The 47-year-old reality TV star was crowned champion of series five in 2004 and made history as the first ever transgender contestant to star on the Channel 4 programme.

Now, two decades after her historic win, Nadia opened up to the panel about how she has grown as a person and what life has been like since.

Back in 2004, the Portuguese hairdresser was showered with praise for providing representation for the transgender community.

During the interview, the ITV show displayed some images of Nadia from her time on Big Brother and the star seemed to get choked up as they flashed across the screen.

Big Brother legend Nadia Almada issued a heart-wrenching apology to her younger self for ‘fat-shaming’ and ‘objectifying’ her looks during an appearance on Loose Women on Tuesday

View galleryThe 47-year-old reality TV star was crowned champion of series five in 2004 and made history as the first ever transgender contestant to star on the Channel 4 programme She fought back tears as she said: ‘Looking at those pictures I need to profusely apologise to her for fat shaming her, for objectifying her, for mistreating her.

‘Somehow along the line I compartmentalised that young lady for not being your standard.

‘Now I’m talking to me, really. I’m sorry for doing that to Nadia because it was a special moment and I had to put her in the attic or the basement.

Reflecting, Nadia continued: ‘It comes from maturity and experience. 20 years on, I have to embrace a different strength in me. I embrace it and I feel better for it.’

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan comforted the Big Brother icon as she got visibly emotional.

Later in the interview, Nadia was asked whether she would keep her transgender identity a secret if she were to go on the show today and she admitted: ‘Yes, I would do the same and it’s nobody’s business really.

‘I think it was very much a secret because that’s how it was, we were unrepresented everywhere as a woman with a trans identity.

‘It wasn’t something that we would come out publicly and be visible in any aspect of our society.

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan comforted the Big Brother icon as she got visibly emotional

Two decades after her historic win, Nadia opened up to the panel about how she has grown as a person and what life has been like since

View galleryGoing into the Big Brother house, Nadia was concerned she would be judged by the British public for keeping her transgender identity a secret, but her quick wit and fiery temper kept viewers entertained

‘My narrative was that it is only a facet of me. In the house I took control and I created my own narrative. Before going in the house I’d been pigeon-holed, labelled with all the derogatory terms so I just wanted to be that young lady.’

The panellists went on to ask Nadia whether she thinks society has progressed since then regarding trans rights, to which she responded: ‘Coming out of the show, I became the first point of reference for many people.

‘It’s very toxic at the moment, there’s a lot of discord. What’s important is for the world to see the humanity behind the person versus any religion, gender.

‘Let’s see beyond any of that. Stop segregating us as women in respect of the chromosomes, the biological things.’

It comes just after the reality star opened up about her love life in a candid chat.

Despite it being two decades since she won the show, swapping her raven locks for bombshell blonde and using a pseudonym on dating apps, potential suitors still recognise her, which she finds ‘a real turn off.’

The TV personality said she fondly recalls her time in the Big Brother house, where she endured ten weeks of cigarette rations and the explosive ‘Fight Night’ before winning with 74% of the vote.

Twenty years on and she hopes the next chapter in her life includes finding a partner.

Later in the interview, Nadia was asked whether she would keep her transgender identity a secret if she were to go on the show today and she admitted: ‘Yes, I would do the same and it’s nobody’s business really’ (pictured in 2005)

It comes just after the reality star opened up about her love life in a candid chat

When she was announced the winner by host Davina McCall, she screamed with joy as she beat fellow contestants Jason Cowan and Daniel Bryan who made up the final three with her

She told The Sun: ‘I love men. Men are great, men usually love me most of the time. But would I get married one day? For the tax benefits, yes! And also for the British passport!’

Nadia – who trained as a Vidal Sassoon hairdresser after the show and now works as a stylist – added that she has no interest in modern dating shows like Love Island and described them as ‘so trivial’.

She said that she values true intimacy over physicality and prefers dating men her age, appreciating a ‘dad bod’ but not a hairy back.

Going into the Big Brother house, Nadia was concerned she would be judged by the British public for keeping her transgender identity a secret, but her quick wit and fiery temper kept viewers entertained.

When she was announced the winner by host Davina McCall, she screamed with joy as she beat fellow contestants Jason Cowan and Daniel Bryan who made up the final three with her.