EXCLUSIVE: ‘She Chose My New Name Over Martinis In Milan’: Jessica Alves Reveals Surprise Friendship With Kirstie Alley, Who Helped Her When Transitioning After Celeb Big Brother
Jessica Alves was heartbroken to learn that her former Celebrity Big Brother co-star Kirstie Alley had lost her short battle with cancer at age 71 on Monday.
The 39-year-old TV star was joined by the Cheers actress when they both appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 and spent time together in Italy after the show.
Jessica told MailOnline: “We actually met in Milan when the show ended and she was one of the first people I told I was transitioning.”
EXCLUSIVE: She chose my new name over martinis in Milan: Jessica Alves has revealed her surprise friendship with the late Kirstie Alley, who helped her when she was transitioning after CBB in 2018
Happy in her skin: Jessica has been very open about her transition journey (pictured last week) and has asked that her previous name not be used
“We sat drinking martinis in the Dolce And Gabbana bar and I got drunk and cried when I confided in him what was happening.
“I told her that I had really been struggling and she listened to me. We talked about names and she helped me choose Jessica, who I love.
“We went shopping after that and Kirstie spent several thousand pounds on Manolo Blahniks. She had a real passion for them, but she was down to earth in other areas.’
Jessica had been in Italy for work and Kirstie was vacationing there at the same time for a few days and she texted Jessica asking if she wanted to meet up.
He said Scientologist Kirstie had a lot of interesting things to talk about, but he never tried to convert her to get involved in his religion.
Special: After meeting on the show, Jessica and Kirstie met up in Italy, where she tearfully confided in her how much she was struggling with her trip and helped her a lot (pictured together on CBB)
Reflecting on her time in the Big Brother house, which saw Kirstie come in second to actor Ryan Thomas, Jessica said Kirstie helped her through a difficult time.
She said: “Being in the house was a difficult time for me because no one knew I was transitioning at the time and I was on hormones that were driving me crazy.”
But Kirstie and Jessica bonded after she took her under her wing and let her try on all of her high heels.
Jessica said: ‘Kirstie had brought a bunch of Manolo pairs and she let me try them all around the house and walk around in them, but that was never televised.
Latest picture: It emerged on Monday that Kirstie has died at the age of 71 after a brief battle with cancer. She was last pictured during an Instagram video on September 8 while promoting her work on Cameo.
Heartbreaking: The star’s family released a statement on Instagram on Monday in the wake of his passing
“She was really there for me and was a very positive person.”
Jessica continued; ‘Jessica was a very clean lady with high standards and at one point she had me clean the house with Listerine mouthwash, because there were no cleaning products.
Their bond was strengthened when Jessica did Kirstie’s hair and makeup and she looked so beautiful.
Jessica said: “She could have been a huge Hollywood star, but she was very level-headed and wise.
“However, he showed me photos of all the monkeys and wild birds he had at his home in Los Angeles. He had to have a special license for them but he loved animals.
“She truly was a special lady and I am absolutely devastated to learn of her passing. My heart goes out to all of her loved ones.”
Jessica sent her love to Kirstie’s family: the actress pictured with her adopted children William True and Lillie Price in 2010