Monty Brinton/CBS
Age: 63
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Current City: Kennesaw, GA
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Felicia is the first woman over 60 to compete on Big Brother.
How does it feel to be on the 25th season of Big Brother?
Well, I'm excited, I'm actually a little nervous because I thought, "It's the 25th season, they're going to do some crazy stuff, something we haven't seen before." I'm sure there's going to be all kinds of surprises, they say, "Expect the unexpected. "Well, for the 25th season, I'm assuming there's going to be a whole lot of that. So I'm excited to be a part of it, but a little nervous about what all of that unexpected could possibly be.
What twists do you think are happening in Big Brother 25?
I can't even imagine what they're going to do. I believe they're going to bring in some old stuff, some new stuff, a combination is tough. And I've racked my brain thinking, "What are they going to do?" It's the 25th season, so I know it's gonna be crazy. And I'm just ready for whatever they throw at us. I think it's going to be exciting, and I can't wait to be a part of it.
Why did you decide you wanted to play Big Brother?
I think part of the reason why I wanted to be in the Big Brother house is to prove to myself. I've always looked at myself as a people person, as a social person, as a relationship person. And this is going to let me know if how I've always seen myself is how other people see me. I believe I know how to strategize and play all the little different things you need to do to get to the end. So I'm going to see if how I see myself, other people see me, and will it carry me to the end?
I know my age and experience is going to be an advantage for me. I'm hoping it's not looked at as a disadvantage to the 20- and 30-somethings in the house. But I genuinely connect with younger people very easily. My son is 24, and so I don't think I'll have a relationship problem. They might just say, "She's old, and we need somebody to go out first. So let's just pick her. Aside from that, I think I'll be able to establish a rapport with everybody in the house. And they may look at me as their go-to person. I'm not intimidated by anybody, because I feel you're only as strong or as weak as you believe you are. And I've always looked at myself as a survivor. And I don't ever let anybody else take my power. So I can only control me.
What are your thoughts on Julie Chen Moonves as a host?
I love Julie, I can't wait to get in the house and hopefully see her and meet her. And I think she's perfect for the show because she's just grown with the show. And I don't know if it would even be the same show without seeing her face every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. She really is the perfect mediator, moderator, announcer whatever you guys want. She's the perfect host for Big Brother.
What is your strategy going into the game?
Again, my strategy is to be my authentic Felicia, build relationships, build trust. And then from there, wherever the game takes me it takes me, have fun. I want to have fun.
How much will you hide about yourself during your time in the house?
I don't know if, right off the bat, I'm going to tell them that I'm 63 years old. Now they'll be able to guess that I'm somewhere around 50, maybe 55. But they won't believe that I'm 63. And I may not tell them that because they might really look at that as, "We can't let this old person stay in here." So I gotta make them believe that I'm a little bit closer to their age. And I also may not tell them I retired twice. Because they might decide, "We can't let her win because she she got two retirement checks." I'm just gonna talk about stuff that I've done, but not say that I'm actually twice retired.
What is your reaction to Big Brother 25 playing out into the fall?
Well, I was just talking today that normally the show ends around August, September, and now we're starting August. We're going into the fall; this will be different. Hanging out by the pool in October will be a little bit different. So what I'm thinking we're going to spend more time inside the house versus outside the house this year.
What makes you most nervous about being in the Big Brother house?
Probably the only thing that really makes me a little nervous is the sloppiness. And I know young people can clutter; I'm a very organized person. And so that will probably be something trying to clean up behind 15 other young people, but I'll work it out. I'll work it out. I'm gonna just manage me.
Why will you win Big Brother 25?
I really believe that I'm going to win because I believe I have all the skill sets and experience in life, and just my ability to again connect and read people. I really believe that my natural self is going to carry me to the end. I believe that.