What season of Big Brother was Amber Siyavus on?

She competed on Big Brother 8 on CBS in 2007, lasting 62 days and finishing in seventh place.

Why was Amber Siyavus called Whamber?

Fans gave her the nickname because of her frequent emotional and tearful moments in the Big Brother house, a reputation she embraced.

Did Amber Siyavus have children?

Yes. Her daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died in January 2018 at the age of 18.

Media

Amber Siyavus

† 2026 · Reality television personality

“Big Brother 8's Whamber, who showed America it was okay to cry.”

Portrait: Deadline

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Their story

Amber Siyavus was an American reality television personality who became one of the most memorable houseguests of the eighth season of CBS's Big Brother in 2007. A 27-year-old cocktail waitress from Las Vegas when she entered the house, she was known for wearing her heart on her sleeve, and her…

During the season Siyavus formed close bonds with fellow houseguests Jameka Cameron and Dustin Erikstrup. She lasted 62 days in the house before being evicted, finishing in seventh place in a season won by Dick "Evel Dick" Donato. Along the way she was chosen, with Daniele Donato, to leave the house briefly to compete on the game show Power of 10, where she won the opening round and reached the $100,000 question before leaving with $1,000.

Siyavus never apologized for her emotions. "I love the fact that I cry," she told Reality TV Cafe in 2007. "I'm a from the heart person. I'm empathetic. I'm sympathetic. I feel people's pain as if it were my own." She added that she loved having shown America that it was okay to cry. On leaving the house she said she hoped the experience might lead somewhere, perhaps to inspirational speaking or nursing school.

On the show she spoke often about her bond with her daughter and the challenges of being a single mother. In January 2018 her daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died at the age of 18 in what was reported as an apparent suicide, a loss Siyavus did not speak about publicly at the time.

Siyavus died on October 9, 2026, at a residence in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 46. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner confirmed her death, and the cause and manner of death were listed as pending. Her death was first reported by TMZ on October 12, and tributes followed from the Big Brother community, including from host Julie Chen Moonves and former houseguests.

Biography adapted from Deadline, E! News, TMZ and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

In their own words

“I love that I showed America that it's okay to cry.”
Interview with Reality TV Cafe, 2007, as quoted by E! News

“I love the fact that I cry. Not many people show their emotions at all, period.”
Interview with Reality TV Cafe, 2007, as quoted by E! News

Photos

Amber Siyavus at the Fox Reality Awards
by People Forever
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Tributes

Memories, thanks and farewells from the people Amber touched.

A memory, a thank-you, a goodbye. You can add a photo.

Kate Parker

8h ago

Just saw a Big Brother 8 clip pop up on my feed last week, the eviction one where she says "I was on TV, I was shown into the world." Didn't expect to read this a few days later. 46 is so young.

Paul Jones5h ago

she really did wear her heart on her sleeve, that whole season

Candles

4 people are remembering Amber here. Every candle here is someone saying they were glad Amber lived. No account needed; it takes a moment and it stays here.

Romeo Aquino

6h ago

Micah Kirby

9h ago

Early life and family

Amber M. Siyavus lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was working as a cocktail waitress when she was cast on Big Brother in 2007, at the age of 27. She was a single mother, and on the show she spoke often about her daughter, Lexi, and about the difficulties of raising a child alone. Further details of her early life…

Big Brother and television

Siyavus entered the Big Brother house in July 2007 as one of the houseguests of season 8. She quickly became known for emotional, often tearful moments, which gave her the fan nickname "Whamber." She formed close alliances and friendships with Jameka Cameron and Dustin Erikstrup. Midway through the season she and Daniele Donato won the chance to leave the house…

Midway through the season she and Daniele Donato won the chance to leave the house to compete on the CBS game show Power of 10. Siyavus won the opening round and reached the $100,000 question, but answered incorrectly and left with $1,000.

She was evicted on Day 62 and finished in seventh place; Dick "Evel Dick" Donato won the season. In tears after her eviction she said, "I was on TV, I was shown into the world," adding that she felt something would come of it, whether inspirational speaking or nursing school. She later attended the Fox Reality Awards.

Personal life

Siyavus described herself as an empathetic, "from the heart" person and embraced the emotional reputation she gained on television. In January 2018 her 18-year-old daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died in Ohio in what was investigated as an apparent suicide. Siyavus did not speak publicly about her daughter's death at the time.

Death

Amber Siyavus died on Friday, October 9, 2026, at a residence in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 46, according to records from the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. The cause and manner of her death were both listed as pending. Her death was first reported by TMZ on October 12 and confirmed by the medical examiner to Deadline and E! News. Former Big Brother houseguests and longtime host Julie Chen Moonves shared tributes. Funeral arrangements had not been announced.

Legacy

Nearly two decades after her season, Siyavus remained a fan favourite of Big Brother 8, remembered for her honesty, warmth and refusal to hide her feelings on camera. Her own words summed up how she wanted to be seen: she loved that she had shown America it was okay to cry.

Questions people ask about Amber

How did Amber Siyavus die?: Her cause and manner of death were listed as pending by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. She died on October 9, 2026, at a residence in Las Vegas.
How old was Amber Siyavus?: She was 46 when she died.
What season of Big Brother was Amber Siyavus on?: She competed on Big Brother 8 on CBS in 2007, lasting 62 days and finishing in seventh place.
Why was Amber Siyavus called Whamber?: Fans gave her the nickname because of her frequent emotional and tearful moments in the Big Brother house, a reputation she embraced.
Did Amber Siyavus have children?: Yes. Her daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died in January 2018 at the age of 18.

Written by People Forever from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and the reporting cited. Updated 12 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Timeline

1 January 2007
Appeared on Power of 10, reaching the $100,000 question
1 July 2007
Entered the Big Brother 8 house
1 September 2007
Evicted on Day 62, finishing seventh
1 January 2018
Her daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died aged 18
9 October 2026
Died in Las Vegas, aged 46
9 October 2026
Died in Las Vegas, Nevada

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