‘Big Brother 23’ Cast Revealed: Meet the 16 New Houseguests Competing for $500,000

July 1, 2021

Ready to move in! But first, meet the 16 new houseguests vying for half a million dollars this summer on Big Brother.

CBS released the names, bios and photos of the newbies moving in for season 23 on Thursday, July 1. Among the players is a flight attendant, farmer, kindergarten teacher, forensic scientist, makeup artist, attorney and more.

“The overall theme is the ‘Big Brother beach club,’ executive producer Allison Grodner previously told Us Weekly about this season. “We really wanted to bring a sense of adventure and vacation fun and a club atmosphere to the house. So it’s got this casino meets beach, Monte Carlo meets beach club, meets Vegas, kind of feel to it.”

Fellow executive producer Rich Meehan added that “there’s always risks inherent in the Big Brother game” so they’re “really leaning into the risk versus reward dilemmas” this year.

In fact, the live move-in on premiere night will end with a big offer. “Julie is going to make an offer that might be, or is most likely, too good to refuse,” Grodner teased, referring to longtime host Julie Chen.

In addition to the “high stakes” Vegas theme, houseguests will be split into teams for the first few weeks. “On move-in night, they’re going to be battling to be a team captain, as well as vying for the ability to play Head of Household,” Meehan explained.

While COVID precautions will still be in place, this summer will be “pretty comparable to previous seasons” in terms of length, according to Meehan.

As for the cast, Grodner said, “We’re always looking for a diverse group of people to put in this house, diverse in personality, backgrounds, where they’re from, everything. … I feel comfortable in saying we’ve just locked the cast, over the past couple of weeks, and it’s an amazing group of people and it feels different from any other year.”

Big Brother 23 premieres on CBS Wednesday, July 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Scroll down to meet the new cast and see their photos!

Credit: CBS

'Big Brother 23' Cast Revealed: Meet the 16 New Houseguests Competing for $500,000

Ready to move in! But first, meet the 16 new houseguests vying for half a million dollars this summer on Big Brother. CBS released the names, bios and photos of the newbies moving in for season 23 on Thursday, July 1. Among the players is a flight attendant, farmer, kindergarten teacher, forensic scientist, makeup artist, attorney and more. [ami-related id="1828255" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/big-brother-winners-where-are-they-now-photos/" title="‘Big Brother’ Winners: Where Are They Now?" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Will-Kirby-Big-Brother-Where-Are-They-Now.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1828245" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"] "The overall theme is the 'Big Brother beach club,' executive producer Allison Grodner previously told Us Weekly about this season. "We really wanted to bring a sense of adventure and vacation fun and a club atmosphere to the house. So it’s got this casino meets beach, Monte Carlo meets beach club, meets Vegas, kind of feel to it." Fellow executive producer Rich Meehan added that "there’s always risks inherent in the Big Brother game" so they're "really leaning into the risk versus reward dilemmas" this year. [ami-related id="1176615" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/big-brother-showmances-through-the-years/" title="'Big Brother' Showmances Through the Years: Where Are They Now?" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/jeff-and-jordan-and-jessica-and-cody.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1176591" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"] In fact, the live move-in on premiere night will end with a big offer. "Julie is going to make an offer that might be, or is most likely, too good to refuse," Grodner teased, referring to longtime host Julie Chen. In addition to the "high stakes" Vegas theme, houseguests will be split into teams for the first few weeks. "On move-in night, they’re going to be battling to be a team captain, as well as vying for the ability to play Head of Household," Meehan explained. [jwplayer HD6U1itr] While COVID precautions will still be in place, this summer will be "pretty comparable to previous seasons" in terms of length, according to Meehan. [ami-related id="1448649" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/big-brother-celebrity-big-brother-winners-through-the-years/" title="‘Big Brother’ and ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ Winners Through the Years" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/big-brother-winners-promo.jpg?quality=86&strip=all" imgid="1448620" format="gallery" flag="" channel="9"] As for the cast, Grodner said, "We’re always looking for a diverse group of people to put in this house, diverse in personality, backgrounds, where they’re from, everything. ... I feel comfortable in saying we’ve just locked the cast, over the past couple of weeks, and it’s an amazing group of people and it feels different from any other year." Big Brother 23 premieres on CBS Wednesday, July 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Scroll down to meet the new cast and see their photos!

Credit: CBS

'Big Brother 23' Cast Revealed: Meet the 16 New Houseguests Competing for $500,000

Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS

Claire Rehfuss

Age: 25
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Current City: New York, N.Y.
Occupation: AI Engineer

Three words that describe you: Clever, driven and spunky.

