BIG Brother has crowned its season 27 winner, Ashley Hollis, after runner-up Vince Panaro suffered one of the ‘biggest meltdowns’ in the show’s history.
Sunday’s electric two-hour live finale began by showing Morgan, 33, gaining an early edge against Vince, 34, and Ashley, 25, by winning the first of three Head of Household competitions.
It was then time for Vince and Ashley to battle each other in the second challenge to see who will face Morgan in the third and final HoH competition when the show brought in a very special guest.
Frankie Grande, who competed on season 16 of the show and is famously the brother of pop star Ariana Grande, made a surprise appearance to host the puzzle challenge.
The contestants were delighted to see the fan-favorite alum and then Vince and Ashley got ready to duke it out for a chance on becoming the final Head of Household of the season.
Vince failed to properly read the directions of the challenge and despite being confident with buzzing in his answers repeatedly, he never was able to find the correct response.
Despite also struggling with the directions, Ashley finally figured out the challenge and successfully completed it first over Vince – resulting in the unemployed LA native having a major crash out in frustration and negative self-talk.
Vince fell to his knees and began to cry and scream in frustration, pushing Morgan away when she went over to console him.
“I feel like the stupidest person on the planet,” Vince yelled, before adding: “Because I can’t read the f**king deserve. I don’t deserve to win. I don’t deserve to win, I’m f**king awful!
“I’m a f**king loser! God d**n. There’s a lot of worst case scenarios this season but this is by far the worst.”
Many fans called Vince’s “crash out” the “worst” and “most insufferable” they’ve ever seen on the show – with many saying the level of “cringe” was brought to an “whole new level.”
“No player has ever whined, manipulated, cried, flirted, cringed, laughed, plotted, f**ked up, triumphed, f**ked up again, spiraled, begged, cramped, choked, crashed out and entertained like Vince in the Big Brother house A generational reality TV character,” one viewer wrote.
Meanwhile, Big Brother alum and past winner Cody Calafiore hosted a round table to discuss strategy with the jury, which now included: Ava, Keanu, Lauren, Kelley, Will, and Rachel.
The jury admitted that in addition to game strategy and social gameplay, they were looking for a finalist who “owned up to their actions” and “took accountability” for moves they pulled off this season.
Before the final HoH competition began, it was time for Big Brother to reveal who had been the Mastermind all season – a masked figure who caused twists and turns behind-the-scenes.
Big Brother legend Dr. Will was revealed to be the Mastermind to the shock of the final three.
Ashley and Morgan, who both looked gorgeous in glam and stunning dresses, then faced off in the final competition of season 27, hosted by longtime face of the franchise, Julie Chen Moonves.
Despite being a challenge beast all season, Morgan wasn’t able to take home the win when she needed it most and Ashley beat her in the final competition of the season and became the last HoH.
This gave Ashley the power of choosing whether she wants to bring Vince or Morgan with her to the end – and who is getting their dreams cut at the last second.
Ashley broke down in tears as she confessed that she couldn’t bring Morgan to the final two with her, knowing she wouldn’t be able to beat her friend.
It was then she tearfully made the decision to evict Morgan – bringing the strong competitor’s season to an end and locking in the final two as Ashley and Vince.
The jury, which now includes Morgan, then locked in to grill the final two and determine their choice for the season 27 winner.
Ashley gave an impassioned final plea that included her secret – that she is not in marketing, but actually a high-profile attorney.
Her speech was enough to win over the jurors, as Ashley was ultimately crowned the winner of Big Brother’s season 27 in a 6-1 vote.
The only person who voted for Vince was his closest ally in the house all season, Morgan.
Vince scoring runner-up earned him the $75,000 second-place prize, which he was elated as he said it’s “more money than he’s ever earned in his life.”
Ashley, who quit her law firm to be on the show, went home with a whopping $750,000 check.
Fans were thrilled for Ashley, who started the season off rough by being the first on the chopping block and was constantly underestimated.
“Ashley Hollis pulled off one of those Big Brother wins that you just needed to see to believe. What a fantastic night, and what a deserving win,” one person wrote.
“LEGALLY GOLD THE SOCIAL GAME REIGNS SUPREME, CONGRATULATIONS TO ASHLEY HOLLIS FOR WINNING BIG BROTHER 27!!!” a second exclaimed, referencing the Legally Blonde nod in her final jury speech.
“Not only a historic winner history (two Black women back to back) AND the first houseguest to change her vote for eviction, but ashley hollis is the first winner to ever have her first HOH at the finale… THIS is a legend,” a third said.
Big Brother’s Steamiest Showmances
Contestants are no strangers to hooking up during their months of being sequestered in the Big Brother house. Here are some of the most buzzed-about relationships that have blossomed on screen:
Season 2 (2001): Mike “Boogie” Malin & Krista Stegall (Broke up in 2001)
Season 11 (2009): Jordan Lloyd & Jeff Schroeder (Engaged while filming show. Still married)
Season 12 (2010): Rachel Reilly & Brendon Villegas (Still married and share two kids together)
Season 13 (2011): Daniele Donato & Dominic Briones (Still married after tying-the-knot in 2013)
Season 15 (2013): Amanda Zuckerman & McCrae Olsen (Split in 2014 in a messy social media breakup)
Season 16 (2014): Hayden Voss & Nicole Franzel (Relationship ended after 18 months of dating)
Season 18 (2016): Nicole Franzel & Corey Brooks (Split shortly after the show)
Season 18 (2016): Nicole Franzel & Victor Arroyo (Got together after her split from Corey. Got married in 2021 and share a son together)
Season 19 (2017): Jessica Graf & Cody Nickson (Got married in 2018 and went on to win The Amazing Race together)
Season 20 (2018): Bayleigh Dayton & Swaggy C (Still married)
Season 20 (2018): Angela Rummans & Tyler Crispen (Got engaged but broke up in 2022)
Season 24 (2022): Taylor Hale & Joseph Abdin (No longer dating but became a fan-favorite showmance)
Season 25 (2023): Jared Fields & Blue Kim (Split post show)
Season 27 (2025): Rylie Jeffries & Katherine Woodman (Trying to make things work post-show and following fan backlash)
