Janelle Pierzina
Janelle Marie Pierzina (born January 10, 1980) is an American reality show personality known for her appearances on the sixth, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-second seasons of the reality show Big Brother and the thirty-first season of The Amazing Race. In 2022, Pierzina was a co-winner of the USA Network competition series Snake in the Grass.[1][2]
Janelle Pierzina | |
|---|---|
| Born | Janelle Marie Pierzina January 10, 1980 Grand Rapids, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Television |
|
| Spouse | Jess DeSanto (m. 2010) |
| Children | 3 |
Career
2005–2022: Appearances in reality television shows
In 2005, Pierzina was one of fourteen contestants on Big Brother 6. Her secret partner was former roommate, Ashlea Evans.[3] Pierzina came in third, being evicted on September 16, 2005, Day 76. Pierzina also starred in the documentary Nautical Angels.[4] Before appearing on Big Brother, Pierzina was an actress, model, and cocktail waitress.[5]
In the summer of 2006, Pierzina was chosen by the viewers to participate in Big Brother 7: All-Stars[6] and entered the house on July 3, 2006. Pierzina was eventually evicted on Day 67, again taking third place and becoming a member of the seven-contestant jury. On September 12, 2006, the final day of Big Brother 7:All-Stars, Pierzina was named the winner of the final America's Choice vote, a $25,000 prize to a jury member. Popular with fans, Pierzina won every America's Choice award during Big Brother 6.[citation needed]
In September, 2007, Pierzina returned to host the Power Of Veto competition in the Big Brother 8 house.[7] On August 9, 2008, in the Big Brother 10 house, Pierzina again returned to participate in the week's food competition. Along with other BB alumni, including Mike "Boogie" Malin and Danielle Reyes, Janelle returned to Big Brother in September 2009 for a roundtable discussion of Big Brother 11.[citation needed]
In 2012, Pierzina returned once again to the Big Brother house for the show's 14th season. She was the fourth contestant evicted.[8]
After her appearance on Big Brother All Stars, Pierzina won the VH1 Big Reality Star of '06 award.[9] She was named the biggest "winner" of Big Brother by BuddyTV based on number of combined Head of Household and Power of Veto competition victories during her first two seasons with 12.5.[10]
She competed on the 31st season of The Amazing Race with her teammate Britney Haynes,[11] another former contestant from Big Brother.[12] They were the fourth team eliminated from the race.[13]
In August 2020, it was announced that Pierzina would once again be a houseguest for Big Brother 22: All-Stars,[14] which is also the series' second All-Stars season.[15] She was the third contestant to be evicted.[16]
In 2022, Pierzina appeared on the reality competition series Snake in the Grass, where she competed with teammates Rachel Reilly, Cirie Fields, and Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick.[17] She was the co-winner with Fields and Reilly.
Personal life
In 2000, Pierzina was convicted of a misdemeanor DWI infraction in Minnesota, for which she was fined and sent to an alcohol-awareness program. In 2001 she was charged with and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft from Macy's, for which she was fined.[18][19][20]
Pierzina is now a real estate agent in Minnesota for Edina Realty.[21]
In August 2013, Pierzina gave birth to her second child, a boy.[22] In April 2014, Pierzina confirmed that she was expecting her third child.[23] In September 2014, she gave birth to a girl.[24]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Like Mike | Cheerleader #13 | |
| 2003 | Bruce Almighty | Woman at party |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Friends | Patron in coffee shop | Season 8, episode 10: "The One with Monica's Boots"; uncredited |
| 2002 | Charmed | Woman on Wizard's Lap | Season 4, episode 19: "We're Off to See the Wizard"; uncredited |
| Son of the Beach | Girl on beach | Season 3, episode 14: "Bad News, Mr. Johnson"; uncredited | |
| 2004 | Las Vegas | Van Damme's girlfriend | Season 1, episode 15: "Die Fast, Die Furious" |
| 2005–2020 | Big Brother | Herself | Seasons 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 22; 89 episodes |
| 2005 | Nautical Angels | Documental | |
| 2013 | Big Brother Canada | Season 1, episode 23 | |
| 2019 | The Amazing Race | Season 31, episodes 1–8, 11 | |
| 2022 | Snake in the Grass | Season 1, episode 5: "Survivor vs. Big Brother" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Fox Reality Awards | Nominated | Favorite Hottie[25] | Big Brother 7: All-Stars |
| VH1 Big Awards | Won | Big Reality Star[26] |
References
- ^ "Reality Stars Cirie Fields, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Janelle Pierzina, and Rachel Reilly Break Down a Chaotic 'Snake in the Grass' Episode". Parade. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
- ^ "Why One Snake In The Grass Contestant Wasn't At All Fooled By Their Former Reality Show Co-Star's Deception". Cinema Blend. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
- ^ "Identities of the Seven Secret Pairs Competing in "Big Brother 6" Revealed Last Night". The Futon Critic. Retrieved July 15, 2005.