Favorite Activities: Reading novels (especially non-fiction or fantasy), playing my Nintendo Switch, and completing crosswords but I’ve also started constructing puzzles too! During quarantine, I also became passionate about going on long walks in Central Park to bird watch and doing yoga in my tiny apartment.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Lisa and Danielle from BB3! After Lisa lost her showmance partner and then pulled one of the most CUTTHROAT moves we’ve ever seen - not voting him back in - they were able to link up, adapt, and run the game. Similarly, Allison and Jun who paired up at the end of BB4. Both women played such smart floater games, and while I couldn’t play that style of game, I respect how they evolved the game forward. Nowadays we rarely see strong, dynamic female duos which I definitely want to change! What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Just being about to live inside of the house that I watch 24/7 during the summer! I eat, sleep, and breathe the live feeds and obsess over the moves that players are making. I used to leave college frat parties if I got word that something big was going down on the feeds, and now I get to be what’s happening on the feeds! I’m excited to stir up drama and create chaos on the show that I love.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Pretending to like talking about stuff like protein, intermittent fasting, or sports with the Alpha Bros that will be in there. I work in a male dominated industry where I often stick out like a sore thumb, so I’ve learned how to blend in and get along with a wide range of personalities. But appeasing fragile male egos is still very tedious!

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? My personal favorite past moment isn’t really a moment - it was an experience. Watching Vanessa Rousso from Big Brother 17 play the game on the live feeds and show. It was my very first season and I was blown away by how Vanessa could get herself out of any situation when her back was up against the wall. I love it when someone is willing to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!

What is your strategy for winning the game? I’ll win with my intelligence, drive, and adaptability! I’ll sniff out the big threats quickly and navigate my way through the game by creating advantageous alliances. I believe I’ll thrive in a chaotic environment, something I learned from my childhood and from working in such a rapidly changing field, so I’ll try to cause disruptions and create entropy in the game whenever possible. Hopefully, people will underestimate me the first couple of weeks and give me time to build up relationships before I unleash my cutthroat game play. I’m also going to try to get out the strong alpha dudes early, that way I don’t have as many challenge threats or egos that I have to tiptoe around. I’d love to have a strong, small team of women working with me. It’s a cliche that “women’s alliances don’t work in Big Brother”, but it’s only because of the women that are chosen to be a part of them. I’ve found women to be my most loyal friends and I have the ability to quickly read people so I’m confident I’ll find fellow black widows.

My life’s motto is… “It’s better to have a bad story than no story!”

What would you take into the house and why?
● My e-book reader, so that I could distract myself.
● One of my stuffed animals, to remind me of home.
● A deck of cards because I love playing games and maybe I could finally teach myself magic tricks!

Fun facts about yourself:
● I was one of the first women to graduate with a Data Science Engineering degree from the University of Michigan.
● I’ve written code that’s been on satellites, used in national election campaigns, and by many of the top fortune 500 companies.
● I competed in speed programming competitions in college and have placed in a 20,000 person Hackathon before!
● My last name means Deer Foot in German! Which is fitting because many family members (myself included) have two partially or totally webbed toes.

Credit: CBS

Christian Birkenberger

Age: 23
Current City: Harwinton, Conn.
Occupation: General Contractor Assistant

Three words that describe you: Charming, friendly and determined.

Favorite Activities: Being with friends, disc golf, mini gold, basketball, fishing and flirting.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Zack & Frankie aka Zankie.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Making new friends for life & competing in comps.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Isolation from loved ones.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Jeff using his Coup d’etat power to backdoor Jessica.

What is your strategy for winning the game? Ultimately be myself because I am a joy!! But I would like to appear fun & clueless as to not raise any flags, align myself with more people and slip up as a physical threat when I need to schmooze the house.

My life’s motto is… “Sometimes your ice pop falls on a penny.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● Bucket hat, I look good in it.
● My cologne, it makes me literally irresistible.
● My ring, it reminds me to play through things.

Fun facts about yourself:
● I can ride a unicyle.
● My pupils are two different sizes.
● I can do multiple flips.
● I’ve only had 1 girlfriend.
● My favorite food is chicken & waffles.

Credit: CBS

Xavier Prather

Age: 27
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Current City: Milwaukee, Wis.
Occupation: Attorney

Three words that describe you: Personable, confident and fun-loving.

Favorite Activities: Playing basketball, spending time with family and friends, exercising, kayaking, hiking, and chillin’.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Definitely the duos. Chilltown (RIP) is my all-time favorite, closely followed by The Hitmen.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? First and foremost, just getting an opportunity to participate in a game and live in a house that very few people can say they’ve experienced is pretty incredible. I want to see the design of the house up close and see what random guests (especially Zingbot) will show up throughout my time in the house.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not being able to talk to my family, especially my mom, is going to be very difficult. Also, having to live with 15 other people. I’ve never lived with multiple people for longer than two weeks so it should be interesting. I’m a bit of an ambivert so while I do enjoy being around people, I will definitely need some alone time to recharge.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Britney Haynes’ goodbye message to Boogie after his eviction on BB14 or Danielle Reyes’ impressions of her BB3 houseguests. Both equally hilarious!

What is your strategy for winning the game? From a competition standpoint, only win when I have to. Socially, make genuine connections and friendships with each of the house guests. Reiterate that we are playing game and avoid bringing personal matters into game decisions. Adapt to the twists of the game as they come and enjoy playing Big Brother the way it was meant to be played!

My life’s motto is… “Make your own luck.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● Pictures of my family; constant visual reminders of why I’m there.
● My record player and my vinyl records; for good music and good vibes.
● My cat. He’s awesome and will show people that not all cats are evil (FYI I love dogs too, I’m just waiting until I get a house to give my future dog the yard it deserves).

