Kyland Young

Kyland Young
Houseguest Profile
Nickname	Ky
Born	July 13, 1991 (1991-07-13)
Hometown	San Bernardino County, CA; Venice Beach, CA
Occupation	Account Executive
Season History
Big Brother 23 (US)
Status	Jury Member
Place	4th
Votes Against	3
Alliances	The Cookout The Royal Flush The Slaughterhouse The Mafia Two Sweet The Butchers The Detectives The Connect The Flop
Loyalties	Derek Frazier Sarah Beth Steagall
Team	Queens
HoH Wins	3 (Weeks 2, 6, & 10)
Times Nominated	5 (Weeks 1, 8, 11, Days 52 & 65)
Veto Wins	3 (Weeks 6, 10, & Day 71)
Days	79
Social Media
Twitter	kylandyoung
Instagram	kylandyoung
Youtube	@Kyland-Young
Articles Across
The Challenge Wiki	Link

Kyland Young was a houseguest on Big Brother 23 (US).

A member of the Queens, Kyland had an eventful first week in the house. He was one of the many targets in Frenchie French's HOH reign, completely blindsided by his nomination. Kyland survived the week, thanks to Derek Xiao winning the veto and taking the former off of the block, and exacted revenge the next week when he won Head of Household. He was then able to solidify a strong protection around him as the secret Cookout alliance formed and would become the dominant force in the house, with the goal of guaranteeing the first Black winner in the show’s history. Kyland helped contribute to that goal by winning several more competitions, and convincing his other allies outside the Cookout when they were in power to avoid going after its members. Though effective, it did not earn him a lot of goodwill, as some were unhappy with both his tact and emotional manipulation.

Despite those criticisms, Kyland got to the final six with the Cookout in a very good spot to win the game. After winning HoH for the third time, he was caught between two finale deals: One with the men (Xavier Prather and Derek Frazier) and one with two of the women (Tiffany Mitchell and Hannah Chaddha). Unfortunately for the latter, Kyland had convinced himself that he wanted to end the game beating the greatest of the season, and decided to keep Xavier so that the two of them could face off in the end. He protected his fellow ally through the second double eviction, and was visualizing a spot in those Final Two chairs by Week 11. But, unbeknownst to Kyland, Xavier had other plans as he had viewed Kyland as a bigger threat in competition, compared to Azah Awasum, and slyly convinced Derek F. to evict Kyland. In his last minutes in the house, Kyland argued with Xavier in a tense and personal conversation, going so far as to tell him that he could no longer be an inspiration to his nephew outside of the game. He placed 4th and became the 8th member of the Jury.

