Australian-born Big Brother Italy star Monica Sirianni has died after collapsing in a bar on a night out, according to local media.
Reports say the 37-year-old suddenly fell ill on Friday during a night out with friends in Sauveria Mannelli, a town in Italy’s Catanzaro province.
Ms Sirianni was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The former TV star appeared on the 12th season of the Italian version of the reality show, which aired between 2011 and 2012.
She was born in Australia to Italian parents who had emigrated from the southern region of Calabria before she was born.
Italian Big Brother star Monica Sirianni (pictured), 37, has died after collapsing in a bar on night out, according to local media
Reports say the 37-year-old suddenly fell ill on Friday during a night out with friends in Sauveria Mannelli, a town in the Catanzaro province. The former TV star appeared on 12th season of the Italian version of the reality show, which aired between 2011 and 2012
Ms Sirianni had returned to Italy for some years as an adult, and lived in a city in the country’s northern Lombardy region, according to Ansa news agency.
During this time she entered Italy’s Big Brother house, but she was evicted from the house after around a month. She put her television career behind her, and went on to teach English, according to Italian news sources.
Ms Sirianni had only been in Catanzaro for a few days when she collapsed. It is understood that her parents were originally from the region.
Friends immediately raised the alarm after watching her collapse, reports said.
Paramedics rushed to the scene, and efforts were made to revive her, to no avail.
She was then rushed to the local Soveria Mannelli hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead.
Reports say that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of her sudden illness and death, with no information yet being released to the public, although reports said third party involvement has been ruled out.
It is understood that doctors have not ruled out the cause being a heart attack.
According to Gazzetta del Sud, her body will be repatriated to her parents in Sydney, Australia once the investigation is complete.
Ms Sirianni was a popular figure during her spell in the Big Brother house, which she entered when she was just 25 years old.
However, she was evicted after around a month, with a contestant named Sabrina Mbarek going on to win the series.
during her time in the house, she was embroiled in a romantic relationship with another contestant, Fabrizio Conti. According to Italian news sources, she broke off another relationship in order to be with Conti.
However, they split up soon after she left the Big Brother house.
Despite leaving the Italian limelight and having parents abroad, she stayed in Italy to peruse her passion as a teacher.
As the new broke about her death, tributes were paid on social media.
Monica Sirianni (pictured) was born in Australia to Italian parents who had emigrated from the southern region of Calabria before she was born
‘I wanted to remember this beautiful girl Monica Sirianni, former competitor of Big Brother and now a teacher,’ one person wrote on Twitter.
Another posted simply ‘RIP’, while someone else said that ‘It doesn’t seem true that she is no longer here.’
Others reminisced about watching her on Big Brother. ‘At the time I still watched the program and I remember it, I’m very sorry! A hug to the family,’ one person wrote.
Another added: ‘OMG…. I’m so sorry, condolences to the family.’