Fun facts about yourself:
● I’m a Taurus.
● I have 10 siblings.
● I was born with a severe clubfoot and had to learn to walk in a cast.
● I completed a cross-cultural study abroad in England and Scotland.
● I not a fan of coffee. I actually made it through all of law school without even so much as a single shot of espresso.

Credit: CBS

Derek Frazier

Age: 29
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Current City: Philadelphia, Pa.
Occupation: Safety Officer

Three words that describe you: Loud, outgoing and assertive. Favorite Activities: Going out, dancing at the bars, CrossFit and binge-watching TV!

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Derrick and Cody.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Getting the opportunity to win prizes and a half million dollars.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not being able to use my phone.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? When Dick and Jenn got into a heated argument and she threw out all his cigarettes.

What is your strategy for winning the game? Try to get to know everyone on a personal level so they never put me on the block. I will get everyone to do my dirty work because I am good at being a leader.

My life’s motto is… “At the end of day, I see through it all.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● My phone so I can keep in contact with my friends and family.
● My cologne because it reminds me of home.
● My PlayStation, because I would miss playing video games.

Fun facts about yourself:
● I can fall asleep sitting up or standing.
● My Dad is Smokin’ Joe Frazier the boxer.
● I can lift a lot of weight. Bench 315lbs, Deadlift 500lbs & Backsquat 520lbs.
● I went to military boarding school for high school.
● I went viral on TikTok once for a video I didn’t post.
● I know how to box in a boxing ring.

Credit: CBS

Hannah Chaddha

Age: 21
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Current City: Chicago, Ill.
Occupation: Graduate Student

Three words that describe you: Calculated, composed and versatile.

Favorite Activities: Dancing, fashion/styling, traveling, and binging Real Housewives.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Showmances can be cute, but my favorite Houseguest duos are those who became best friends in the Big Brother house. My favorite, favorite, favorite friendship duo of all time is Da’Vonne and Bayleigh because of how genuine, sincere, and grounded their relationship was; you could really tell that they had each other’s backs! I also want to give Paul and Victor a special shout-out because they “beasted” their way through those competitions together!

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I can’t WAIT to play the game and eat, sleep, breathe Big Brother for the summer. I’m excited for the whole Big Brother experience, even being on Slop, taking cold showers, and sleeping in the Have-Not room. It’s been my dream to backstab and blindside the other Houseguests all the way to the end.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? With the pandemic, my family has become that much more important to me; so being away from them, especially my little sister, is going to be rough for me.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? I love a good blindside! One of my favorite past moments inside the Big Brother house would have to be Dan Gheesling getting Danielle to use the Veto on him and then blindsiding Shane, cutting him right before finale night. Vanessa blindsiding Austin and evicting him from the house barefoot was pretty iconic too. But my favorite past moment outside the Big Brother house is Da’Vonne winning America’s Favorite Houseguest, making her the first Black winner of the award. I’m a huge fan of Da’Vonne and not only was I happy for her, but to me, it represented something even bigger and greater in the context of our social climate.

What is your strategy for winning the game? My strategy for winning the game starts with cultivating personal relationships with everyone in the house. I don’t have to be everyone’s best friend nor do I want to be, but I fully intend on learning about everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. I won’t have a problem exploiting their weaknesses for my benefit and aligning myself with those whose strengths can compensate for my own shortcomings. I don’t want to play the game on a week-to-week basis, but instead, I want to ensure that with every move I make/competition I win, I use that as an opportunity to set myself up for two/three weeks of safety down the line. I’m not afraid to play hard, get messy, and bathe in people’s blood, but doing it in such a tactful way that the other Houseguests don’t realize what’s happening. I plan on lying about my occupation and career aspirations because I don’t want the other Houseguests to overestimate my intelligence right off the bat.

My life’s motto is… “Never give up all your information.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● My little sister because who else am I going to binge Real Housewives with!
● An espresso machine because I’m a HUGE coffee person; it would be wise to stay away from me before I’ve had my caffeine for that day.
● My music playlists because music has an unparalleled ability to hype me up for or calm me down in any situation.

Fun facts about yourself:
● I’ve always enjoyed school--especially science and math--and I graduated from university at 19 years old.
● I’m a competitive hip-hop dancer.
● I can hold my breath for over 90 seconds.
● I used to be a personal stylist.
● My parents are from South Africa and India.

Credit: CBS

Whitney Williams

Age: 30
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Current City: Portland, Ore.
Occupation: Make-Up Artist

Three words that describe you: Resilient, quirky and outgoing.

Favorite Activities: Anything adventurous. Traveling with my sons. Working on my business, laid back days with my besties.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? SO many! Jordan and Jeff were the cutest couple in BB history, Jessica and Cody’s connection was so obvious that they would stay together outside of the house, and Brenchal was such a memorable power couple, even if you aren’t a fan of them individually you really can’t deny how incredible they were as competitors.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? To finally compete in some of my favorite BB competitions!!!

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Being away from my children, adapting to so many different personalities, and sharing only one bathroom!

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Watching Derrick Levasseur’s game play has been the highlight of the show for me, also Dan’s funeral (obviously lol).