Biography

Kyland Young Biography

Kyland Young Age: 29 Hometown: San Bernardino County, California Current City: Venice Beach, California Occupation: Account Executive Three words that describe you: Optimistic, dynamic, and engaging. Favorite activities: Movies. I’m a HUGE movie fan, especially watching them at the theater. Popcorn is literally my favorite food, and I have a theater membership pass, which I typically use to see upwards of four movies each month. Also, games. Whether chess, escape rooms, football, or poker, I LOVE to compete in pretty much any type of games! And finally, trying new things! I love finding activities, sports, and places that can provide a unique and/or exciting experience. This attitude, (plus a whole lot of luck), is why I’ve been able to try skydiving, trapeze, surfing, sailing, magic tricks, slacklining, rock climbing, cliff diving, plane flying, car racetrack driving, skeet shooting, parkour, fire walking, axe throwing, and so much more! Having tried all these things, and always looking for new things to try, are also the reasons why I have so much trouble answering this question! ;) Who are your favorite Houseguest duos? Those who became best friends in the Big Brother house or had a showmance? I love the Hitmen! Derrick is one of my all-time favorite players, and I appreciated the loyalty and friendliness of Cody. Although I personally am not a big fan of Cody (Season 19), I did love his showmance with Jessica to the point I was excited to see him win his way back in to reunite with her, even if only for a short time. I also loved Tyler’s double duos in Season 20: he had a showmance with Angela, (which I am happy to see still going strong), but he was most loyal to his final two deal with Kaycee. I’m a fan of well-rounded strong players and loyalty. What are you most excited about living inside the Big Brother house? I am most excited about playing the game of Big Brother! I don’t care about being on TV, and I often forget about the fact there is a cash prize for winning. When I think about Big Brother, I get excited about the competitions and the social strategies that can help you win! I have always been good at building relationships and being persuasive, however, to have those things gamified in a way that I can be ranked by how well I do it, is like an injection into my competitive blood! I get goosebumps and a huge smile as I write this out and think about the Hunger Games-like dynamic of building trust and alliances with people all while being aware there is only ONE winner and you will have to turn on each other at some point. As a longtime fan, I’ve heard all the players talk about how everything is more difficult than they thought, but I love to be challenged, so that prospect only leaves me more intrigued! What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house? I think the most difficult part for me will be not knowing anything about what’s happening with my family. I am extremely close to my family! I lost my grandfather this January, and as the grandchild who was the closest to them, that was incredibly challenging. My grandmother is fortunately in good health and living in an elderly community center where she has lots of friends, plus a staff that is attentive; however, with her and my grandparents on my father’s side all being in their eighties, it will be difficult not to worry about them. Also, with the closest of my four sisters living more than three hours from my mom, and my other sisters all living in different states, I am heavily relied upon by my siblings to see my mom as often as possible since they cannot. To not be in contact and available to assist them with anything for the whole summer is definitely something I can imagine getting to me on an emotional level. What is your favorite past moment on Big Brother? I’m sure this is a cliche answer, but it’s hard not to be blown away by Dan’s funeral play in Season 14!! I remember watching that season for the first time a couple of years ago, and I was already aware of his getting second place in that season, and I remember watching the proceeding interactions and screaming out loud as I watched “How in the !@$* is he going to get himself out of this situation!!!” I don’t only find it impressive, but it genuinely inspires me to the point of craving an opportunity to make a game move that just approaches such a legendary status as that one! Frankie’s solo Battle of the Block win in Season 16 is another honorable mention that does bring me to tears, even in the rewatch! What is your strategy for winning the game? My strategy is to combine the subtle influence of Derrick, with Cody’s charm, Dan’s strategic thinking, and hold back on showing how good I am at competitions until I have to (hopefully not needed until the end, like Kaycee in Season 20). I know that sounds like such a vague idealistic plan, but I genuinely believe that I have each of those attributes/capabilities I am describing. I have been studying the game and preparing mentally and physically to an unreasonable amount. However, I believe I have the restraint and tact to not give away that I’m as good as I think I will be. I’m well aware this all sounds arrogant, but I feel like knowing this, and the self-awareness I employ in my life in general makes me feel this is all possible. My life’s motto is… “Being realistic is the most commonly travelled route to mediocrity.” “Destiny is obligated by universal law to concede to the demands of unwavering faith!” “Gratitude is everything!” What would you take into the house and why? -My Black Panther necklace! I’m a huge superhero fan in general, but T’challa is a Black king of the wealthiest, smartest, and most powerful nation in the world. As a Black man, it’s difficult to explain how significant that is, and how the necklace helps me feel empowered and inspired to be a positive force and example to others. -My bracelet that says “UNREALISTIC.” I have not taken it off since I got it five years ago, because it reminds me of the motto I mentioned in the previous question (being realistic is the most commonly travelled route to mediocrity.) -My favorite popcorn! If I can’t watch movies all summer long, I would love to have my favorite snack that can help me go back to my happy place in my mind! Fun facts about yourself: -I’ve done two firewalks across coals/embers heated to more than 1000°F. -I read all the Twilight books (started in high school to have conversations with some senior girls who loved them, but finished them all because I got hooked). -I have four sisters. -I went to skydiving school. -I’m pretty sure I’m a Jedi and any day I will be able to move objects using the Force. -My favorite food is popcorn. -I use a fake police badge to skip all the lines at Comic-Con since it’s the only place where you can “legally” pretend to be a cop. -I’ve seen every Best Picture Oscar film of the last 20 years! -I work for an app company that helps students find and win scholarships and other funds to help pay for their education.

