The Mercury checks in with reality TV stars Laura Byrne, Cyrus, Simone Holtznagel, Ben Lyall, Gina Ottaway, Andrew Ucles, Mick on Wheels

Over the years, many residents from the Illawarra have surged to fame thanks to reality television, albeit some for only 15 minutes.

Here we take a look at some of our more memorable home grown heroes and what they're up to now.

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A jewellery designer raised in West Wollongong was one of three local contestants to fight for the affection of eligible bachelor Matty "J" Johnson in the 2017 season of The Bachelor.

Former St Mary's student Laura Byrne was handed rose after rose, eventually fulfilling her quest for love and stealing the heart of the main protagonist.

But the program's portrayal of their courtship was no ordinary feat.

Matty J explored every option producers presented him and enjoyed many passionate moments with multiple ladies during the series, but on the finale he revealed he never really cared for any of them except Laura.

And the fizz didn't fade once the cameras turned off.

It seems the warm and fuzzies are still well and truly alive for the couple who now have two daughters, Marlie-Mae and Lola.

The pair were reported to be getting married in 2020 but the pandemic got in the way. No wedding date or details of past nuptials have been made public.

Laura works as a podcast/radio presenter (on Life Uncut with Brittany Hockley), runs her own jewellery business (Toni May) and reaps rewards as an influencer with 328,000 followers on Instagram (@ladyandacat).

A teenager known to busk at McDonald's became a national superstar after winning The X Factor in 2015, sending school-aged children of Wollongong into a frenzy that a celebrity was in the midst.

The former Kanahooka High School student left the judges - and fans - in awe after adding his personal touch to songs we all knew and loved throughout the series.

For his final performance he sat down at the piano for a hauntingly brilliant rendition of Wicked Game originally by Chris Isaak - a judge and mentor on the reality show.

Cyrus' beautiful portrayal of the hit song won the nation's hearts and landed him a recording contract with Sony Music, which saw the release of the single Stone and a self titled album, along with a further five singles before becoming an independent artist.

It's understood the musician then transitioned into production, according to NME.com, who reported he has been working with Client Liaison, CXLOE and Glades.

In 2017 he popped up on the small screen again, this time as an actor - cast as a singer in the TV series Love Child.

In 2020 the independent artist released the single I'm Sorry, and in late 2021 he released the EP Had, Lost.

In 2022 his Instagram pictures promote a more mature Cyrus with stylish haircut and rugged stubble-verging-on-beard, while his Facebook states he is now based up the road in Sydney.

On March 20 the singer played his first show since the release of his EP, supporting Loretta The Band at The Oxford Art Factory, playing a mix of covers and originals.

An Italian grandmother for Flinders with a flair for cooking, lined up to bake her best on MasterChef in 2018.

It was a six-layered Swiss meringue buttercream cake which ultimately led to her undoing from the show, but Nonna G (as she likes to be called) has gone on to make many public appearances and cooking demonstrations since her exit.

These days you can find her teaching people to "cook like Nonna" at WEA Illawarra Community College, or helping students with their culinary skills at Five Islands Secondary College as well as cooking for private dinner parties in people's homes.

But Gina Ottaway told the Mercury the thing to keep her most busy in 2022 was her four grandchildren.

"My greatest joy is cooking with my grandkids ... my world," she said.

You can also find Gina cooking up a storm via her own YouTube channel, Nonna Gina's Food Adventures.

Colloquially known as "the Bear Grylls of Dapto", survival expert Andrew Ucles appeared on Survivor: Brain vs Brawn in 2021.

Although Andrew didn't make the finish line, his star continued to rise with his documentary series Born to be Wild picked up by Netflix.

As of April 2022, the nature-lover had permanently relocated to the Northern Territory continuing work with Australia's Defence Force as well as his outback tours.

"I'm working with the defence force doing community engagement in remote Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land," Andrew said.

"I'll also be kicking off tours in July ... with a multimillion-dollar accommodation lodge."

He said his rugged tours would be suited for "hard core" people happy to get experience the outback like he does, but also to more reserved holidaymakers.

A vivacious blonde from Corrimal launched her career as the second runner-up in Australia's Next Top Model in 2011.

Since then she has gone on to represent brands like Guess, Bras'n'Things, Honey Birdette and most recently Wheels & Dollbaby.

Despite being linked to lucrative brands, Simone has returned to reality television not just once more, but twice.

In 2018 she travelled to the jungle of South Africa to compete in I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and in 2022 she was again put through her paces when SAS Australia aired.

The 28-year-old was one of 17 "recruits" - a mix of sports stars, television personalities and even a convicted drug dealer - to be put through 14 days of intense special forces-type training, or "torture" as Simone put it.

"I thought I was really prepared for the show, but nothing prepares you for being set on fire or [nearly] drowned in a plane," she laughed.

You might get to see more of Simone on telly, as the model said she wouldn't say no to more reality TV, especially if a role on Dancing with the Stars ever came her way.

In 2014, Michael "Mick On Wheels" Sattin rolled into people's lounge-rooms around the nation after auditioning for The X Factor, and received a standing ovation for the song With A Little Help From My Friends.

At the time, the wheelchair bound performer was gigging on weekends and working as a vocal coach during the week.

These days Mick continues to roll around town with his style of blues, soul and r'n'b and most recently performed at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Anzac Day.

The singer was part of the half-time entertainment for the NRL match between the Dragons and the Roosters, with You'll Never Walk Alone - the biggest live audience he's ever played to. he said.

When he's not singing at venues up and down the coast, Mick is working with people with disabilities as a support co-ordinator, helping others to utilise their NDIS plans.

Balgownie miner Ben Lyall tried to win the heart of Georgia Love on The Bachelorette in 2016, but the quest was short-lived though still memorable.

The quirky character spoke to the Mercury at the time and admitted he did have a "crazy eyed" expression while his personality may appeal to more a "niche market".

A few years later the part-time property developer did in fact find a love match, this time off screen with Christie Cassar.

In 2019, turbulence in the couple's relationship propelled them to land on reality show The Super Switch in a bit to fix the foibles.

During the series, couples left their respective spouses and lived in "an experimental relationship with a total stranger," with the pairings living together in two separate houses in order to share the experience.

As of April 2022, the duo still appear to be together if Christie's Instagram is anything to go by, with a heart emoticon next to a "BL" on the main profile.

The most recent photo of the couple is from March 22 at Panorama House, with the caption "B1 and B2".

It also seems Ben is still a property tycoon, with a for sale listing for new units on Balmoral Street at Balgownie posted publicly to Facebook in April - many comments congratulating Ben on the feat.

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