Janelle returned to compete on Big Brother 7 (US) along with 13 other former houseguests. During this season, Janelle set the record for most individual competitions won in a single season, with 9 competition wins (4 HOHs & 5 POVs). She was also known for her one-sided "showmance" with Will Kirby, and infamously evicting her ally, Marcellas Reynolds, after Will influenced her to nominate him. Once again, she placed 3rd, and became the seventh and final member of the jury, after Mike "Boogie" Malin cast the sole vote to evict her. On finale night, she became the first houseguest to win the America's Favorite Houseguest award.
In Big Brother 14 (US), she came back as a coach. In Week 4, Mike and Dan Gheesling convinced HoH Danielle Murphree to backdoor her. She was successfully evicted in an 8-1 vote, making her the first coach to get evicted, finishing in 12th place, and thus marking the first time Janelle did not reach the final 3 or jury stage.
Janelle later returned to participate in the show's second All Stars season, Big Brother 22 (US), becoming the first houseguest to compete on four separate seasons. Janelle's reputation as one of the greatest players quickly put her on the outs of the house along with her BB6 and BB7 ally and Sovereign Six member Kaysar Ridha. Despite being saved in the first two weeks when Kaysar won the first Safety Suite Competition, and their ally Memphis Garrett won the second HOH, Janelle and Kaysar were finally nominated in week 3 by Tyler Cripsen. After failing to win the POV to save herself, Janelle was ultimately evicted in a 9-2 vote, finishing in 14th place. She kept her strong friendship with Kaysar, and developed friendships with Memphis, Keesha Smith, and Bayleigh Dayton, and continued a feud with Nicole Franzel that began pre-season, stemming from their time on The Amazing Race.
Because of her competition prowess and strong personality, many fans consider Janelle to be one of the greatest Big Brother houseguests of all time. Several news outlets, houseguests, and even Julie Chen have called her the "Queen of Big Brother".
Fan favorite Janelle Pierzina returns to BIG BROTHER for the third summer. She first competed on BIG BROTHER in Season 6, when she finished in third place, but she took home “America’s Favorite Player.” She also finished in third place in season 7, BIG BROTHER: ALL-STARS. This very physical and competitive player sees returning as a mentor as a positive. According to Janelle, she’s “good at keeping people together and getting people on my side… the coaching dynamic is perfect for my gameplay.” While this 32-year-old is returning as a mentor to play her own game, she hopes to make it past third place this time. Her strategy to do so: “try and keep my team together as much as possible and possibly pick up some other alliance members along the way.” You can be sure that her husband and baby girl home in Minnesota will be rooting for her this summer.[1]
Retrieved from CBS Age: 40 Hometown: Grand Rapids, Minnesota Current city: Minneapolis, Minnesota Occupation: Real estate agent Previous seasons: Big Brother 6, Big Brother 7, and Big Brother 14. Janelle finished third two seasons in a row and won the first America's Favorite Houseguest vote in Season 6. Three adjectives that describe you: Ambitious, loyal, and persistent. Favorite activities: Working out with my girlfriends at Pure Barre, drinking wine, spending time with my family, and interior decorating. Why do you want to play Big Brother again?
It is the greatest and most challenging game that I have ever played. I have a lot I have to prove myself. What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house?
Being away from my family and business. Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most and why?
Britney Haynes. She's my Big Brother bestie and makes me laugh until my stomach hurts! What is your strategy for winning the game?
Win the first HOH, pick my allies Week 1, stay loyal to my alliance, start playing more cut throat once Houseguests start going to jury and separate game level from personal. How does this strategy differ from the last time you played?
I have never played a cut throat game. This time around, I will. Have you changed/evolved since the last time you were on the show?
I am completely a different woman. My life's motto is…
"There is no elevator to success —you have to take the stairs." What would you take into the house and why?
-Pictures of loved ones.
-Beauty products.
-A bible. Fun facts about yourself:
-My last meal on Earth would be sushi.
-My proudest accomplishment is my children.
-I have a house rabbit that lives in our home (he is house littered).
-My celebrity crush is Chris Hemsworth.
-My most prized possession is my designer shoe and bag collection.[2]
Janelle & Britney's cast photo for The Amazing Race 31
Janelle's cast photo for The Traitors 2
Janelle appeared on Big Brother 10 to compete in the Week 4 Food competition. Janelle received $1,000 as Jerry MacDonald answered his question incorrectly.
