Big Brother is finally here. There’s a long summer ahead full of betrayal and backstabbing and I can’t wait to see these houseguests start playing the game.
Diehard Big Brother fans have no doubt been watching their social media very closely over the last week or so, as we got the announcement of the cast, their one-on-one interviews with Jeff, and a first look at this season’s house decor. Julie Chen showed us around the familiar digs and while the reception for this year’s theme hasn’t been resoundingly positive, it definitely stands out from previous seasons.
Since we won’t see the houseguests interact until tonight’s season premiere, it seemed like a good idea to take a look at them and see who has what it takes to win the big money. Every season there are winners, losers, and those houseguests that may not win the money, but definitely win our hearts with their antics and personalities. You can check out all the interviews on CBS.com, and let us know if you agree with our assessment so far.
Let’s take a look at this year’s houseguests and see how they stack up in the three categories:
Let’s start with the ‘Big Brother’ season 21 winners:
These houseguests are the ones that show a lot of promise. In their interviews, they seemed to have a good idea of what they need to accomplish to go far in the game, and/or they have a strategy that could give them a really good shot at making it all the way. The winners category also include people who will probably get a few competition wins under their belt, and that could definitely help them on their way to Big Brother glory.
Tommy Bracco
Age: 28
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Current City: Staten Island, N.Y.
Occupation: Broadway Dancer
First impression: This guy is going to be everyone’s best friend. And we’ve seen that strategy work for a lot of houseguests over the years. I hope his game turns out to be more like Derrick and less like Cody.
Isabella Wang
Age: 22
Hometown: Mount Olive, N.J.
Current City: Los Angeles
Occupation: Public Health Analyst
First impression: Her plan to make connections with everyone in the house is a good one. Every season we hear the, “you never even tried to get to know me” speech in at least three or four nomination ceremony speeches. Making a good first impression on the houseguests will help her to get those all important final votes.
Nick Maccarone
Age: 27
Hometown: Sewell, N.J.
Current City: Sewell, N.J.
Occupation: Therapist
First impression: This guy has a good head on his shoulders, and if he can manage to make the right allies, has a lot of potential to be a contender for the crown this season.
Jack Matthews
Age: 28
Hometown: Chicago
Current City: Tampa, Fla.
Occupation: Fitness Trainer
First impression: His laid back, Momoa-esque attitude will probably win him a lot of friends. If he wants the win badly enough, he may be able to turn those friendly relationships into votes for the big win.
Nicole Anthony
Age: 24
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
Current City: Long Island, N.Y.
Occupation: Preschool Aide
First impression: She’s charming, disarming, and easily overlooked. Those qualities alone mean she is a prime candidate to win this game. I would love to see her ally with an entertainer and stay under the radar just long enough to set herself up for success.
Kemi Faknule
Age: 25
Hometown: Elkridge, Md.
Current City: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Marketing Strategist
First impression: She’s smart and savvy, knows how to have fun, but is more prepared than just about anyone else in this cast to do what it takes to get to the end. Keep an eye out for Kemi.
And now for the losers:
The losers are the type of houseguests that spend most of their time paying attention to everything other than the game. This includes people who are too scared to make a move, who just eat cereal all season, who blindly trust one person and don’t want to see the truth, and those that are way more interested in showmances than in $500,000.
Holly Allen
Age: 31
Hometown: Lander, Wyo.
Current City: Los Angeles
Occupation: Wine Safari Guide
First impression: The description of her job was the most interesting part of her interview, and I don’t know if she has the strongest grasp on how to win this game. I would love to be proven wrong, but I doubt it.
David Alexander
Age: 29
Hometown: Atlanta
Current City: Atlanta
Occupation: Photographer
First impression: I wish I could say that David will go far, but there’s just something about his interview that didn’t sit well. He’s a nice enough guy, but in this house, sometimes you will need to tell a convincing lie to get yourself out of trouble. I respect his desire to play an honest game, but I don’t know if it’s one hundred percent realistic.
Kathryn Dunn
Age: 29
Hometown: Irving, Texas
Current City: Dallas, Texas
Occupation: Digital Marketing Executive
First impression: Glitter. So. Much. Glitter. That’s literally all I remember.
Jackson Michie
Age: 23
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Current City: Los Angeles
Occupation: Server
First impression: Unfortunately, Jackson didn’t make much of a first impression. After watching his interview twice, I had a hard time remembering what set him apart from the other houseguests. For that reason alone, I don’t think he’ll make it all that far in this game. But who knows, that could be a strength?
Analyse Talvera
Age: 22
Hometown: Northridge, Calif.
Current City: Simi Valley, Calif.
Occupation: College Soccer Star
First impression: She may have watched the show for a long time, but Analyse seems more interested in the interpersonal parts of this game than in the strategic ones. If she can keep her priorities straight, she could make a run for the money, but odds are not in her favor.
And finally, our entertainers:
Entertainers are pretty self explanatory. These houseguests are fun to watch, either because they will be such active, great players, or because their personalities are too lively to be squashed by the stresses of the house. This year’s entertainers have a lot to offer, and I can’t wait to see who steps into the spotlight and takes the prize for America’s Favorite Houseguest!
Cliff Hogg III
Age: 53
Hometown: Houston
Current City: Houston
Occupation: Petroleum Engineer
First impression: This guy is not only going to be a force to be reckoned with in the house, but he’s going to be a blast to watch on the live feeds. He has a great attitude for this game. I love that he wants to embrace his strengths and keep the houseguests entertained with his stories and jokes, and I know I’m going to love watching him play this season.
Ovi Kabir
Age: 22
Hometown: Oakridge, Tenn.
Current City: Knoxville, Tenn.
Occupation: College Student
First impression: He’s going to have a hard time containing his bubbly, fun personality, which should make for a lot of fun to watch on the show and the live feeds. I like his general demeanor, so I’m interested to see if he can maneuver his way from being an entertaining houseguest to being a definite winner. Only time will tell!
Jessica Milagros
Age: 30ish
Hometown: Chicago
Current City: Oak Park, Ill.
Occupation: Model
First impression: It’s nice to see Big Brother include a beautiful, curvy gal in the cast this year. Jessica seems like a lot of fun, and she’s going to have a lot to offer for alliances and friendships in the house. She comes off as very authentic and ready for anything, and that is a quality I love to see in houseguests.
Christie Murphy
Age: 28
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Current City: Keyport, N.J.
Occupation: Boutique Owner
First impression: I know that Christie is going to keep things lively in the house. She is all about the positive vibes, but those houseguests haven’t always had the most peaceful track record in the house.
Sam Smith
Age: 31
Hometown: West Nanticoke, Pa.
Current City: Mountain Top, Pa.
Occupation: Truck Driver
First impression: This guy loves to talk, and talk, and talk, and talk, and talk. He’s going to have a tough time keeping his mouth shut if he learns information, which should cause a never-ending avalanche of drama. I can’t wait!
We’ll keep this post updated all season long as we say goodbye one by one to all but one of these houseguests in Big Brother season 21. Make sure to stop back and see who gets voted out first!