Taylor Hale

Last updated
Taylor Hale
Taylor Hale 2019.jpg
Hale in 2019
Born
Taylor Mackenzie Dickens Hale

(1994-12-31) December 31, 1994 (age 30)
Alma mater George Washington University
OccupationTelevision personality
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title Miss Michigan USA 2021
Hair color Black
Eye color Brown
Major
competition(s)
Miss USA 2021

Taylor Mackenzie Dickens Hale (born December 31, 1994) is an American reality television personality and beauty pageant titleholder. She is the winner of the 24th season of the American reality television series Big Brother , becoming the first African American woman to win the series. [2] She is also the first houseguest to win both the game and the America's Favorite Houseguest prize.

Contents

Prior to Big Brother, she was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2021 and won Miss Congeniality at the Miss USA 2021 pageant.

Personal life

Hale was born on December 31, 1994, in Detroit, Michigan. She attended Detroit Country Day School from kindergarten through grade 12, graduating in 2013. [3] She graduated from George Washington University in 2017, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. Hale resides in West Bloomfield, Michigan. [4]

On November 9, 2022, she confirmed her relationship with fellow Big Brother 24 contestant Joseph Abdin. [5] They announced their breakup on April 19, 2023. [6] Hale then dated fellow Big Brother contestant Kyland Young. The pair competed together as a couple on The Amazing Race 38 . [7] [8] Leading up to the season, Young stated that they intentionally chose to keep their relationship private and that they were not a couple "right now". [9]

Miss Michigan USA

Hale won the Miss Michigan USA 2021 pageant in August 2021 after nearly a year-long postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10] She did not place in the Miss USA 2021 Pageant, but she was awarded Miss Congeniality. [10]

Big Brother

Season 24

CBS announced Hale as a Big Brother 24 houseguest on July 5, 2022. Hale's fellow housemates ostracized her upon entering the house, making her an early target in the game and leading to her being nominated for eviction in each of the first two weeks. Hale was also the target of comments deemed microaggressive by some viewers of the show, and disparaging remarks about her appearance and personality. [11] [12] [13] During the third week, Hale joined "The Leftovers" alliance, [14] securing her safety for the remainder of the season. Hale won two Head of Household competitions; during weeks six and eleven. [15]

Hale was awarded the $750,000 grand prize by the season's jury, winning by a vote of 8–1 over Monte Taylor, and she became the first African American woman to win a regular season of Big Brother. [2] She is also the first houseguest to win both the game and the America's Favorite Houseguest prize, awarding her an additional $50,000. [16] With total cash winnings of $800,000, Hale has won the most money of any houseguest in the history of the series. [17]

Season 25

Hale was interviewed for the Big Brother 25th Anniversary Celebration ahead of Big Brother 25 . She later returned in the season to discuss the gameplay during Week 14's eviction episode.

Season 26

Hale appeared on a special episode of Big Brother 26 alongside fellow winners Cody Calafiore (from seasons 16 and 22) and Jag Bains (from season 25) to look back on the first three weeks of the season and reveal the next twist. She returned later in the season, where she began taking over for fellow winner Will Kirby (from seasons 2 and 7) as the new host of the Jury Roundtable. [18]

Season 27

Hale and fellow winner Derrick Levasseur (from season 16) return to host a new companion show—Big Brother: Unlocked. It will air bi-weekly on Fridays beginning July 25, 2025. They will be joined by mystery celebrity guests and surprise Big Brother alumni to recap Big Brother 27 . Six episodes are planned to air throughout the season. [19] [20]

Reindeer Games

In 2023, Hale returned to Big Brother to compete in the holiday spin-off season, Big Brother Reindeer Games . [21] She finished as the runner-up of the season.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 Miss USA 2021 ContestantMiss Congeniality
2022 Big Brother 24 ContestantWinner; America’s Favorite HouseGuest (35 episodes)
2022–23 The Bold and the Beautiful McKenzieGuest star (4 episodes)
2023 Big Brother 25 Guest 25th Anniversary Celebration (2 episodes)
Big Brother Reindeer Games ContestantRunner-up (6 episodes)
2024 Big Brother 26 GuestJury Roundtable Host (2 episodes)
2025 Big Brother 27 Guest(2 episodes)
Big Brother: Unlocked HostCompanion show with Big Brother 27 (6 episodes) [22]
The Amazing Race 38 Contestant