What is your strategy for winning the game? Each season and cast is so different that it makes it hard to go in with an exact game plan, you really need to get to know the other houseguests to know what will work. I do know that I’m going to go into the house as a strong competitor, while hopefully not making too many ripples. I also want to uphold my values and create genuine friendships, but winning this game for myself and for my children is my top priority.

My life’s motto is… “Why not?” Why not take that risk, try that thing, talk to that person? Life it too short to live with regret for not doing that thing you’re considering doing, there’s only one way to find out what you’re truly capable of… so “why not?”

What would you take into the house and why?
• Photos of my sons, I can’t imagine what it will be like not seeing their faces for so long.
• Music, lol does this really require explanation.
• My entire wardrobe. One suitcase of clothes for 3 months is going to be brutal!!

Fun facts about yourself:
• I was named after Whitney Houston, but I can’t sing in real life.
• My company was nominated for the best in Oregon award only 3 years after I started.
• I’m an excellent matchmaker, and even tried getting the tooth fairy and Santa Claus to meet when I was 7 (Mrs. Claus who?).
• I can wiggle my nose like a bunny.
• I developed my own Tillamook ice cream flavor that you can actually buy in stores (keep an eye out for white chocolate raspberry.

Credit: CBS

Travis Long

Age: 22
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Current City: Honolulu, Hawaii
Occupation: Tech Sales Consultant

Three words that describe you: Rambunctious, curious and strong-willed.

Favorite Activities: Spearfishing, cliff jumping, cinematography, soccer, bouldering, skydiving, shark diving, sand volleyball and surfing.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Brett and Winston.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Pulling little pranks and swapping the blame to other people to create chaos.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? The inability to communicate with those I love outside of the BB house. Wondering how my friends and family are doing, what they’re thinking of me and my actions, and how I can make them proud.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Brett making a last ditch effort to stay on the show when he lied on the block and said Rockstar was going to flip and not vote for him to be evicted.

What is your strategy for winning the game? Forming close one-on-one relationships with people behind the scenes, limiting yet utilizing my charismatic personality to connect with people but also not going too over the top with my friendliness and openness so I can cruise a bit under the table in group settings.

My life’s motto is… “So many brilliant things lay on the other side of discomfort.”

What would you take into the house and why?
• A full size gym because I go absolutely bonkers being unable to get a good workout and run in every day.
• The ocean so I never have to do my hair and so I could live off of sushi.
• A projector and movies — I am wicked obsessed with cinema.

Fun facts about yourself:
• I am a published author with books sold on Amazon.
• I am (almost) fluent in Spanish from growing up playing soccer and living in Costa Rica.
• I gained almost 40 pounds one summer.
• I’ve started multiple business since high school and have been sued by massive titans of industry.
• I am an absolute prank master— I prank my roommates, friends, and family frequently.
• I free dive and spear fish for my dinner multiple times a week.
• I have a wall full of sticky notes of quotes and nuggets of knowledge from friends and family and people I’ve met in my room.

Credit: CBS

Tiffany Mitchell

Age: 40 (will turn 41 on 8/5/21)
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Current City: Detroit, Mich.
Occupation: Phlebotomist

Three words that describe you: Kind, funny and outgoing.

Favorite Activities: My favorite actives are entertaining my friends and family no matter what we’re doing; working out, reading, and boating.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? My favorite house duo is the Hitmen with Cody and Derrick because of their loyalty to each other and strategic game play.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I am most excited to sleep in the HOH room. And I actually might want to try slop.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? I think the most difficult part about living in the house will be being away from my son. We’ve never been apart for more than a week.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? My favorite past BB moment is when Dan Gheesling eulogized his own BB funeral to keep him in the house.

What is your strategy for winning the game? My strategy for winning the game is to learn as much as I can about everyone else and keep my mouth shut.

My life’s motto is… “Make it Happen!”

What would you take into the house and why?
● I would take my journal to document the entire process.
● My phone because who can live without that?!
● Recipes! I can cook but I still use recipes.

Fun facts about yourself:
● I am obsessed with horoscopes.
● I love cats, especially mine, Tiger and Puma
● My favorite color is Tiffany Blue.
● I do voice impersonations of my friends and family.
● I utilize my alter ego.

Credit: CBS

Sarah Steagall

Age: 27 (will turn 28 on 8/9/21)
Hometown: Boiling Springs, SC
Current City: Ft. Myers, Fla.
Occupation: Forensic Scientist

Three words that describe you: Sweet, quirky and self-driven.

Favorite Activities: Shopping, partying with friends, reading manga/watching anime, sewing and singing.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Frank and Bridgette, Britney and Ian.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I’m really looking forward to interacting with the cameras and venting in the Diary Room!

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? I’ve heard the house is really cold and has an ant problem. The only thing I hate more than being cold is dealing with ants!

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Everything Zach Rance did on BB16.

What is your strategy for winning the game? I plan to float! I want to make everyone around me feel at ease and convince them I’m a non-threatening, loyal person. Once they realize I’m only playing for myself, hopefully it’ll be too late to stop me.