- ^ "Nautical Angels". Bigfoot Studios. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- ^ . Realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ^ "CBS reveals Big Brother 7 contenders + reality blurred". Realityblurred.com. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ "Eric cries over Jessica and calls Janelle "Miss Piggy" + reality blurred". Reality Blurred. Realityblurred.com. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ 'Big Brother' evicts returning houseguest Janelle Pierzina and determines fifth HoH
- ^ , VH1, accessed December 16, 2008
- ^ John Kubicek. "BuddyTV Slideshow | The Biggest Winners in 'Big Brother' History". Buddytv.com. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (April 5, 2019). "Meet the Amazing Race season 31 reality all-star teams". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
- ^ Pedersen, Eric (April 5, 2019). "CBS Moves 'Amazing Race' Premiere Up A Month, Bumps 'Million Dollar Mile' To Saturdays". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
- ^ Davidson, Denton; Eng, Joyce (May 22, 2019). "'The Amazing Race' episodes 5 and 6 recap: The dreaded Head-to-Head returns to take out… [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]". Gold Derby. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ "'Big Brother' All-Stars Edition Debuts With A Two-Hour Live Move-In Premiere Event Wednesday, August 5, 9:00–11:00 PM On CBS" (Press release). July 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (August 5, 2020). "Big Brother: All-Stars cast photo gallery revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ Fowle, Kyle (August 27, 2020). "Big Brother recap: Sadly, Jaysar is finally split up, and a new HOH is on the way". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ June 23, Dalton Ross; EDT, 2022 at 12:00 PM. "'Survivor' and 'Big Brother' stars to appear on 'Snake in the Grass'". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Time Waster (19 July 2012). ""Big Brother" Contestant Was Wanted Woman". The Smoking Gun. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ^ "Legal woes of 'Big Brother' star revealed". UPI.com. 2005-07-21. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ^ "Breaking Celeb News, Entertainment News, and Celebrity Gossip | E! Online UK". Eonline.com. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ^ "Janelle Pierzina | Edina Realty".
- ^ "Former Big Brother Contestant Janelle Pierzina Gives Birth to Baby Boy! | E! Online UK". Eonline.com. 2013-08-10. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ^ Janelle Pierzina [@JanellePierzina] (9 April 2014). "The rumors are true, I'm expecting! Due in October! Thanks BB fans for being such great sports! I just love messing with you :) #Pregnant" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Janelle Pierzina [@JanellePierzina] (26 September 2014). "Stella Rose DeSanto weights 5.11 lbs. we are both doing great! #easylabor #welcometotheworld #6:29am #3" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Fox Reality's First Annual The Reality Remix Really Awards Celebrated What Reality TV is Really All About". Business Wire (Press release). Retrieved November 1, 2006.
- ^ "Janelle Pierzina, Katharine McPhee win VH1's Big in '06 awards". Reality Blurred. 4 December 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2006.
External links
- Janelle Pierzina at IMDb