Black Big Brother houseguests from seasons past, American and Canadian versions of the show, have gathered in Arizona to connect and celebrate having made history.
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RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHICH COUPLES HAVE SPLIT UP?? (PHOTOS)
The event was designed to celebrate Xavier Prather winning Season 23 of Big Brother last summer.
While he became known as the first Black winner of Big Brother, Tamar Braxton had won Season 2 of Celebrity Big Brother in 2019 and Tychon Carter-Newman had been crowned winner of Big Brother Canada 9 in early 2021.
The party included Big Brother 6 alum Beau Beasley, Season 9 alum Parker Delon, Season 13 alum Lawon Exum, Season 14 alum Jodi Rollins, Season 21 and 22 alum David Alexander, and Season 23 alums Tiffany Mitchell, Kyland Young, Azah Awasum and Hannah Chaddha.
The following Big Brother Canada houseguests also traveled for the gathering: Season 6 alum Andrew Miller, Season 8 alum Angie Tackie, and Season 9 alum Breydon White.
Xavier won a huge grand prize of $750,000 and made history last year after joining a people-of-color alliance called "The Cookout" that helped him get to the end and was comprised of Tiffany, Azah, Hannah, Kyland and Derek Frazier.
"This was a special weekend because we were able to personally thank the previous Black BB alumni players for opening up, not only their arms to welcome us in the community, but opening the door for The Cookout to make Big Brother history," Tiffany told Us.
"It is their years of struggling to be accepted and represented that fueled our desire to ensure a Black winner for Season 23."
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Tiffany, who was voted America's Favorite Houseguest for Season 23, compared the bash to popping a bottle of champagne.
"This weekend allowed us to share our experiences and bond together," Tiffany told the magazine.
RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW"As a fan of the show I am honored to be accepted into the BB community as not just a player or a friend, but as family."
Big Brother 18 houseguest Zakiyah Everette said getting together with former Black BB players had been on her mind "for a while," and so she was naturally disappointed to not be able to participate in the Phoenix event.
"I know my fellow African American brothers and sisters on the show have too," Zakiyah told the magazine.
"After seasons and seasons of Big Brother and after the amazing win (finally) of a first ever African American contestant, we knew we had to celebrate each other."
She elaborated, "Each AA houseguest has had a very similar experience, one that only we truly understand. It was time to connect and show one another love and appreciation. Above all this celebratory trip was for us and I'm glad we were able to make it happen."
Many of the former cast members gushed about being able to bond on their own terms and feel an immense sense of inclusion, peace, pride and inspiration during this "epic" celebration.
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"This weekend was a beautiful experience," Kyland shared.
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He added, "That was beyond touching for me, and made my own experience on the show even more fulfilling!"
And Hannah said the weekend was very "special" to her.
"We were able to honor the Black houseguests that came before us. I can't even begin to imagine what their BB experience was like due to their lack of support systems on their respective seasons," Hannah explained.
"So, it was amazing to hear that, for them, watching us was very therapeutic and rewarding."
Hannah also shared how her favorite memory from the weekend happened to be their nightly dance and karaoke parties.
RELATED LINK: 'BIG BROTHER' SHOWMANCES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHICH COUPLES HAVE SPLIT UP?? (PHOTOS)
"[We were] just celebrating what it means to be Black. Everyone in the community is part of The Cookout including the Black houseguests that have come before us and those that will come after," Hannah said.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