Player History - Big Brother 23 (US)

Competition History

Week 1	HOH Part 1	Loss
	HOH Part 2	Ineligible
	HOH Part 3	Ineligible
	Wildcard	Loss
	POV	Loss
Week 2	HOH	Win
	Wildcard	Ineligible
	POV	Loss
Week 3	HOH	Previous HOH
	Wildcard	Ineligible
	POV	Not Picked
Week 4	HOH	Loss
	Wildcard	Ineligible
	POV	Not Picked
Week 5	HOH	Loss
	POV	Loss
Week 6	HOH	Win
	High Roller	Win
	POV	Loss
	POV Bet	Win
Week 7	HOH	Previous HOH
	High Roller	Ineligible
	POV	Not Picked
Week 8	HOH	Loss
	High Roller	Ineligible
	HOH Coin Toss	Ineligible
	POV	Loss
Week 9	HOH	Loss
	POV	Not Picked
	HOH	Loss
	POV	Not Picked
Week 10	HOH	Win
	POV	Win
	HOH Part 1	Previous HOH
	HOH Part 2
	POV	Win
Week 11	HOH	Loss
	POV	Loss

Have/Have-Not History

Week 1	Have
Week 2	Have
Week 3	Have-Not
Week 4	Have
Week 5	Have
Week 6	Have
Week 7	Have-Not
Week 8	Have
Week 9	Have
Week 10	Have/Have-Not Phase Over
Week 11

BB Bucks History

	Beg. Bal	Gain/Loss		End Bal.
Week 1	Twist Not Active
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6	0	+50	-50	=0
Week 7	0	+50	-0	=50
Week 8	50	+50		=100
	100	+100	-0	=200
Week 9	BB Bucks Phase Over
Week 10
Week 11

• After the conclusion of the Week 8 Head of Household competition, all houseguests randomly chose an envelope to open after receiving their weekly payment from America. In addition to the 50 BB Bucks from America, the envelope granted Kyland 100 BB Bucks.

Voting History

Week	Position	Voted for	With Majority?
1	Vetoed	Travis Long	Yes
2	HOH	–	–
3	–	Brent Champagne	Yes
4	–	Whitney Williams	Yes
5	–	Christian Birkenberger	Yes
6	HOH/POV	–	–
7	–	Claire Rehfuss	No
8	Nominated	–	–
9	–	Claire Rehfuss	Yes
	Post-POV Nominee	–	–
10	HOH/POV	–	–
	POV Holder	Hannah Chaddha	Yes
11	Nominated	–	–
Finale	Jury Member	Xavier Prather	Yes

HOH History

	Original Nominees		Post-Veto Nominees		Intended Target
Week 2	Britini	Frenchie	Britini	Evicted Frenchie	Frenchie
Week 6	Claire	Derek F	Evicted Britini	Derek F	Claire	THEN	Britini
Week 10	Hannah	Tiffany	Hannah	Evicted Tiffany	Tiffany

Post Big Brother

• After Big Brother 23 (US), Todrick Hall hosted a wrap party for the cast and let some of them stay at his house for a few weeks of the post-season, even having them house-sit while he was away. Eventually, Kyland moved in with him full-time, including house-sitting during Todrick's stint on Celebrity Big Brother 3 (US) the following winter, but moved out at some point before Todrick sold the house in May 2024.
• During BB23, a tweet was found with Kyland identifying himself as pansexual. However in a podcast interview during Big Brother 24 (US), he clarified that he actually identifies as a heterosexual.
• Kyland returned in Big Brother 24 with the rest of The Cookout alliance to discuss the season during Week 11's eviction episode.
• From their mutual connection to Todrick, Kyland had a brief fling with Celebrity Big Brother 18 (UK) finalist Aubrey O'Day in November 2022.
• Sometime after the premiere of Big Brother 25 (US), Kyland began an undefined relationship with Big Brother 24 winner/AFP Taylor Hale.
• During the launch special for The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion, Kyland revealed that he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. He further elaborated on his diagnosis during the second episode of the season, revealing that he received his diagnosis after Big Brother. This retroactively makes him the fourth contestant to be diagnosed with autism, following Ian Terry, Britini D'Angelo and Amber Borzotra.
• Kyland and his close friends from The Challenge, Nurys Mateo and Horacio Gutiérrez Jr., appeared during The Soccer Tournament in June 2024. Horacio was competing on the Raleigh Rebels Football Club team, while Kyland and Nurys joined the team as content creators.
• Kyland and Taylor are rumored to be competing on the thirty-eighth season of The Amazing Race featuring BB alumni and their loved ones, as the only pair with two alumni. Former alumni Angela Murray, Chelsie Baham, Enzo Palumbo, Hannah Chaddha, Izzy Gleicher, Jag Bains, Joseph Abdin, Kathryn Dunn, Natalie Negrotti, Rubina Bernabe, Taylor Hale, Tucker Des Lauriers and Matt Turner are also rumored to be competing.