References

  1. @TMackenzieH (October 16, 2022). "Detroit, 6:18pm" (Tweet). Retrieved October 16, 2022 via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 Carras, Christi (September 26, 2022). "Besting her bullies, Taylor Hale becomes the first Black woman to win 'Big Brother'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  3. Lunch with Miss Michigan & Alumna Taylor Hale '13. on YouTube
  4. Runkle, Anne (September 27, 2022). "Taylor Hale of West Bloomfield wins 'Big Brother' reality show". The Oakland Press . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  5. Blanchet, Brenton (November 9, 2022). "'Big Brother' 's Taylor Hale and Joseph Abdin Are Officially in a Relationship: 'Happiest I've Ever Been'". People . Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  6. Trainor, Daniel (April 19, 2023). "Big Brother's Taylor Hale and Joseph Abdin Break Up". E! News . Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  7. Blanchet, Brenton (August 24, 2025). ""Big Brother' Couple Confirmed! Taylor Hale & Kyland Young Join "Amazing Race" Season 38". Swoon. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  8. Bloom, Mike (August 14, 2025). "It's a 'Big Brother' Takeover! Meet the Full Cast of 'The Amazing Race 38'". Parade . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  9. Bucksbaum, Sydney (August 27, 2025). "Big Brother's Kyland Young opens up about dating Taylor Hale — and pursuing legal action against their trolls". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Graham, Adam (September 25, 2022). "Ex-Miss Michigan Taylor Hale wins 'Big Brother' $750,000 grand prize". The Detroit News . Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  11. Brockington, Ariana (July 12, 2022). "'Big Brother' alumni, fans call out 'reprehensible' treatment of cast member Taylor Hale". The Today Show . Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  12. Contreras, Cydney (July 11, 2022). "Big Brother Alums Slam "Reprehensible" Behavior After Taylor Hale Is Reduced to Tears". E! . Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  13. Longeretta, Emily (July 11, 2022). "'Big Brother' Casting Producer, Former Houseguests Demand Change Amid Taylor Hale Bullying". Variety . Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  14. Palinkas, Lorianne (August 8, 2022). "Big Brother: Why The Leftovers Is Such A Refreshing Alliance". Screen Rant . Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  15. Tinoco, Armando (September 26, 2022). "'Big Brother' Makes History Again In Season 24 Finale". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  16. Palinkas, Lorianne (September 26, 2022). "Big Brother: Taylor Hale Shocked She Won America's Favorite Houseguest". Screen Rant . Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  17. Brockington, Ariana (September 26, 2022). "Taylor Hale makes history as the first Black woman to win 'Big Brother'". The Today Show . Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  18. Tharp, Sharon (October 10, 2024). "'Big Brother' Season 24 Winner Taylor Hale Steps In As New Jury Roundtable Host (Exclusive)". Parade. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  19. Caruso, Nick (July 22, 2025). "Big Brother: Unlocked: Which Two Former Houseguests Are Hosting Season 27's Companion Series?". TVLine. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  20. Minton, Matt (May 14, 2025). "'Big Brother' Season 27 Sets July Premiere Date, Launches Friday Night 'Unlocked' Segment With Returning All-Stars". Variety. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  21. Longeretta, Emily (December 7, 2023). "'Big Brother Reindeer Games' Cast: Meet the Past Winners and Fan-Favorites Competing in the Holiday Showdown". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  22. Caruso, Nick (July 22, 2025). "Big Brother: Unlocked: Which Two Former Houseguests Are Hosting Season 27's Companion Series?". TVLine. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Chanel Johnson
Miss Michigan USA
2021
Succeeded by
Aria Hutchinson
Preceded by Big Brother U.S. winner
Season 24 (2022)
Succeeded by