For a few lucky — or unlucky — houseguests, it is a rite of passage to wear a punishment costume in the Big Brother house.
The tradition began during season 8 when Jen Johnson secured the prize of wearing a red unitard for one week. Jen took the punishment with grace and actually made the full bright red bodysuit look chic.
After the positive reception of Jen’s participation in the punishment, the unitard returned the following season. The unitard has continued to grace our screens every summer and has evolved over time with even more elaborate designs.
As players become used to the idea of one day wearing a unitard, Big Brother upped the ante. In recent seasons, the costume department has gone the extra mile with even more creative wearable punishments.
Keep scrolling to see some of the most outrageous — and iconic — Big Brother costume punishments over the years:
Unitards
There have been many reiterations of the classic costume including former winners Jordan Lylod’s cute “Humtilard” and Nicole Franzel’s adorable “Super Safety” unitard costume. Season 20 winner Kaycee Clark also rocked the “Health Nut-itard.” During the second all-star season, Janelle Pierzina looked utterly adorable in the All-Star Mascot costume which featured a gold unitard and bright yellow star outfit to wear on top.
Adam and Eve
Things got biblical in Big Brother 16 when houseguests Caleb Reynolds and Victoria Rafael received the Adam and Eve punishment. Not only did the pair have to wear bright green leaves to cover themselves, they were tethered together for 48 hours.
Big Brother brought back the costume in season 28 as part of the BB Time Capsule. Mallory Aurichio landed on the punishment instead of a power and picked her bestie Melody Morris to be her partner.
The Whackstreet Boys
Nothing was more iconic that season 17’s parody boy band. For an entire week, Johnny Mac, Liz Nolan and Jason Roy dressed in matching white outfits that mimicked the Backstreet Boys’ Millennium album cover. In addition to looking like certified pop stars, the trio had to perform multiple songs and dance numbers.
The ‘Big Brother’ Robot
The reality series’ wildest punishment to date occurred in season 20. During the first week of the game, a twist placed houseguest Sam Bledsoe inside a robot. She was replaced in the house by a robot which she operated behind-the-scenes in a secluded room.
The houseguests could not see her as the robot’s screen was a simple — and cute — smiley face. However, she could communicate through the device’s speakers. Robot Sam has to wheel around the house and even inside the diary room. After the first eviction, real-life Sam returned to the game to play in person.
The Lord of the Latrine
Derek Xiao received the Lord of the Latrine punishment in Big Brother 23. While rocking a regal outfit, Derek was tasked with personally tending the bathroom for multiple days. Anytime a houseguest needed to use the facilities, Derek had to unlock the door, blow a horn and announce it to the entire house.
Kayak Companions
During season 25, Felicia Cannon received the Kayak Companions punishment after losing the veto competition and she chose ally Cirie Fields to accompany her. The pair were tethered together for 48 hours in a modified kayak. They donned life jackets and helmets and had paddles to navigate around the house. Anytime Felicia or Cirie needed to use the restroom, they had to lay down towels to “dock” their kayak.
The Hard Boiled Detective
The Hard Boiled Detective made its on-screen debut during Big Brother 27. After losing the veto competition, Vince Panaro was given the punishment, which was an oversized egg-shaped costume dressed up in a detective’s outfit with a giant magnifying glass. He wore the outfit for one whole week.
The costume made its return one season later when Angela Murray received the punishment after going into the BB Time Capsule.
