For those who didn’t catch her in "PBB Teen Edition 2," Linda was called the "Bikini Babe from Iriga," because she grew up there and would always join Bikini Opens in her province.

Linda's mother, Anita Luningning, said her daughter's first taste of a beauty contest was when she won Miss Intrams from St. Paul. Then she bagged the Miss Cam-Sur title last May 23, 2007. She has also joined Bikini Opens in Bicol with her parent’s consecent.

While Linda’s own reason for joining such contests was simply for the prize!

So what made her join "PBB Teen Edition 2?"

She explained that it was her mother and aunts who encouraged her to audition. Being a good daughter, she obliged without expectations. So she surprised herself when she was picked to be one of the housemates.

What were her adjustments when she left Iriga for the PBB House?

"Pagdating ko sa Manila, maraming buildings kasi sa amin po sanay kami sa mga puno saka konting mga puno lang saka mga simpleng bahay. Sa bahay naman ni Kuya, it was how to open up to them kung paano ko i-share ang story ko and personal experiences ko," she replied.

She addded that she was also uneasy living with people whom she newly met when she entered the House of Kuya a month ago.

"Mga persons sa loob hindi ko pa kilala and iba-iba ang mga ugali. Parang pinipilit ko po ang sarili ko na intindihin kung ano ang meron sila at kung ano sila. Tapos yun na nga po, how to open up things."

She also thought of her Sweedish father who was living thousands of miles away from her family regularly when she was inside the House of Kuya. She admitted that she was jealous of her co-housemates families because they were complete.

When asked what she missed most about growing-up without a father was during her sleeping time. Her father would always tickle her to sleep with a feather!

She was only 13 years old when her father left.

Linda also got the shocked of her life when she left after only a month of stay inside the House of Kuya.

"Pag labas ko po na-shock po ako na may mga fans na po kami. Kasi sa loob po parang natural lang na araw, parang kinulong lang kami sa isang bahay na kami-kami lang. Tapos paglabas pag may nasalubong ka, they’ll recognize who you are. So it’s very exciting. Nakakatuwa," she shared.

She shared her experince inside Big Brother's house. "Maraming natutunan tulad nang bigyan kami ng punishment ni Kuya for wasting water and na spoil ang food kasi hindi namin nauubos…sinasabi sa amin ni Kuya na maraming nagugutom sa mundo…nabago ang confidence ko. Kasi before I was low in esteem and mahiyain ako. Hindi ko alam na maganda kasi ako kahit sumasali ako sa Bikini Open," related Linda who would be an incoming fourth year student at the University of St. Anthony if she continues her schooling this June, 2008.

Showbiz is a new territory for her.

"Sana magtuloy-tuloy ang career ko sa showbiz. Gusto kong mag-artista kasi gusto ko malaman ang feeling ng pagiging artista… gusto ko rin maging bread winner ng family ko. I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing this for my family lalo na for my brother kasi gusto ko po siyang makatapos. I want to imagine his future na maganda," she remarked.

She is also entering showbiz with the advice of her parents as her arsenal. Her father’s advice is for her to be always strong. While her mother’s advice is "laging isipin na kaya ko and huwag i-down ang sarili ko palagi. Feeling ko hindi ako nakaka-fit in parang masyadong maliit ako. Feeling ko ako ang pinaka-least," she lamented.

At the moment part of her showbiz preparations is to lose weight. A Knee Boarding enthusiasts, she is now learning how to Wake Board.

There's no doubt that Linda Backlund is ON THE RISE!