The Challenge

Kyland's Cast Photo for The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras

• Kyland competed on the first season of The Challenge: USA, CBS's spin-off of the flagship MTV series, which featured Big Brother, Survivor, The Amazing Race and Love Island contestants. Fellow BB23 houseguests Alyssa, Azah, Derek X, Tiffany and Xavier also competed, alongside Angela Rummans, David Alexander and Enzo Palumbo. In Episode 7, he was randomly paired with Love Island's Kyra Green and they ended up getting eliminated.
• Kyland and Alyssa were set as alternates for The Challenge: World Championship, but they never got sent to location and were simply on standby. Had either of them competed, they would have competed alongside Amber Borzotra and Kaycee Clark while playing as Global MVPs, and gotten paired up with a Challenge Legend themselves.
• Kyland, Hannah and BB24's Joseph Abdin were standby alternates for the second season of The Challenge: USA. Had any of them competed, they would have competed alongside Alyssa L and Tiffany returning from Season 1, as well as Paulie Calafiore, Josh Martinez and Faysal Shafaat representing the flagship MTV series, and Tyler Crispen, Alyssa Snider, Ameerah Jones and Monte Taylor representing Big Brother as rookies.
• Kyland competed on The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion alongside HaAh HaGadol VIP 3 winner Asaf Goren and Big Brother 17 (UK) runner-up Hughie Maughan. He ended up getting eliminated in Episode 16 alongside Horacio Gutiérrez Jr. in a Double Elimination.
  • In Episode 10, he was nominated for Elimination and during the deliberation, he quoted Dan Gheesling's famous funeral speech.
• Kyland competed on The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras alongside Paulie, Josh and Kaycee, representing "Era IV" of The Challenge. Following the teams being disbanded at the end of Episode 9, Kyland ended up winning three of the eight individual daily challenges, and became both the last "Era IV" man standing, and the last Big Brother representation on the season once Josh was eliminated in Episode 14. He would then reach the Final Challenge, a first for his Challenge career. This Final Challenge focused heavily on swimming and Kyland struggled, finishing fourth place in all but two of the seven checkpoints, where he instead got third. Ultimately, he finished the season in fourth place and did not receive any cut of the prize money.

Kyland's Cast Photo for The Challenge: USA 1

Kyland's Cast Photo for The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion

Trivia

• Kyland is the first person to win HOH twice on Big Brother 23 (US).
• Kyland and Sarah Beth Steagall are the second and third houseguests to be nominated twice in one eviction cycle, following Kaycee Clark.
• Kyland is the sixth Houseguest to win an HOH and POV in the same week twice, following Danielle Murphree, Andy Herren, Frankie Grande, Paul Abrahamian, and Cody Calafiore.
• Kyland, along with Xavier, holds the record for the most competition wins among African-Americans in a single season, with 6 wins.
  • He also holds the record for the most compeition wins among all Hispanic-American Houseguests in a single season
• Kyland is the seventh African-American in Big Brother to win 2 HoH's following Marcellas Reynolds, Marvin Latimer, Kalia Booker, Danielle Lickey, Omarosa Manigault and Ricky Williams. They would be followed by Tiffany Mitchell, Xavier Prather, Monte Taylor, and Taylor Hale.
  • He is the first, African-American houseguest to win 3 HOHs. He would be followed by Xavier Prather and Monte Taylor.
• Kyland is the third houseguest, following Diane Henry and Frank Eudy, to win the Power of Veto during both parts of a Double Eviction.
• Kyland is the only member of The Cookout who was not interviewed for the Big Brother: 25th Anniversary Celebration ahead of Big Brother 25 (US), as he was away filming The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion at the time.
• Kyland, along with Britini D'Angelo are the third and fourth houseguests to compete with autism, following Ian Terry and Amber Borzotra.

References

Big Brother 23 (US) Houseguests
Xavier Derek F Azah Kyland Hannah Tiffany Alyssa Claire Sarah Beth Derek X Britini Christian Whitney Brent Frenchie Travis Winner Runner-Up Jury Evicted