Kimo Apaka
Age: 35
Hometown: Hilo, Hawaii
Occupation: Mattress sales rep
Trending Shows
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Big Brother’s Season 26 Cast Has Been Revealed — But There’s a Twist!
More stories by Rebecca
Courtesy of CBS (3)
Just two days before the Big Brother house reopens for Season 26, CBS has revealed the 16 houseguests who will be under ’round-the-clock surveillance this summer.
But, as with all things Big Brother, Monday’s cast announcement comes with a little twist.
These 16 new players, who you can meet more thoroughly below, will have the power to vote in a 17th houseguest at the start of this upcoming season. CBS has offered no additional details about who that potential extra houseguest might be, or how these cast members might get the chance to add another player to their ranks. (The network did, however, previously reveal an artificial intelligence theme for Season 26, dubbed “BB AI.”)
While we await the identity of Mystery Houseguest No. 17, let’s take a closer look at the contestants revealed on Monday. This summer’s youngest player is Cedric Hodges, a 21-year-old former Marine from California, while former undercover cop Kenney Kelley is this season’s oldest competitor, at 52 years old. Other houseguest occupations include a physical therapist, video store clerk, celebrity chef and crochet business owner.
Big Brother returns with a two-night Season 26 premiere, airing Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18, both at 9/8c. After the two-part debut, new episodes will air Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 pm. Scroll down to meet the new houseguests, then drop a comment with your initial thoughts!
-
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS -
Chelsie Baham
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 27
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Occupation: Nonprofit director -
Rubina Bernabe
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 35
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Occupation: Event bartender -
T'kor Clottey
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 23
Hometown: Chicago (via London)
Current City: Atlanta, Ga.
Occupation: Crochet business owner -
Tucker Des Lauriers
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 30
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Current City: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Marketing and sales executive -
Matt Hardeman
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 25
Hometown: Loganville, Ga.
Current City: Roswell, Ga.
Occupation: Tech sales rep -
Cedric Hodges
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 21
Hometown: Running Springs, Calif.
Current City: Boise, Idaho
Occupation: Former Marine -
Kenney Kelley
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 52
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Occupation: Former undercover cop -
Makensy Manbeck
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 22
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Occupation: Construction project manager -
Quinn Martin
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 25
Hometown: Lawton, Okla.
Current City: Omaha, Neb.
Occupation: Nurse recruiter -
Angela Murray
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 50
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Current City: Syracuse, Utah
Occupation: Real estate agent -
Leah Peters
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 26
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Current City: Miami, Fla.
Occupation: VIP cocktail server -
Brooklyn Rivera
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 34
Hometown: Covington, Ga.
Current City: Dallas, Texas
Occupation: Business administrator -
Joseph Rodriguez
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 30
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
Occupation: Video store clerk -
Cam Sullivan-Brown
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 25
Hometown: Bowie, Md.
Occupation: Physical therapist -
Lisa Weintraub
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Age: 33
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Occupation: Celebrity chef
More from TVLine
September 03, 2024
03:00 AM
Only Murders in the BuildingUntold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer
08:00 PM
The BacheloretteDeadliest Catch
09:00 PM
The Chicano SquadDark Side of Reality TVHard KnocksThe Quiz With BallsThe Real Housewives of DubaiThe Surreal Life
Trending on TVLine
Most Commented
Video store Clerk?
Are those still a thing?
Exactly my reaction!
I want to know where. Just out of curiosity.
I googled it. It says there are 668 DVD, Game & Video Rental businesses in the US as of 2023.
That’s is what I thought!
🤣🤣🤣🤣my thoughts exactly!!
The released the cast a/10AM today and you commented at 10:09AM Alice I can just tell you will comment first on a lot of stuff
Well from the looks of this there are no social media influencers, etc. Those are generally the most annoying because they only go on the show for likes and follows. Most don’t even know how the game is played. Nice to see a hometown boy, I think this is the first time anyone from where I live has been on Big Brother.
pretty sure our “VIP cocktail waitress” is a wannabe influencer… some of the others might be as well.. It’s fine to have a few of these… as they add drama to the show.. if everyone was a super fan it would be a pretty boring season.
I hope not. I mean if they know how to play the game, that’s one thing, but the one’s that show up just for clout. I hate them, lol.
