On September 28, BIG BROTHER proudly announced that Ashley Hollis, a distinguished graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s Business Administration program, secured victory in the 27th season of CBS’s acclaimed reality television show “Big Brother.”
The cast of this season comprised sixteen new houseguests, each with a unique background and professional experience. Among them were a professional bull rider renowned for his daring rodeo performances; an event curator specializing in organizing large-scale experiential events; a marketing manager with a successful career in digital advertising; an AI consultant working at the forefront of artificial intelligence applications; an aura painter creating vibrational and energy-based artwork; an attorney focusing on intellectual property law; and a renowned dungeon master known for hosting immersive Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, among others. Each participant contributed diverse skills and perspectives to the house.
During the first week, Hollis was nominated for eviction by Vince Panaro, who ultimately finished as the runner-up in the finale. She defeated Panaro in a decisive jury vote of 6-1. This initial nomination was influenced by the incident known as ‘showergate,’ during which Hollis was falsely accused of taking a two-hour shower in Panaro’s private Head of Household bathroom—an event that Panaro exploited to his advantage.
In her season finale speech, Hollis confidently compared herself to Elle Woods, emphasizing how she maintained an optimal balance between being liked and underestimated. “Elle Woods embodies kindness — she is likable, spunky, yet also intelligent. People believe they can emotionally manipulate and control her, but I see the similarities between us,” Hollis declared.
Hollis, who advanced from Loyola Marymount University to complete her legal education at Georgetown Law, explained in her last two speeches that she intentionally minimized her social and legal strengths to persuade her fellow houseguests that she posed no threat. Through meticulous navigation of alliances and social dynamics, Hollis credits her legal expertise as a pivotal factor in her successful journey and ultimate victory, which awarded her a cash prize of $750,000.
Season 27 of “Big Brother” concluded with a bang on Sunday, with the two-hour live finale reaching an average of 4.3 million views on CBS. That total marks the reality competition series’ biggest audience in more than three years, since one of the final episodes of Season 24 hit 4.5 million viewers on Sept. 18, 2022, according to Live + Same Day data from Nielsen. It’s also a 33% improvement on the Season 26 finale’s 3.2 million viewers.
ABOUT ASHLEY HOLLIS
Ashley Hollis won Big Brother Season 27 through clever strategy, social skills, and authenticity. A Georgetown Law graduate with honors, she earned her Juris Doctor degree and was named to the Dean’s List. Before her TV success, she was a high-profile attorney at Skadden, specializing in complex mergers and acquisitions. Now, she combines her passions for law, lifestyle, and entertainment across digital platforms, including her YouTube channel, which covers legal and lifestyle topics, and her curated Instagram account, focusing on fashion, wellness, and travel. An aspiring actress and singer, she inspires fans with her beauty and fashion, often showcasing signature jewelry from emerging designers.
A certified yoga instructor, she shares wellness tips emphasizing mental health and mindfulness. She enjoys adventures like skydiving, charity marathons, and travel vlogging, frequently documenting her experiences on social media. In her final speech, she explained how she minimized her social skills and legal expertise to avoid threatening others and to navigate alliances strategically. She credits her legal background with enhancing her strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and confidence, which helped her win $750,000. At Loyola Marymount, Ashley demonstrated leadership and time management by serving as vice president of Alpha Phi sorority, organizing Moot Court for Phi Delta Phi, and acting as a freshman class representative.
ABOUT BIG BROTHER
Big Brother is a popular reality TV show that features a diverse group of contestants, known as Houseguests, who live together in a specially designed, isolated house located in Los Angeles. The house is equipped with 112 high-definition cameras and 113 strategically placed microphones that record their every move, capturing footage 24 hours a day. Each week, based on a combination of competition outcomes and the votes of the Houseguests, one participant is evicted from the house through a strategic process called the eviction vote. The game continues over several weeks, with Houseguests competing in various challenges, forming alliances, and engaging in social maneuvers. The last remaining Houseguest wins the grand prize of $750,000, a substantial cash award that culminates weeks of strategic gameplay, alliances, betrayals, and social gameplay. BIG BROTHER is produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan for Fly on the Wall Entertainment, in association with Banijay Americas. He is filmed in a custom-built house located in the state of California.
