"Innocent as a dove and sly as a snake". Those are the words of Danielle
Reyes, one of the most respected Big Brother players of all time, used to
describe her game play. "I played the game, like the others, with the intent to
win".
Danielle sat down with us and shared a very candid and inside
perspective on the game. She discusses the impact that the Big Brother
experience had on her life and compared her two very different BB seasons.
Danielle is the very proud mother of two daughters. The youngest is currently
serving our country in the military and her oldest is a mother of four. We would
all agree that Danielle has now raised the bar on the list of "attractive
grandmothers". She continues to call Fairfield, California home. Danielle fills
her work week managing a five hundred unit residential property. "My daily
interaction with families that each have a unique story is very rewarding. I
feel I continue to grow as an individual as I learn from the nice families I
interact with each and every day. I am fortunate to be able to work with
the fine people I do."
Dedicated fans of Big Brother realize it was Danielle that gave birth
to the concept of the alliance. She, along with Jason Guy, played the game in
Season 3 with a stealth like style...no alliance name needed, no sharing with
others...simply handling business with the goal of reaching the final two.
Danielle did reach the final two but fell short of the big prize. She failed
because, many believe, jury members at the time were not sequestered and were
able to view her private diary sessions from home. Those diary room sessions
were candid and animated, to some extent, for the television audience. As a
result most, with the exception of Jason, voted on emotion and awarded the five
hundred thousand dollars to Lisa Donahue. Danielle is the first to step up and
say she believes Lisa deserved to be there at the end because of the exceptional
social game she played, as well as Danielle's strategic approach. As a
result, producers of Big Brother later instituted the rule that all jury members
are to be sequestered in what is now known as the jury house. George Boswell
spoke with us and asked to include his admiration for her play in Season
3..."without a doubt, Danielle deserved to win that season. There is much talk
of others from various seasons that are considered the ultimate BB players. In
my book though, Danielle is right there at the top with the best in the
game"...says Boswell.
When we addressed the subject with Danielle she harbored no resentment.
She just knows she went into the game and played it as a game...knowing that the
options for everyone to lie, spin and deceive were not exclusive to just her.
"My game was real and raw and I totally enjoyed the experience throughout."
Danielle never watched the previous seasons. Her focus was trying out for her
favorite show Survivor. To date Danielle remains a loyal follower of Jeff
Probst's island game.
Both seasons of play (Season 3 and All-Stars) were quite different to
Danielle. Season 3 was all new to her and each and every aspect of the game was
original to her. The "Sponge Bob" like competition in Season 3 remains her
favorite. Danielle was also one of the houseguests that enjoyed the backyard
concert by singer Sheryl Crow. On the down side, not having a washer and dryer,
tiny refrigerator and cramped quarters added to the daily challenge for her.
Having experienced both sides as a participant and a TV viewer highlights the
fact that while playing the game you are not privy to the vital information on
ALL houseguests that the home viewers are. "The only info we were able to make
decisions on were either our gut feelings or trusting input from others, which
all too often turned out to be untrue. That's what makes the game so difficult
and great at the same time...I absolutely loved the challenge."
To counter the boredom, Danielle spent time cleaning the house. "Let me
tell you, that house needed it." She laughs and mentions that both she and
Chiara were borderline OCD and they battled it throughout together. When
comparing the two seasons, Danielle had concerns going into All-Stars that she
would have a huge target on her back given her reputation as an excellent game
player. The layout for the house was much larger and to her that presented
another challenge to keep an eye on her competitors at all times. It was during
the All-Star season that the iconic Big Brother moment occurred with Danielle
ringing the HOH doorbell. To this day, Danielle looks back at it and gets just
as large a laugh over it as anyone else. "True, it was a zany and crazy moment.
You have to be able to laugh at yourself in life. It keeps us on balance."
In speaking with Danielle it became very apparent she has her
priorities in check. She is able to laugh at herself, recognize her blessings in
her personal life and accept each day as a true gift. She wishes her hectic
schedule would enable her to participate in more charitable work. "One event I
do mark as a priority each year is supporting and participating in the Reality
Rally held each April in Southern California. Gillian Larson, the creator, has
amassed a widely successful weekend fundraising event that supports Michelle's
Place, a cancer resource center in Temecula, CA. The amount of former Big
Brother alumni that gathers from all over the country for that cause each year
is amazing. I'm very proud of them for their kind and unselfish ways."
Looking back Danielle wishes she were able to have a Zingbot visit
during her seasons. She is, however, not a fan of the recent double HOH twist
nor the revised nomination session around the kitchen table..."I like watching
the faces as the keys are pulled." Oddly enough, both our featured former
houseguests Danielle and George, were eliminated on the same evening during
All-Stars. Danielle shared with us that once the Julie Chen interview is
completed you receive a huge sense of relief and your mind set shifts back to
becoming a normal person once again. That evening, both she and George were
returned to the hotel. They enjoyed a nice dinner together, shared some laughs
and were driven the next morning to the jury house.
Would she like to go back if the opportunity presented itself?
"Absolutely! I would love it. Especially if my dear friend Marcellas was
included. Once you experience the game it never truly leaves you. Anyone that
loves a challenge can understand. Big Brother is special. It's unique and I am
so fortunate to have been a part of it along the way. I meet people often that
recognize me from the show and the kind reaction I receive from them is truly
humbling."
You may have felt like you played the game "innocent as a dove and sly
as a snake" but Danielle, as fans of both the game and Danielle Reyes we can
easily say you are one very respected and beautiful ambassador for the Big
Brother entity.
Danielle...we thank you.
