‘Pinoy Big Brother’ winners: Where are they now?
Pinoy Big Brother (which originated from the Big Brother franchise from the Netherlands in the late ‘90s) has become a springboard for many who want to enter the glitzy world of show business like previous winners Kim Chiu, Melai Cantiveros, James Reid and Maymay Entrata.
The new Pinoy Big Brother: Connect officially started Sunday night and was aired on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z and other streaming platforms.
The reality show, which is currently in its ninth main season (and 15th overall season), somehow mirrors the lives of many during the lockdowns brought by the pandemic—locked up at home sans the omniscient Big Brother.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality show pushed through with its auditions in early October for the new seaso, held via online streaming platform Kumu.
There were 12 housemates who were welcomed inside the house on Sunday but it was announced that three more will be added to the bunch after they finish the mandatory quarantine period. An additional three other hopefuls, which will be chosen by Kumu viewers, will also be part of the show.
After 14 seasons, the reality show has also thrust other non-winners into the spotlight but became celebrities like Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby, Maris Racal, Jayson Gainza, Sam Pinto and vlogger Wil Dasovich.
Other winners initially ventured into showbiz after their win but eventually chose to move into a slightly different path, some of them away from entertainment.
Here’s a look at previous Pinoy Big Brother winners and where they are today.
Nene Tamayo Plamio
Nene Tamayo, who hails from Romblon, is the first ever grand winner of Pinoy Big Brother in 2005. She was named “Kumander Nene” inside the house as she was a corps commander of all the University of the East campuses, where she took up Computer Engineering.
After her stint in PBB, she had several TV projects in ABS-CBN and set up a few businesses along the way. Eventually, she focused on her still thriving bottled food business, Nene Prime Foods, which started with her love for Spanish sardines and cooking.
She is married to dance choreographer Anthony Plamio and they have a 13-year-old son.
Keanna Reeves
Keanna was a hot topic in 2004 after she came out publicly and revealed that she was a private escort, whose clients included politicians. In 2006, she was cast as one of the housemates for the first Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition, which she eventually won.
After PBB, she dabbled in showbiz, the latest was a recurring role on ABS-CBN’s Home Sweetie Home. In 2018, after a conflict with the owner of the food park where she regularly performed, Keanna was arrested for cyber libel. She was released after posting bail.
Today, she’s inactive in showbiz but updates her followers through her vlogs on her YouTube channel, where she collaborates with other showbiz personalities.
Bea Saw
Bea Saw from Camarines Sur was declared the Big Winner of PPB’s second season in 2007. She has surpassed Kim Chiu’s record (from the first Teen Edition) for the most number of votes earned by a Big Winner, which was 1.5 million votes.
Bea also made a mark with the audience with her classic line, “Ang respect, hindi yan ini-impose; ine-earn yan,” while in a confrontation with another housemate. The said clip resurfaces from time to time on social media.
She had a string of TV and movie appearances under ABS-CBN including My Binondo Girl, Annaliza and One More Chance. Though currently not active in showbiz, she has kept close with her friends like Dimples Romana and Christine Reyes, and also her fellow PBB Season 2 housemates.
Bea married her longtime boyfriend Rock Tan in 2012 and they now have two daughters, Arabella, eight; and Marian, six.
Ruben Gonzaga
Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 winner Ruben Gonzaga of Davao City is known as “Budots King,” who reportedly started the “Budots” dance trend.
After his PBB win, Ruben, who was a segment producer at ABS-CBN Davao before entering the PBB House, worked in several ABS-CBN shows. He also hosted the TV show Agri Tayo Dito until 2018.
Now married and based in Davao City, Ruben runs several businesses, including health and wellness products store Agrihub Health and Wellness Center. He is also the host of Agrihub radio show in Davao.
Slater Young
After 155 days in the PBB House, Slater Young from Cebu was declared the Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited winner in 2012.
Prior to joining PBB, Slater, a civil engineer, worked in his father’s sleel building manufacturing company in Mandaue, hence his moniker “Hotshot Engineer of Cebu.”
Post-PBB, his showbiz credits did not go past 2012 (though he dabbled in a bit of hosting and modeling) but made news again in 2019 after marrying blogger Kryz Uy. The couple welcomed their son, Scottie, this year.
Slater is currently the CEO of Liteblock, a lightweight concrete company based in Cebu. He also has a YouTube channel where he gives tips about building homes.
Miho Nishida
Miho Nishida was one of the favorites to win the Pinoy Big Brother: 737 (Adult) in 2015 and fans were not disappointed as Miho went home as the Big Winner.
Even before leaving the PBB House, Miho had already gained following with her brewing relationship with fellow housemate, model Tommy Esguerra. They eventually split in 2017.
Miho was regularly seen on It’s Showtime with her dance group GirlTrends, had a major concert at the Music Museum and has several brand endorsements after her PBB win.
As a single mom, she currently raises her daughter Aimi and updates her fans about their life through social media and her YouTube channel.