Having hot messes that don’t know how to play the game makes things more interesting though.
Ehhh, gotta disagree with you on this one but we like what we like. I prefer good hard core gameplay vs playing games, if that makes sense, lol.
Not saying I want a whole cast of them, but you always need one or two just for entertainment purposes. A whole cast of hard core gamers just wouldnt really work.
Hm just because she looks good. Looks like she would reject you
doesn’t mean she wants to be an influencer.
Holy crap – I thought Leah was Britney Haynes and got so excited!
Haha, she does really look like her but I’m glad there are no returnees. Although we’ll see who the choices are for the 17th houseguest. I’ll hate it if they do like they did last year with Cirie. The game is always so much better with all new people.
My thought is that the 17th house guest will be a returnee. I’d rather NOT have a return player in ANY show. They had their chance and lost.
I don’t mind when there’s a whole season of returning players, I actually enjoy those a lot, but I hate when there’s only one or two bc the other players get star struck & don’t want to get rid of them. They also get a million advantages. Cirie having her son on the show last season is the single biggest advantage I’ve seen on any reality show. They were able to play both sides of the house & have someone that’s 100% loyal to them. On top of that they put in the president of Cirie’s fan club in Izzy who would throw her own game away for Cirie to get further. I mean Izzy knew who Cirie’s son was after 3secs. What kind of dork knows what a reality stars son looks like on first look?
I don’t mind when there’s a whole season of returning players, I actually enjoy those a lot, but I hate when there’s only one or two bc the other players get star struck & don’t want to get rid if them. They also get a million advantages. Cirie having her son on the show is the single biggest advantage I’ve seen on a show. They were able to play both sides of the house & have someone that’s 100% loyal to them. On top of that they put in the president of Cirie’s fan club in Izzy who would throw her own game away for Cirie to get further. I mean Izzy knew who Cirie’s son was after 3secs. What kind of nerd knows what a reality stars son looks like on first look?
Sorry for posting twice but my comment wasn’t showing up at first & though it was bc I called Izzy a dork.
My fear is that the 17th houseguest voted in will be a returning player or some other show alum that will somehow be safe for the first 3 weeks.
My fear also. I hate this kind of gimmick but that’s Big Brother.
After what happened on the last season of BB Canada.. there should never be returning players with newbies again.
Ohhh, I’ll bite. What happened?
They brought in two returning “all-stars” with a cast of newbies and gave them safety and week 1 HOH.. everyone clung to them like groupies and they dominated the game until the late stages with one of them in the final two.
And that’s exactly why I don’t want them there. I’m okay with them coming in to host comps, etc. But putting a returnee in the game is horrid. Last season with Cirie was enough.
Looks pretty well rounded. I live just down the road from Bowie, Md. Soo, glad to see a hometown body. Hope this is a fun year. They haven’t all been fun. Good luck all.
Big Brother… a Quinn Martin production? Tucker and Kenney are cute!
Hooray they’re stealing an idea from The Circle….yawn
“The Streets of San Francisco, a Quinn Martin Production”
Who I want to win and how I think will win aren’t the same person. I want Rubian berngbe to win. . I don’t see her making the half way mark. I think the winner is Matt Hardman. Let’s face cbs will save Matt ever chance until day 85 or even 90.
Please no returning players! I don’t mind when there’s a whole season of returning players, I actually enjoy those a lot, but I hate when there’s only one or two bc the other players get star struck & don’t want to get rid if them. They also get a million advantages. Cirie having her son on the show is the single biggest advantage I’ve seen on a show. They were able to play both sides of the house & have someone that’s 100% loyal to them. On top of that they put in the president of Cirie’s fan club in Izzy who would throw her own game away for Cirie to get further. I mean Izzy knew who Cirie’s son was after 3secs. What kind of loser knows what a reality stars son looks like on first look?
If the 9 people are who we vote for. That oldplay 9 hour big brother. Just so rout Paul drag queen get in since it 8 Podcaster and one tv completion person. I so going to be against the ru Paul guy. Just because they forcing him in but passing it as a choice. I know others want to take this out of context.
I am so excited for the new season it’s my birthday today and BB Starting is the best birthday ever. I have watched EVERY SEASON it’s my favorite thing about summer 😁let’s go BB!!!!!