**This article contains spoilers for Big Brother Season 28**
On Oct. 1, Taylor Brown finished Big Brother 28 in second place, taking home the $75,000 cash prize after spending 87 days inside the house and another 12 away from family. Brown entered the show hoping to represent her community and set an example for her students as a South Florida educator and Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna.
As a fan of the show who also grew up in Broward County, Florida, and now goes to school in Tallahassee, watching Brown on national television felt especially meaningful to me. For those of us still finding our place on campus, her advice offered a reminder of how getting involved can open doors and build lasting connections.
“The biggest part about networking is becoming a part of something that can grow,” Brown said, referencing her involvement in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and now Big Brother. “Joining different clubs and organizations while you’re on campus is a big deal. That is your way of meeting other people.”
As Brown put it, she didn’t go on Big Brother to become famous. Her real intention was simply to be herself. When asked about what she thought helped her stand out in the application process, she said it was her authenticity and honesty. A question about what she liked to do in her downtime quickly became a way of demonstrating her character to producers. She stayed true to herself with a simple answer, “to rest and relax.”
Returning to her pod, or bed, gave her a chance to recharge and even earned her the title “Pod Almighty” in the BB Comics competition. Her time in the pod became a signature part of her presence in the house, inspiring a comic book character that playfully captured her laid-back side and favorite place to recharge.
Finding Strength in Faith
Being herself didn’t mean Brown’s time in the house came without challenges. After landing on the block six times, she leaned on her faith to navigate the uncertainty of the game. In difficult times, prayers and scriptures helped her stay grounded when the pressure felt overwhelming. She would remind herself all season long, “Tell the mountain to move and it will move. With fate, you have to have faith.”
I’ve seen a lot of controversy surrounding what content is taken from the live feeds and put into the episodes and what’s not. One argument between her and Angela, which Haley later joined, revealed frustrations that many of us never got to see her express. The exchange offered a better picture of how she navigated the house while trying to maintain her composure and stay focused on her game. For her, that exchange reflected a part of the show she wished viewers had seen.
“Everything that had been boiling inside of me was starting to come out from me being frustrated with the dynamics of the house. That was the whole point of what Big Brother was when it started. It was supposed to be a social experiment; a microcosm of America. And it seemed like as the years have gone by, they’ve kind of [taken] it away, the social experiment aspect of it.”
Making it to the end
After the biggest twist of the season on the 1000th episode anniversary, she was left anxiously praying for her allies to return. The following week brought another difficult blow when she lost her closest ally, Latrice. As she progressed further and eventually lost Yash Patel, Brown felt increasing pressure to win competitions to ensure her safety.
With the odds stacked against her, she won the last Head of Household competition, securing her place in the top three. This was easily one of my favorite moments of the entire season. I shared her enthusiasm and intense relief in that moment, and at the same time, I understood her exhaustion from getting there.
Strategy and Character
I would define Brown as a very social strategist and quiet observer. She played to have fun. Another moment that stood out to me came when she convinced Rick Devens to take her to the final two. She persuaded him to betray one of his closest allies, Drew Campbell. This move was risky, and something she now admits was a total bluff, but she got him to fall for it!
Brown said that she appealed to his desperation and desire to win after getting so close to winning a previous Survivor season. Her win in the “Murder at the Madquerade” competition showed how her experience as an educator translated into gameplay. “Reading through people, picking up on social cues, picking up on body language, and patterns is what I do for work. So, I knew I was taking that veto home.”
Her future
For many previous players, it takes months to readjust to life outside, without 24/7 surveillance. “It’s funny because on my first day out, I was spinning for a microphone. Cause you always have this mic pack on you. And I remember walking, like, oh my God. I don’t need that anymore.”
She is already counting down the days until she can return for FAMU Homecoming. “I’m excited to go to see my line sisters and have fun… I’m excited to go to SET Friday. I’m excited for the food. I’m excited for the music. I’m excited to see a sea of orange and green,” she said. Despite her growing online presence, Brown remains committed to education. When asked whether she would consider speaking at a school and meeting fans, she welcomed the opportunity to encourage and motivate others.
“I love my job, I love what I do, and I plan to continue working in education in some capacity,” Brown affirmed. “Even if the Lord has for me to become this big household name or whatever the case may be, my hand will always be in education and philanthropy.”
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