How Big Brother 26 winner Chelsie Baham won the big prize

Big Brother 26 concluded with Chelsie Baham winning the big prize of $750,000. While it should not be a surprise to most, Baham winning should be taken into account in how to play the perfect Big Brother game .

She was the complete opposite of how most houseguests play the game and she used that tactic to her advantage while taking her closest ally, Makensy Manbeck, close enough to finish as the final two.

Baham won the competition by a surprising 7-0 vote against Manbeck in the finale. They were similar in gameplay throughout the season, but the deciding factor was the style of play that Baham played. She had a mix of a good social game with the perfect blend of competitive play in the comps. That competitiveness saw her capture the Head of Household (HoH) four times (weeks 2, 8, 20 (day 73) and 12).

Her gameplay was second to none, competing in 11 events during her tenure in the house. Her social game was close to perfect as she did not backstab any of the houseguests, stuck to her guns as to who she wanted out, and her conversations within the house led to eight houseguests being evicted. She had an impressive resume and one that may see her go down as one of the best game players in the history of Big Brother.

Baham played a smooth game with confidence. She did not have a showmance, did not stir up drama, she never jumped from alliance to alliance, and she never went back on her word. While Manbeck was also good throughout, Baham led the charge and had a big part in some big players going home and she herself did not come close to being evicted at any point of the season. This was a well-deserved win and one that future houseguests should take note of how to play the game.

The 27-year-old nonprofit director from Rancho Cucamonga, California became the second black female competitor to win Big Brother behind Taylor Hale, who won season 24.

Baham has some claim to fame, as she is related to actress Niecy Nash, as her niece by marriage.

While she did not win Big Brother 26, Manbeck did play a good game and will take home $75,000 for her second-place finish. Taking second in this competition is not a bad consolation prize as he truly was the second-best player in the game.

Big Brother 26 should go down as one of the best seasons ever. There was a new side character, Ainsley, and there were more twists and turns than in years previous.