguests?

DANIELE: PLAY THE GAME. Coat your heart in cement... you're there to play a game.

CAROLYN: Last but not least... Inevitably, there will be a BB-AllStars 2. As of this moment, Would you do it again?

DANIELE: You know, it took them six years to do the first all stars, if it takes six years again.. I will be 27, and it will just depend where I'm at in my life.. I will definitely consider it, but who knows if they will even have another one and who knows if I would even be asked..

CAROLYN: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Dani. :)

DANIELE: Thanks for everything. <3

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