“Big Brother”’s Haley Thogmartin Shares How She Really Feels About Getting Eliminated in Surprise Twist (Exclusive)

Haley Thogmartin, a contestant on the latest season of Big Brother, has opened up about her surprising exit following the show’s milestone 1,000th episode. The 29-year-old’s elimination came as part of an unexpected medieval-themed twist that deviated from the traditional eviction process fans have come to know. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Thogmartin reflected on her experiences within the house and her feelings about the unconventional nature of her departure.

The twist introduced a unique set of challenges rather than the standard Head of Household or Power of Veto competitions. Contestants were required to navigate a series of medieval-themed competitions, with the ultimate victor granted the authority to determine who would be eliminated. Dee Valladares emerged victorious in the initial safety challenge, opting to protect fellow Survivor star Rick Devens. This decision left Thogmartin and Drew Campbell to compete against each other in the following round. Despite her best efforts, Thogmartin was ultimately chosen to leave by her fellow housemate, Yash Patel.

Reflecting on her exit, Thogmartin admitted that the most challenging part of her experience was not having the chance to say goodbye to her friends in the house. “Not being able to say goodbye to some of the people that you were close with in the house was probably the hardest part,” she stated, explaining that she had formed strong bonds and wanted to offer them words of encouragement as the competition continued. “Just to kind of give them that encouragement… I think that was just hard,” she added.

During her time in the house, Thogmartin faced difficulties in striking a balance between her emotional well-being and the competitive aspects of the game. Despite her side often being in a position of power, she found it challenging to maintain her composure and stay centred. “I had a hard time separating the emotional and the mental aspects of the game,” she noted, indicating that her experiences often felt deeply personal. “I just took a lot of things personally… I just didn’t feel like I could find my footing for the longest time,” she elaborated.

Although her departure came earlier than she had anticipated, Thogmartin expressed pride in her determination and resilience throughout the season. She emphasised her commitment to play hard, even amidst the unforeseen challenges presented by the twist that led to her exit. “I fought hard,” she affirmed, reiterating her dedication to the game.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, Thogmartin revealed that she is rooting for Rick Devens to secure the $750,000 prize, praising his effective social game. “I think that he has played the best personal game… He’s also not scared to shake things up,” she remarked, expressing her admiration for his strategic choices during the competitions.

Since returning to the outside world, Thogmartin has taken time to reconnect with her family and friends while also reminiscing about her time in the Big Brother house. She has learned about fellow housemate Jason De Puy’s impersonation of her during his own eviction and expressed enthusiasm for his creativity. “Honestly, he is such a unique and fun individual… I give him nothing but praise,” she noted, highlighting the joy she finds in his performances.

In a light-hearted update, Thogmartin also mentioned the nickname “Thog” that emerged during her time on the show, a shortened version of her last name. “I just kind of thought it was funny,” she said, adding that she is accustomed to the nickname from previous coaches throughout her life, who often found her full surname difficult to pronounce.

As the season progresses, fans of Big Brother can continue to tune in to witness the drama unfold, with new episodes airing on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Additionally, episodes of Big Brother: Unlocked are available every Friday at 8 p.m., with all episodes streaming the following day on Paramount+. With the direct competition continuing and plenty of unexpected twists in store, viewers can look forward to what lies ahead in the game.