Big Brother 24 Winner Taylor Hale Interview: on Pop Culture, Black Models, and Future Plans
Via CBS
We had a chance to chat with Big Brother 24 winner and America’s Favorite Houseguest, Taylor Hale, and discussed different topics including Beyoncé and Rihanna, Black beauty, feelings while filming the season, and future plans.
From the beginning of the 24th season of CBS’ Big Brother, Taylor stole the spotlight. Her honesty, resilience, charm, and even fashion lead the internet to fall in love with her instantly. After Taylor fought through the season following multiple attacks, both personal and strategy, she definitely came on top, becoming not only the first Black woman to win a Big Brother season but also the first winner in Big Brother history also to win Favorite Houseguest. These record-breaking achievements as well as her immaculate final speech propelled Taylor to become one of the most well-known Big Brother contestants ever.
We asked Taylor how she feels now that she’s been out of the Big Brother house for almost 3 months. “It’s been just a crazy roller coaster,” she replied. “Everyone says hindsight is 20/20, but when you've had the season I've had, it's like 50/50!”
Coming out of the House, Taylor revealed that one of her aspirations is to become an entertainment journalist. We asked her what made me want to do that and where that dream stems from. “My parents are friends with some local news journalists in Detroit. I was always in awe of the responsibility that they had,” she explained. “But the content is not really my thing, however, I really appreciated the connections you can build with people at home and the impact of TV,” she continued. “The way that we engage with culture, entertainment, and celebrity is very much impactful on who we are as human beings and how we learn and understand different social causes. So I think the responsibility is just as great.”
A favorite fan moment in the season was Taylor listening to Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE album for the first time. The album had come out weeks prior but as per the rules of the game, she could only listen to it when she became Head of the Household. The video of Taylor listening to the album was shared countless times and instantly became viral. We asked her what the album meant to her, both in the house and now outside. “When I listened to RENAISSANCE for the first time, it reminded me of what it means to be around very self-assured, confident Black women. It felt like all my emotions, my Blackness, my femininity was validated through the music I was listening to,” she explained. “Also, there are so many different musical tones that that album has: Hip-Hop, R&B, Dance, House, Disco. The different sexualities that that album has too. It brought me back to my home and the way I was raised.”
We move from Beyoncé to Rihanna, who surprised the world by revealing that she is watching and a fan of the season. So we had to ask whether Taylor would walk in a Fenty x Savage fashion show. “That’s what I love about that show. It isn’t just about the supermodels who I admire and respect but also an acknowledgment of the change in media. The change in influence. So if we could have the first Black woman to win the biggest social experiment on television walk that show, I think that would make a huge statement,” Taylor replied. So, Riri give me a call!” she exclaimed.
Taylor also recently attended a panel on Supreme Models held by the author, entertainment reporter, and host, Marcellus Reynolds. We asked her what it was like attending the panel and what Black models mean to her. “The thing about that panel is I was always a big fan of Marcellus coming into big brother, but then entering a space where it’s majority Black people and Black women talking and watching the evolution of the supermodel and the impact of the model affirmed their blackness. There is this essence, and performance that Black women brought to modeling,” she explained. “Some of my favorite models are obviously Iman, Naomi, and Tyra,” Taylor revealed.
During the live feeds, the fans discovered Taylor’s love for RuPaul’s Drag Race and for the art of drag in general. “I really do love Aquaria. I am obsessed with Shea!” she said. “I love Symone who I was lucky to meet at an event in LA. Shangela’s All Stars season was the first season I watched for Drag Race so I always credit my appreciation for the craft of Drag to Shangela. I also love love love Manila Luzon who actually messaged me!”
One of the best things to come out of this season is Taylor’s new relationship with Big Brother housemate Joseph Abdin. Their flirtationship in the house evolved into a real relationship outside and needless to say the fans were already shipping them before. We asked Taylor what it was like learning about Arab culture and meeting Joseph’s parents. “They’re amazing!” she said. “There’s a huge population of Arabs in Dearborn so I was very familiar with Arab culture. So when I got to meet Joseph’s parents, it was like second-hand. I felt very comfortable.”
It was no surprise that Taylor’s first week during the season was one of her worst as the other houseguests iced her out after several false comments made on her behalf. We asked her what it was like during the first week and how she dealt with the perception of Black women in the competition. “First and foremost, I came in to represent Black women. Second, I knew that there would be stereotypes about me because I’m the “pageant girl”, but for me, it was important not to hide my occupation because I knew that people wanted me to hide, conceal and lie about my identity to get ahead in the game but I thought ‘Why don’t I just put all my cards on the table and also present myself as who I am?’ I feel very confident in the fact that I accomplished that mission that I presented a pageant girl as not just one type of person with the same capabilities.”
In many instances in the game, Taylor, alone and with no one around her, spilled her heart to the live feeds. We asked her what she felt in those moments and who she felt she was talking to. “Sometimes you gotta say whatever you wanna say to get it out!” she responded. “I wondered who was watching the feeds and how active the feeds were. I never thought my communication with the feeds would echo outside Twitter or Reddit. I was trying to communicate as myself and hoped people would see my very clear straightforward self.”
Lastly, we asked Taylor about her plans for her upcoming birthday, which happens to also be New Year’s Eve, and who she’ll be celebrating with. “Usually I’m a homebody and like to stay in.” She revealed. “But this year I decided I’m going on another cruise! I will be partying it up with Joesph. My best friend will also be there with me!”
Taylor also teased the possibility of traveling to Lebanon with Joseph, who had said he might come for charity and community work. So, if that happens, we hope to see you soon Taylor!
