The 47-year-old Tasmanian travel advisor is Reggie Bird's younger sister. Reggie won in 2003 and again in 2022, and she has been firmly behind Anita taking her own shot at the house.

Viewer comments highlighted by Now To Love questioned whether a former winner's relative should have been selected ahead of other applicants. The article also included viewers who recognised Anita immediately and were excited to watch her.

The split is visible in comments on TV Blackbox's cast article, too. One reader objected to relatives of former housemates being included, while another argued that a family connection makes little difference because each season is different.

Anita's selection has not been shown to involve preferential treatment.

Reggie Says She Encouraged Anita To Audition

Speaking on ABC Hobart's Drive, she told Lucy Breaden: “I did encourage her to audition for the show.”

She urged Anita to try without knowing whether she would get in, and suggested mentioning the possibility of becoming a sister who wins.

Her advice extended beyond the audition. Reggie warned that tiny irritations become much bigger inside the house and said Anita would need to find ways to cope when people got on her nerves.

Reggie recalled struggling with nominations in 2003 and the strategy-heavy 2022 game. She wanted Anita to enjoy the experience while being prepared for the pressure.

Reggie described Anita as someone who wants to sit down and resolve a confrontation, while she is more likely to tell someone where to go.

She hoped viewers would avoid comparing them too closely: “she's her own person.”

Family Connections Are Part Of This Cast

Anita is not the only member of the 2026 housemate line-up with a link to an earlier season. Pam is the mother of former contestant Kieran Davidson, while current housemates Ryan and Tahlia are siblings with a connection to keep secret.

Outside the family resemblance, 10's introduction gives Anita a few talking points of her own: she enjoys skateboarding and solo travel, and once took a mannequin on a road trip around Australia.

She is now competing for the $100,000 prize. Reggie is hoping Tasmania, and the rest of Australia, gets behind her sister as she plays her own game.