CBS has finally unveiled the first batch of the Big Brother 28 cast, breaking from its usual rollout by introducing the new houseguests during a special YouTube “Broveal” livestream.
The network has announced 14 houseguests so far, with more surprise players still expected to enter the game when the season begins. The redesigned house will welcome the cast ahead of the extended 90-minute premiere on Thursday, July 9.
The new season revolves around a “Time Trip” concept, with Julie Chen Moonves hinting that time itself will influence both the design of the house and the structure of competitions through references to different eras.
The cast includes the expected mix of superfans, service-industry workers, and office professionals, but this year producers have also added several contestants with notable ties to entertainment, famous relatives, and high-level sports backgrounds.
One of the most recognizable additions to the lineup is Jason De Puy, better known to reality TV fans as Salina EsTitties.
Jason competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 and later returned for Drag Race All Stars, where he became known for sharp confessionals, campy humor, and a willingness to play up his personality. He has already said he is open to a showmance, which could make him one of the season’s most talked-about houseguests online.
He is far from the only contestant bringing name recognition into the house.
Honolulu-based attorney Lyric Medeiros, 25, also has a family connection to pop music as the daughter of Glenn Medeiros, the ’80s singer known for the hit “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You”.
Another houseguest with a famous relative is 57-year-old LaTrice Verrett, who hopes to become the oldest champion in the show’s history. She is the biological niece of Robert “Kool” Bell, the celebrated co-founder of Kool and the Gang.
With $750,000 on the line, several players are already thinking carefully about how they will present themselves. Lyric plans to keep quiet about being an attorney, while 24-year-old rocket scientist Mallory Aurichio and 32-year-old UFC/MMA fighter Kamu Kirk have both said they expect to lie about their jobs so they are not immediately viewed as intellectual or physical threats.
The pressure is increasing even more because the initial cast reveal is only part of the story.
Additional surprise houseguests are expected to be introduced when the season premieres, and the crossover element appears to be real. Rick Devens, a fan favorite from Survivor, has been reported as part of the season’s twist, and Big Brother has also been teasing at least one more reality-TV veteran for the opening night reveal.
The new season will also continue the franchise’s expanded rollout with Big Brother: Unlocked, and CBS has said the season will mark a major milestone later this summer when the show reaches its 1,000th episode.
Ashley Trail
Age: 24
Hometown: Alton, Illinois
Current City: Chicago, Illinois
Occupation: Bartender
Barrett Pfeiffer
Age: 27
Hometown: Benton, Arkansas
Current City: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Jumbotron engineer
Chuk Anyanwu
Age: 27
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Occupation: Supply chain analyst
Drew Campbell
Age: 22
Hometown: Temecula, California
Occupation: Surgical dental assistant
Haley Thogmartin
Age: 29
Hometown: Neosho, Missouri
Current City: Wildwood, Missouri
Occupation: Telemedicine executive
Jason De Puy
Age: 35
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Current City: West Hollywood, California
Occupation: Drag queen
Big Brother 28 premieres Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. on CBS, with Big Brother: Unlocked following on Friday and another 90-minute episode of the main series airing Sunday, July 12. For now, viewers will have to wait until premiere night to see which surprise returnees join the game.