Rubina Bernabe, 35, exited Big Brother 26 on October 10, 2024. Makensy Manbeck's Power of Veto win led to Rubina's departure, leaving Makensy, Chelsie Baham, and Cam Sullivan-Brown as the final three contestants competing for $750,000. The Los Angeles based bartender became the 13th elimination and the sixth jury member.
In her exit interview with host Julie Chen-Moonves, Rubina shared insights on her gameplay strategy and future plans. She discussed her alliance approach, showmance with Tucker Des Lauriers, and expectations for life after the show. Rubina's eviction marks a key shift in the season's final week, with the jury now set to decide the winner during the October 13 live finale.
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Rubina muses on her experience after being evicted from Big Brother 26
After getting evicted from Big Brother 26, Rubina's reaction suggested she had anticipated this outcome. In her exit interview, she stated, "I can't say that I'm surprised," and elaborated on the shifting dynamics within the house. Rubina observed,
"It was giving that energy towards the last five. I was like, 'This feels a little like a final three,' when it was Kimo who was going to go. Then, I inevitably thought it might be me next, but I wanted it to be three women at the end."
Throughout her time in the Big Brother house, Rubina employed a strategy that emphasized women's empowerment and strong alliances. She revealed that had she remained in the game and won the final Head of Household competition, her plan was to take Makensy to the final two.
Rubina explained her reasoning, stating,
"I am not afraid of sitting next to another strong, amazing woman and I'm all about women empowerment. I would hold true to that."
When questioned about her preference for Makensy over Chelsie, Rubina cited a stronger personal connection.
"We've gone a really long time in this game together," she said. "I just feel closer to her than I do Chelsie. I know that's not how you're supposed to play the game, but I lean into how I feel a lot."
Post-show plans and reflections
In her exit interview, Rubina offered candid reflections on her Big Brother experience and hinted at her plans for life after the show. She described her time in the house as "by far the craziest" experience of her life. She stated,
"Humbled, blessed, grateful to even have the opportunity to make it this far. I'm shocked. There is no experience like this. I've gone through crazy things and this is by far the craziest. I wouldn't change it for anything,"
A significant aspect of Rubina's Big Brother journey involved her showmance with fellow houseguest Tucker Des Lauriers. When asked about the potential for a relationship outside the house, Rubina expressed cautious optimism.
"I just hope that there's an opportunity there at all. I hold no expectations, but it was really cool to meet someone after four long years of not meeting anyone! It was really nice to make that connection," she said.
Rubina also reflected on how her showmance with Tucker impacted her game after his eviction. She noted,
"In that moment I thought, 'Oh my gosh! Am I next? That would make sense.' But, after that it did become easier for me to focus all my energy on the game than on trying to resist a relationship."
Elimination and aftermath
The pivotal moment of Rubina's eviction unfolded when Makensy Manbeck secured victory in the Power of Veto competition. This win granted Makensy sole authority over the week's eviction vote, a power she wielded to eliminate Rubina from the game.
The decision came as a surprise to viewers, who had witnessed discussions of a potential all-female alliance in previous episodes.
Rubina's eviction solidifies her position as the sixth member of the Big Brother 26 jury house. She joins Quinn Martin, T'Kor Clottey, Leah Peters, Angela Murray, and Kimo Apaka in this crucial role. The jury's responsibility now lies in determining the winner of the $750,000 prize during the live finale scheduled for October 13, 2024.
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