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“At least I know she’s safe,” Hansen said.
Amanda graduated from Winona State University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies and works as a legal contract specialist for a health care insurance company in Fridley, Minn.
Hansen was a star track athlete and involved in beauty pageants.
“Wherever the spotlight was, that was where she wanted to be,” Hansen said.
Amanda is originally from Kenosha, Wis. She and her family moved to Web Lake, Wis., where she is the talk of the small town.
“Everybody knows about it,” Hansen said.
Her mom has long been a fan of reality shows, watching “Big Brother” long before her daughter starred on the show.
“I watch all of them,” Hansen said. “I just like the fact that there are normal working people trying to win some money.”
Hansen told her daughter about the try-outs for “Big Brother,” and Amanda flew to Los Angeles to audition. Mom had to keep her secret and wasn’t sure Amanda was chosen until Jan. 30 when her daughter flew back to L.A. to be on the show. That was the last time she saw her in person. Of course, she’s watched every episode of the show which premiered last week.
Each season of the show offers a twist. For its ninth season, the show has found each roommate’s supposed soul mate based on surveys they filled out when applying for the show. Amanda’s match is Alex.
“He seems very cute and all that, but he doesn’t seem like he’s Amanda’s type,” Hansen said.
Mom occasionally watches the 24-7 feed of the show on the Internet but tries to resist. She also sees some of the negative comments people make about her daughter on various chat rooms.
“If it gets too bad, I turn the computer off,” Hansen said.
She’s not sure when she’ll get to talk to her daughter next — it depends on how well Amanda does. One person is voted out by eviction each week. Amanda and Alex won the coveted “Head of Household” title, meaning neither will be evicted from the show this week. Hansen thinks her daughter’s strength could benefit her — or be her downfall.
“They have a tendency to kick off the strongest players,” Hansen said.
The last roommate standing in the “Big Brother” house gets $500,000. Amanda has already promised to take the family on a cruise if she wins.
“If I could talk to her now, I’d tell her she needs to calm down a little bit,” Hansen said, “and everybody isn’t as true as you think they are.”
“Big Brother” airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays on CBS.
Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