On June 11, 2009, Janelle announced her engagement to Jess Robert DeSanto. The two married in June 12th, 2010.
Janelle gave birth to a baby girl on December 14th, 2011 and named her Violet Anne DeSanto.[3]
On August 10th, 2013, Janelle gave birth to a baby boy named Lincoln William DeSanto,[4] who shares the same birthday with one of Janelle's former alliance members of the Sovereign Six, Kaysar Ridha.
Her third child, Stella Rose DeSanto, was born on September 26th, 2014.[5]
Janelle Pierzina competed on a Big Brother Primetime Special of The Price is Right that aired on May 24, 2016.[6] Janelle and her partner, Geoffrey, won a hammock, hot tub, and pair of patio heaters and made it to the Showcase Showdown.[7] However, They lost the Showdown to Brian and former houseguest, Will Kirby. The charity Janelle was playing for was Cycle for Survival.[8]
Janelle competed in the fifth episode of USA's Snake in the Grass alongside Rachel and Survivor contestants Cirie Fields and Stephenie LaGrossa. Cirie, Janelle and Rachel shared $100,000 after they correctly identified Stephenie as the "snake".
Janelle competed on the second season of Peacock's The Traitors with fellow Big Brother 14 houseguest Dan Gheesling and Celebrity Big Brother 23 (UK) housemate Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. As a Faithful, she was wrongly suspected of being a Traitor and banished in Episode 5, finishing in 14th place.
Trivia
Janelle was the first person to lose his/her partner in Big Brother 6, as Ashlea Evans her ex-roommate and secret partner was evicted first.
Janelle was the first houseguest ever to Veto one of his/her nominations.
Janelle won every America's Choice during her stay on Big Brother 6.
Janelle holds the record for the second most individual competitions won in a single season with 9, by winning 4 Head of Households and 5 Power of Vetoes. She shares this record with Michael Bruner.
Janelle also holds the record for most individual competitions won in multiple seasons with 6 HOH's (tied with Rachel Reilly), 7 POV's, and 2 Coaches Competitions– making a total of 15 competitions.
Counting only HoH's and PoV's, Janelle has won 13 competitions. Her record has been broken by Paul Abrahamian who has won 14 competitions.
Janelle and Kaysar are the only players to be evicted four times.
Janelle was the only houseguest to win challenges on Team Janelle in Big Brother 14.
Janelle is one of five people (Kaysar Ridha, James Rhine, Paul Abrahamian, Cameron Hardin) to receive the same placement two seasons in a row (3rd place).
Janelle has the second most days spent in the Big Brother U.S. house out of returning contestants with an exact 200 total days (76 in Big Brother 6, 67 in Big Brother 7, 34 in Big Brother 14 and 23 in Big Brother 22).
Janelle is the first player to reach 200 days in the BBUS house. She ended up getting evicted on her 200th day during Big Brother 22. The second player to reach 200 days is Nicole Franzel.
Janelle and Jase Wirey are the first 2 houseguests to become co-HOH's.
Whenever Janelle won the Power of Veto in a week where she wasn't HOH, she used it on herself.
Janelle is the only contestant to have their eviction vote nullified after it had already been cast. In future seasons, contestants who had lost their ability to vote for the week never got to cast one.
Years before ever appearing on Big Brother, Janelle was charged with stealing merchandise from a Macy's store in December 2001. She responded to her arrest warrant only days before entering the Big Brother 6 house.[12]
Janelle is the first, and currently only, four-time player in BBUS history.
Big Brother 22 is the only season where Janelle never won a competition.
Janelle has played three of her four seasons with Kaysar, two of her four seasons with Mike Malin and last two of her four seasons with Ian Terry.
Janelle and Kaysar are the only houseguests to play on both All-Star seasons, Big Brother 7 and 22.
Janelle outlasted Kaysar their first two times, while Mike has outlasted her in both of the two seasons they competed in together, but only two spots higher each time. Despite this, Janelle still has a higher placing average than Mike.
Mike successfully voted against her both times.
Janelle was outlasted by Ian both times, with Ian voting against her to be evicted.
Janelle was the first person to accomplish this, and is only one to not make it to finale night twice, due to the format being different when she accomplished this feat.
Janelle has Japanese ancestry from her maternal grandmother's side, making her 1/8 Japanese.[13][14][15]