My life’s motto is… “Life is chaotic and mostly out of your control, so just do your best!”

What would you take into the house and why?
• An mp3 player with all my favorite songs, because I’ll miss having music in my life.
• Chewing gum, because it helps me concentrate.
• Japanese language textbooks, because I’ve been studying really hard and I don’t want to forget anything while I’m away.

Fun facts about yourself:
• I had a severe speech impediment and was unable to communicate clearly until I was 7 years old.
• I am a horrendous cook. As a chemist, I’m pretty ashamed that I can’t figure it out. Even if I follow a recipe, somehow it always turns out wrong.
• I have a crippling phobia of moths/butterflies. I despise them and would kill them off if I could, regardless of the effects on the ecosystem.
• I really like to cosplay, and because of that I’ve become quite the seamstress. I can also style wigs, make jewelry and create prop armor/weapons.
• Despite being a forensic chemist, I’ve never seen Dexter or Breaking Bad.

Credit: CBS

Kyland Young

Age: 29 (will turn 30 on 7/13/21)
Hometown: San Bernardino County, Calif.
Current City: Venice Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Account Executive

Three words that describe you: Optimistic, Dynamic, Engaging

Favorite Activities: Movies - I’m a HUGE movie fan, especially watching them at the theater. Popcorn is literally my favorite food, and I have a theater membership pass, which I typically use to see upwards of 4 movies each month. Also, games - whether chess, escape rooms, football, or poker, I LOVE to compete in pretty much any type of games! And finally, trying new things! I love finding activities, sports, and places that can provide a unique and/or exciting experience. This attitude, (plus a whole lot of luck), is why I’ve been able to try skydiving, trapeze, surfing, sailing, magic tricks, slacklining, rock climbing, cliff diving, plane flying, car racetrack driving, skeet shooting, parkour, fire walking, axe throwing, and so much more! Having tried all these things, and always looking for new things to try, are also the reasons why I have so much trouble answering this question! ;)

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? I love the Hitmen! Derrick is one of my all-time favorite players, and I appreciated the loyalty and friendliness of Cody. Although I personally am not a big fan of Cody (season 19), I did love his showmance with Jessica to the point I was excited to see him win his way back in to reunite with her, even if only for a short time. I also loved Tyler’s double duos in season 20: he had a showmance with Angela, (which I am happy to see still going strong), but he was most loyal to his final two deal with Kaycee. I’m a fan of well-rounded strong players and loyalty.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I am most excited about playing the game of Big Brother! I don’t care about being on TV, and I often forget about the fact there is a cash prize for winning - when I think about Big Brother, I get excited about the competitions and the social strategies that can help you win! I have always been good at building relationships and being persuasive, however, to have those things gamified in a way that I can be ranked by how well I do it, is like an injection into my competitive blood! I get goosebumps and a huge smile as I write this out and think about the Hunger Games-like dynamic of building trust and alliances with people all while being aware there is only ONE winner and you will have to turn on each other at some point. As a longtime fan, I’ve heard all the players talk about how everything is more difficult than they thought, but I love to be challenged, so that prospect only leaves me more intrigued!

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? I think the most difficult part for me will be not knowing anything about what’s happening with my family. I am extremely close to my family! I lost my grandfather this January, and as the grandchild who was the closest to them, that was incredibly challenging. My grandmother is fortunately in good health and living in an elderly community center where she has lots of friends, plus a staff that is attentive; however, with her and my grandparents on my father’s side all being in their 80s, it will be difficult not to worry about them. Also, with the closest of my 4 sisters living more than 3 hours from my mom, and my other sisters all living in different states, I am heavily relied upon by my siblings to see my mom as often as possible since they cannot. To not be in contact and available to assist them with anything for the whole summer is definitely something I can imagine getting to me on an emotional level.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? I’m sure this is a cliche answer, but it’s hard not to be blown away by "Dan’s Funeral" play in season 14!! I remember watching that season for my first time a couple of years ago, and I was already aware of his getting second place in that season, and I remember watching the proceeding interactions and screaming out loud as I watched “How in the !@$* is he going to get himself out of this situation!!!” I don’t only find it impressive, but it genuinely inspires me to the point of craving an opportunity to make a game move that just approaches such a legendary status as that one! Frankie’s solo Battle of the Block win in season 16 is another honorable mention that does bring me to tears, even in the rewatch!

What is your strategy for winning the game? My strategy is to combine the subtle influence of Derrick, with Cody’s charm, Dan’s strategic thinking, and hold back on showing how good I am at competitions until I have to (hopefully not needed until the end, like Kaycee in season 20). I know that sounds like such a vague idealistic plan, but I genuinely believe that I have each of those attributes/capabilities I am describing. I have been studying the game and preparing mentally and physically to an unreasonable amount; however, I believe I have the restraint and tact to not give away that I’m as good as I think I will be. I’m well aware this all sounds arrogant, but I feel like knowing this, and the self-awareness I employ in my life in general makes me feel this is all possible.

My life’s motto is…
• “Being realistic is the most commonly travelled route to mediocrity.”
• “Destiny is obligated by universal law to concede to the demands of unwavering faith!”
• “Gratitude is everything!”

