"I was very confident" — Big Brother winner Chelsie Baham reflects upon her journey

Chelsie Baham's journey to winning Big Brother 26 was marked by strategic alliances, impressive competition wins, and strong social management. In the season finale, which aired on October 13, Baham secured her victory in a decisive jury vote against runner-up Makensy Manbeck.

As a self-proclaimed Big Brother superfan, Baham entered the game with clear intentions and high confidence. Reflecting on her win in an interview with TV Insider on October 14, 2024, she stated:

"I was very confident. There was an ounce of me that said Makensy could change her mind, but her and I have really grown to love each other throughout the past couple of weeks. So I felt pretty confident no matter if I won this last H0H that I was gonna sit in those last two chairs."

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Chelsie's winning strategy and journey on Big Brother

Chelsie Baham began her Big Brother journey at a disadvantage, forced to wear a giant chip mascot costume as punishment early in the season. However, she developed key alliances and used her social skills to build relationships in the house.

"I put triple the amount of work to building my relationships, genuine relationships," Baham said.

This strategy played a crucial role in her win, as the jury valued her social game as much as her competition wins. While Makensy had nearly double the competition wins, Baham believes her victory came down to the emotional connections she fostered.

"It was an emotional cast, an emotional jury. They both won a lot, but Chelsie did a little bit more and played a more well-rounded game. That’s why I think I won," she explained.

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Chelsie's key moments in Big Brother house

Throughout her time on the show, Baham faced several pivotal moments. One of her most challenging experiences came when she found herself on the block alongside two of her closest allies, Brooklyn and Cam.

"My whole game was publicly blown up," she recalled.

Despite the personal difficulty of that moment, she recalibrated her strategy and emerged stronger, winning key Head of Household (HoH) competitions. Her victory in nearly every HoH competition, where she was asked questions, showcased her game sense. Reflecting on those wins, she said:

"That was pretty monumental to come in as a micro chip and to prove to this house that I wasn’t as bad as a player that I showed I was day one."

One of her proudest achievements in the game was orchestrating Tucker's eviction, a move she considered a turning point in her strategy. Baham's ability to stay ahead of her competitors and eliminate threats while maintaining strong relationships with others ultimately solidified her spot in the final two.

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Surprising unanimous jury vote

Despite her confidence heading into the final, Baham was still surprised by the outcome. The unanimous jury vote in her favor caught her off guard, particularly the votes from Angela and Leah, who had strong ties to Makensy.

"They will respect her wins and personally vote for her," Baham said.

However, the jury's decision ultimately reflected their recognition of her well-rounded gameplay and strong social connections.

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Chelsie's future plans and reflections on win

As a long-time Big Brother fan, Baham is excited to watch the season back and see the game unfold from a different perspective.

"I’m curious to see if anybody found out my game in this season," she said.

Having successfully hidden her strategy for much of the game, she looks forward to discovering if any houseguests have caught on to her moves.

Looking ahead, Baham is ready to enjoy her post-Big Brother life. She expressed her desire to return to a more normal routine, stating:

"I think I’m gonna buy me a nice pair of kicks, a nice purse, and get me some ice cream."

The Rancho Cucamonga native is excited to reconnect with her dog and enjoy the simple pleasures of life outside the Big Brother house.

For Chelsie Baham, winning the show was a dream come true, and her gameplay has earned her a place in the show's Hall of Fame.

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Fans can stream Big Brother season 26 on Paramount+.