CBS has officially unveiled the Big Brother 28 cast, introducing 14 new contestants who will compete for the grand prize of $750,000. The announcement marked a first for the long-running reality competition, with the cast revealed during a live stream hosted by Julie Chen Moonves.
Season 28 embraces a “Time Trip” theme, transforming the famous Big Brother house into a journey through history. The set features décor inspired by multiple eras, from prehistoric times to futuristic worlds, while Julie Chen Moonves has also hinted that classic competitions from previous seasons will return with modern twists.
As the new contestants prepare to enter the house under 24/7 surveillance, they have also revealed which former Big Brother legends have inspired their gameplay and strategy.
Meet the Big Brother 28 Cast
This season brings together contestants from a wide variety of professions and backgrounds, including an MMA fighter, a rocket scientist, a game show host, a drag performer, an attorney, a telemedicine executive, and more.
The Big Brother 28 cast includes:
- Ashley Trail (24) – Bartender from Chicago, Illinois
- Barrett Pfeiffer (27) – Jumbotron Engineer from Austin, Texas
- Chuk Anyanwu (27) – Supply Chain Analyst from Dallas, Texas
- Drew Campbell (22) – Surgical Dental Assistant from Temecula, California
- Haley Thogmartin (29) – Telemedicine Executive from Wildwood, Missouri
- Jason De Puy (35) – Drag Queen from West Hollywood, California
- Kamuela “Kamu” Kirk (32) – MMA Fighter from Phoenix, Arizona
- LaTrice Verrett (57) – Boutique Salesperson from Maplewood, New Jersey
- Lyric Medeiros (25) – Attorney from Honolulu, Hawaii
- Mallory Aurichio (24) – Rocket Scientist from New Jersey
- Melody Morris (24) – Corporate Game Show Host from Maricopa, Arizona
- Rome Seymour (28) – Pickleball Coach from Delray Beach, Florida
- Taylor Brown (27) – Elementary School Counselor from Florida
- Yash Patel (24) – Financial Analyst from New Jersey
The diverse lineup promises a wide range of personalities and gameplay styles as alliances begin to form inside the house.
The “Time Trip” Theme Takes Center Stage
Season 28’s Time Trip concept celebrates the history of Big Brother while introducing new twists for longtime fans and first-time viewers alike.
The house combines design elements from different periods of history, while the season is expected to revisit several iconic competitions that helped define previous editions of the series. According to Julie Chen Moonves, these returning challenges will feature updated mechanics designed specifically for the new cast.
Which Former Houseguests Inspired the New Cast?
Ahead of the premiere, 12 of the 14 contestants shared the former Big Brother players they admire most and hope to emulate during the competition. Taylor Brown and Yash Patel did not provide responses due to scheduling constraints.
Ashley Trail
Ashley named Rachel Reilly and Britney Haynes among her all-time favorites, praising Rachel’s bold personality and Britney’s memorable Diary Room appearances.
Barrett Pfeiffer
Barrett selected Britney Haynes as his favorite player, saying her personality and humor inspired him from the moment he started watching the show. He also admired Izzy Gleicher from Season 25 for bringing emotion and authenticity into the game.
Chuk Anyanwu
Chuk identified Corey Brooks from Season 18 as the player he relates to most. He admired Corey’s strong social strategy, challenge performances, and ability to build relationships throughout the game, believing a similar approach could help him reach the finale.
Drew Campbell
Drew chose Eric Stein from Season 8, praising his adaptability and ability to enjoy the experience despite the unique challenges of playing as America’s Player.
Haley Thogmartin
Haley looked to competition legend Janelle Pierzina, citing her confidence, competitive dominance, and fearless personality as qualities she hopes to bring into the house.
Jason De Puy
Jason pointed to his close friend Frankie Grande as his biggest inspiration, joking that while he hopes to become a competition powerhouse like Frankie, his ultimate goal is to outperform him in the game.
Kamuela “Kamu” Kirk
Kamu named both Cody Calafiore and Derrick Levasseur as his biggest strategic influences.
He praised the legendary alliance known as “The Hitmen,” explaining that he hopes to combine Cody’s competition skills with Derrick’s strategic mindset.
LaTrice Verrett
LaTrice also selected Janelle Pierzina, applauding her confidence, strong competition performances, and memorable presence throughout her seasons.
Lyric Medeiros
Lyric chose Makensy Manbeck from Season 26, describing her as a dominant competitor whose ability to quietly position herself before making big moves was especially impressive.
Mallory Aurichio
Mallory once again highlighted Britney Haynes, saying she admired her honesty, humor, and willingness to openly express her opinions inside the house.
Melody Morris
Melody revealed she sees similarities between herself and several former contestants, particularly Derrick Levasseur and Nicole Franzel, whose strategic and social gameplay she hopes to emulate.
Rome Seymour
Rome identified Tucker Des Lauriers from Season 26 as his biggest inspiration, saying he appreciates Tucker’s willingness to play openly and stay true to himself throughout the competition.
Big Brother 28 Premiere Schedule
CBS has also announced the opening week schedule for the new season:
- Thursday, July 9 (8 p.m. ET/PT): Big Brother 28 premieres with a special 90-minute episode.
- Friday, July 10 (8 p.m. ET/PT): Big Brother: Unlocked debuts, featuring analysis from Taylor Hale, Derrick Levasseur, and Jerry O’Connell.
- Friday, July 10 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT): Live Feeds launch on Paramount+, Pluto TV, and YouTube.
- Sunday, July 12 (8 p.m. ET/PT): A second 90-minute episode concludes the premiere week.
A Season Built on Big Brother History
With a nostalgic theme, returning competition concepts, and a cast inspired by some of the franchise’s most memorable players, Big Brother 28 aims to blend the show’s history with a new generation of competitors.
From longtime fan favorites like Britney Haynes, Janelle Pierzina, Rachel Reilly, Derrick Levasseur, and Cody Calafiore to more recent standouts such as Makensy Manbeck and Tucker Des Lauriers, the new houseguests are entering the game with different strategies but a shared goal, outlasting the competition and claiming the $750,000 grand prize when Big Brother 28 premieres on July 9 on CBS.