What would you take into the house and why?
• My Black Panther necklace! I’m a huge superhero fan in general, but T’challa is a Black king of the wealthiest, smartest, and most powerful nation in the world. As a Black man, it’s difficult to explain how significant that is, and how the necklace helps me feel empowered and inspired to be a positive force & example to others.
● My bracelet that says “UNREALISTIC”; I have not taken it off since I got it 5 years ago, because it reminds me of the motto I mentioned in the previous question (being realistic is the most commonly travelled route to mediocrity.)
● My favorite popcorn! If I can’t watch movies all summer long, I would love to have my favorite snack that can help me go back to my happy place in my mind!

Fun facts about yourself:
• I’ve done two firewalks across coals/embers heated to more than 1000°F.
• I read all the Twilight books (started in high school to have conversations with some senior girls who loved them, but finished them all because I got hooked).
• I have 4 sisters.
• I went to skydiving school.
• I’m pretty sure I’m a Jedi and any day I will be able to move objects using The Force.
• My favorite food is popcorn.
• I’ve seen every best Picture Oscar film of the last 20 years!
• I work for an app company that helps students find & win scholarships and other funds to help pay for their education.

Credit: CBS

Brandon 'Frenchie' French

Age: 34
Hometown: Camden, Tenn.
Current City: Clarksville, Tenn.
Occupation: Farmer

Three words that describe you: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, compassionate and exuberant.

Favorite activities: “Yes” days with the kids, fishing, playing with the baby animals and grilling out.

Who are your favorite house guest duos? Definitely Britney Haynes and Rachel’s hair extensions!

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Living out my dream of being here. I learned life is way too short with the passing of my son so just being able to live out this dream. I’m here to WIN not to get famous!

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? For me it’s being away from my kids and the farm.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother?: Dan’s funeral, on my daughter’s birthday was legendary!

What is your strategy for winning the game? Building relationships with everyone not just your alliance. Being a farmer, no two days are the same. You never know what to expect. I always have to evolve and change game plans on a daily basis and I have got really good at it. Set strategies are over-rated and crumble so my lifestyle fits perfect with the Big Brother house.

My lifes motto is… “You will always go through rocky times, but together we can crush those rocks into fine sand and create our own paradise!”

What would you take into the house and why? A picture of my son who passed away because it motivates me like no other. A fishing pole because it would be fun catching other Houseguests from the HOH balcony lol, a voice recorder because everyone in that house lies and then I’d have proof of what was said.

Fun facts about myself:
• At 13 I won the NFL national punt pass and kick competition.
• We have a 2 time grand national champion show bull that lives better than most humans.
• I'm a proud member of the NAACP.
• I’m prior military.
• The only thing that I’m scared of in life is our devil rooster.

Credit: CBS

Derek Xiao

Age: 24
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Current City: New York, N.Y.
Occupation: Start-Up Founder

Three words that describe you: Funny, logical and thoughtful.

Favorite Activities: I’ve been really into chess and surfing recently. I just spent a month in Hawaii, and I would surf every morning and then play chess on the beach. Growing up I fell into the typical Asian stereotypes and played tennis and piano. My mom only cooked Chinese food growing up, so I started learning how to cook so I could make random food that I craved like mac and cheese. Now I love cooking and trying new recipes. My least favorite activity would be cleaning the dishes afterwards though.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Dr. Will and Mike Boogie. They looked like they were having a great time in the house, while also playing the game extremely well.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Meeting interesting people from across the country. I love meeting new people and getting everyone laughing.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Not being able to see my friends and family for the whole summer.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Dan’s funeral speech in season 14. That moment was flawless game play that leveraged both emotional and logical strategy.

What is your strategy for winning the game? Build relationships with everyone in the house and slowly turn friendships into alliances. And then layer in unassailable logical reasoning to influence peoples’ decisions.

My life’s motto is… “If you laugh at yourself first then everyone is just laughing with you.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● A journal so I can keep track of all the funny stories to share with my friends.
● My laptop so I can keep working on my business.
● An iPod so I can get hyped for competitions or relax after long days.

Fun facts about yourself:
● I rented a Citi bike to compete in a triathlon in college…and then crashed the bike.
● I was stung by a jellyfish in Thailand and then was later forced to eat the jellyfish.
● I was 1 of 2 Asian guys in my high school graduating class.
● I started a company that ships meal kits by food influencers across the U.S.
● I took hip hop dance classes in New York.

Credit: CBS

Britini D’Angelo

Age: 24
Hometown: Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Current City: Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Occupation: Kindergarten Teacher

Three words that describe you: Driven, compassionate and loving.

Favorite Activities: Dancing, karate, softball, tennis, theatre, spending time with my family and friends, swimming, biking, running, fitness activities, playing Mario Kart and making Tik Tok’s!

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance?
Derrick & Cody - BB16
Tyler & Angela AND Tyler & Kaycee - BB20
Da’Vonne & Bayleigh - BB22
Paul & Victor - BB18

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? THE COMPETITIONS! I am SO excited to compete and really PLAY THIS GAME! I am a competitor at heart. I grew up as an athlete, I still am an athlete, and I thrive in competitive environments. I’m ready to put my best foot forward in the house and give every competition 100%! You’re not going to see me throwing many competitions, I really have no idea how I would “throw” a comp. Like Frankie Grande said, I just don’t think throwing competitions is in me, ya know? I’m going all-in into every competition! But, if you see me throwing something, know that I’m 100% doing it for a strategic reason. I’m not throwing a comp for no good reason. That I will hard core have to think through, evaluate my options, and see what’s my best move. I am also really excited to meet new people! I’m a total extrovert in nature! I love interacting with people, learning about their passions for life, and truly what makes them the person they are today! Oh my goodness, wait… how could I forget this. THE COSTUMES! I want to wear a costume SO BADLY in the Big Brother house! That has always been a dream of mine! I would love if my costume came with safety, but I’ll 100% wear a costume!

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? For me, I think the hardest part will be navigating through what to do during our downtime. Whether we are in-between competitions, ceremonies, or eviction nights, that downtime is going to be the hardest part to manage. I definitely want to have a very good routine in the house so that I can get through these “downtime periods” effectively!

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? I always go back to this moment because it’s so iconic. BB14. Dan gets Danielle to use the veto on him during the final 4 eviction ceremony, and he blindsides Danielle and gets Shane. Ian stays in the house, Ian wins the final HOH (ICONIC), and then goes on to beat Dan 6-1. Absolutely insane. As a fan, I also cannot not pick the “Reset Button” in BB16. Frankie was on a ROLL, and then the entire week gets reset. He has to redo the entire week, and he knew that if he didn’t win the veto after being evicted, he would be gone. It was heartbreaking to watch for Frankie, but SUCH a good twist on the week.

What is your strategy for winning the game? My strategy for winning the game is simply put, to never forget who I am as an individual, be AUTHENTIC in the house, win competitions in order to secure relationships/alliances in the house, and not be afraid to make the BIG MOVES! Big Risk means even bigger reward!

My life’s motto is… “NEVER give up. NEVER back down from a challenge. NEVER quit. NEVER stop believing in yourself and all you can accomplish.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● For Big Brother, I will be taking in the four core values that my martial arts training has instilled in me, being Discipline, Integrity, Loyalty, and Respect. I truly think that my greatest weapon going into the house is never forgetting who I am as a person, and these four core principles. Get ready America. I’m coming in HOT.
● In terms of clothing items, I will definitely be bringing into the house LOTS of athletic wear. I am obsessed with athletic clothing. It truly just makes me so happy and I feel so comfortable & confident when wearing it!
● I will also be bringing in my NU Hoodie from college! Purple Eagles all day!! Niagara University has been my home away from home for 6 years, and in May 2020, I graduated with my Masters of Science in Education!

Fun facts about yourself:
• In 2019, I won both the Niagara Medal (voted on by the members of the senior class as the individual who represents Niagara University the best) and the Senior Medal (Valedictorian - Perfect 4.0 GPA across 2 Degrees) at Niagara University. I was the first individual in the 162 year history of the university to win both awards in the same year.

Credit: CBS

Brent Champagne

Age: 28
Hometown: Cranston, R.I.
Current City: Cranston, R.I.
Occupation: Flight Attendant

Three words that describe you: Adventurous, passionate and confident.

Favorite Activities: Sports, working out, stock trading, hiking, fishing and traveling.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? Tyler Crispen and Angela Rummans from BB20. I just like how they became a power couple inside and outside the Big Brother House. #showmancegoals

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? Meeting all my new cast mates! I’m a social butterfly. I truly live for these moments. Also, being the single young man that I am, I’d be lying if I said the women didn’t add to my excitement.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? I think it’s very normal to assume that personal privacy no longer existing will be a bit of an adjustment. That, to me, will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother House. Especially when I truly enjoy my “me” time more often than not and a little peace and quiet. But it’s the price to pay for the opportunity of a lifetime. So sign me up!

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? I wouldn’t say a favorite moment, but more of a guilty pleasure. I truly enjoy watching the faces of those who RIGHTFULLY get backdoored. The reaction is just so genuine regardless of being on camera. I feel, it’s one of the few times where contestants fight their honest emotional nature because of it being so sudden and gives no time to emotionally prepare. True colors show both literally and figuratively.

What is your strategy for winning the game? Although I feel my athletic ability/background will bring me far in the game, my primary strategy for winning Big Brother is heavily dependent on my social abilities. I’ve been told, countless times, by many, both peers and strangers, that my charm is POWERFUL. I plan on using this skill in every social interaction in the house, male or female.

My life’s motto is… "I'm here for a good time, not a long time."

What would you take into the house and why?
• Note pads/pens so I could take detailed notes of small, medium, or large events happening throughout the Big Brother House for later use in the game.
• iPod: Hype music is everything when it comes to Athletes.
• Money counter: makes it a heck of a lot easier to count $500,000 than by hand

Fun facts about yourself:
• I am a former D1AA Collegiate Athlete. (Injury ended it before it really began.)
• I am a former Live Lottery Television Host for Rhode Island Lottery.
• I won my very first car, 2008 Honda Civic, in a Video Making Contest.
• I quit my jobs in the summer of 2016 to take a road trip around the United States in that very Honda Civic. 5 weeks and 9831.2 miles later, my desire for spontaneous adventure and experiences only grew.
• I created and have my own personal fishing website.

Credit: CBS

Azah Awasum

Age: 30
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Current City: Baltimore, Md.
Occupation: Director of Sales Operations

Three words that describe you: Charismatic, crafty, clumsy

Favorite Activities: I love cooking! It’s one of my favorite pastimes. I am also an avid biker (just completed a century earlier this year) and a world traveler (26 countries and counting!)

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? I can’t stand showmances! I love duos. My favorite Big Brother player (Jun) was part of a duo. Alison and Jun from BB4 dominated the house with loyalty only to each other! I hope to get a powerful partner in the house and sit with them in the final two.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I’m really looking forward to hopefully competing in OTEV. I am a beast at musical chairs, so I hope to get that VETO in the bag!

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? Definitely being without my phone and not having my close ones beside me. I’m lucky to have most of my family in the area with me. I’m going to miss them and my seven best friends!

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? Keisha’s birthday in BB10 is hands down one of my favorites! Too many iconic moments, Libra screaming her accolades to Jerry, Jesse instigating, Dan staying out of trouble, that sad “Happy Birthday” after everyone just finished screaming at each other… Classic.

What is your strategy for winning the game? Spot the power players early and annihilate or divide them one by one! Play for MYSELF not the house. I’m hoping my amiable appearance will cause the guests to let their guards down with me. I want every houseguest to feel like they have me in their pocket. Finally, I make really good decisions as long as there is no romance involved. NO SHOWMANCES!

My life’s motto is… “You haven’t started living until you’ve started living for others.” This motto might not serve me the best in this game though…we’ll see!

What would you take into the house and why?
● My spices because I have no idea what seasonings they have in the house and I need some flavor in my life!
● My bicycle and my speaker because I’m always at peace when I’m riding it and listening to tunes.
● My afro pick because fro is life.

Fun facts about yourself:
● My grandfather was a polygamist with 6 wives and 47 children, I have over 300 cousins!
● My name means “able to make friends.”
● Avid traveler! Prior to covid, I visited four countries per year.
● Afraid of manholes.
● Attended Messianic Jewish school for primary school upbringing.

Credit: CBS

Alyssa Lopez

Age: 24 (will turn 25 on 7/17/21)
Hometown: Sarasota, Fla.
Current City: Sarasota, Fla.
Occupation: Swimwear Designer

Three words that describe you: Witty, Sarcastic and Outgoing.

Favorite Activities: Weightlifting, videography and video editing, boating with friends, going to the dog park with my dogs Jeter and Piper, and going to Siesta Key beach to watch the sunset.

Who are your favorite Houseguests duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? My favorite house guest duo is 100% Jessica and Cody from Season 19. Jessica is my all-time favorite player on Big Brother because she played her own game not Paul’s game like the rest of the house. I think if Paul didn’t have that secret power, she and Cody would have gone far in the game. She stood up for herself and Cody and I can relate because I always say what’s on my mind and I always get myself involved in situations where people mess with any of my close friends and/or family members.

What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I am most excited to just live out my number one bucket list goal. I have religiously watched Big Brother since I was 11 years old and I have applied 4 times. I have a photo of the Big Brother logo on my vision board. It will also be exciting to meet new people around the U.S. and live somewhere different then Sarasota. I have never lived outside of Sarasota in my life.

What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? The most difficult part for me would be having to suck up to house guests I may not get along with. I have a very hard time putting on a fake smile because I wear my emotions on my face. I always say what is on my mind and I know in the Big Brother house that can put a huge target on my back. I will have to learn to keep quiet during situations where is it probably best not to say my opinion to help my own game.

What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? My favorite past moment on Big Brother was on season 11, the first season I ever watched, when Jeff used his secret power to put Jessie and Natalie on the block. I loved that the power shifted to him and Jordan.

What is your strategy for winning the game? My strategy for winning the game is to win the very first HOH. I think the first HOH is the most important one. I would then be able to align myself with powerful physical and mental players, but I’d also try to make a final 2 alliance with someone outside of that. That way I can see the game from all angles. I think my social game is what will help me the most. I am very out-going, understanding and comforting. House guests will want to talk to me about their thoughts on other house guests and I will use that to my advantage by having a lot of people trust me. I won’t speak my mind too much on weeks that I am not HOH but put ideas in their head to get rid of certain people I think would hurt my game. Just like Tyler played on season 20.

My life’s motto is… “Invest your energy in things you can control.”

What would you take into the house and why?
● My dogs Piper & Jeter because just thinking about leaving them for 3 months makes me want to cry.
● My best friend because we talk and are with each other 24-7. I tried to see if she can fit in my suitcase, but there isn’t enough room.
● A DVD of all the seasons of The Office. Other than Big Brother, The Office is my favorite show. I have re-watched the show 5 times so why not make it 6.

Fun facts about yourself:
● I was featured on a Hooters Billboard and Taxi Top.
● I have my Drone Aircraft License.
● I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Production.
● I did gymnastics for 10 years.
● I am launching a swimwear line.

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