# Nicole Franzel
**Nicole Franzel** (Nicole Ann Franzel-Arroyo) is an American reality television personality from Ubly, Michigan, best known for competing on three seasons of the American *Big Brother*: she was evicted on season 16 in 2014, won season 18 in 2016, and placed third on the All-Stars season 22 in 2020[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/137031/nicole-franzel). She later won the 2023 holiday spinoff *Big Brother Reindeer Games* and competed on *[The Amazing Race 31](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-amazing-race-31)* alongside her husband, fellow season 18 houseguest Victor Arroyo[2](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview) • [3](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Ubly, Michigan[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/137031/nicole-franzel) |
| Big Brother seasons | Season 16 (2014, evicted), season 18 (2016, winner), season 22 All-Stars (2020, third place)[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/137031/nicole-franzel) |
| BB18 result | Won the season 18 final vote 5-4 over runner-up Paul Abrahamian[4](https://bigbrother.fandom.com/wiki/Big_Brother_U.S._%28franchise%29) |
| Historic first | First female houseguest to beat a male houseguest in the final two in the U.S. show's history[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1168012/checking-in-on-22-big-brother-winners-where-are-they-now) |
| Career totals | 3 seasons, 4 Head of Household wins, 3 Power of Veto wins, 10 nominations, 249 days in the house[6](https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/bigbrother-players/nicole-franzel) |
| Other CBS shows | *The Amazing Race 31* (2018, with Victor Arroyo; last team eliminated)[3](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/); *Big Brother Reindeer Games* (2023, winner of the $100,000 prize)[2](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview) |
## Casting and Big Brother 16
Franzel applied to *Big Brother* while in the final year of nursing school at 21, the first year she was eligible. She has described sending in a one-minute audition video filmed on an early iPhone with her mother's help, after initially skipping the Chicago casting call, and receiving a call from Los Angeles the day she submitted it[7](https://nicolefranzelarroyo.substack.com/p/my-personal-casting-experience). At the time she was working as an ER nurse[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1168012/checking-in-on-22-big-brother-winners-where-are-they-now).
On season 16 she was evicted twice, returning through a Battle Back competition before a second eviction ended her game on day 72 of a 97-day season structure[6](https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/bigbrother-players/nicole-franzel). That season's Battle of the Block twist, which allowed dethroning of Head of Household winners, produced a record of her own: she is the first person in [Big Brother](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-brother-american-tv-series) history to win HoH and then be evicted in the same week in a non-double-eviction week[8](https://bigbrother.fandom.com/wiki/Nicole_Franzel).
## Big Brother 18: the winning season
Franzel returned in 2016 for season 18 and reached the final two, defeating runner-up Paul Abrahamian by a 5-4 jury vote[4](https://bigbrother.fandom.com/wiki/Big_Brother_U.S._%28franchise%29). That result made her the first female houseguest to beat a male houseguest in the final two in the U.S. show's history[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1168012/checking-in-on-22-big-brother-winners-where-are-they-now). She spent 92 days in the house that season, winning two Head of Household and two Power of Veto competitions[6](https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/bigbrother-players/nicole-franzel).
During the season she was half of a widely followed showmance with fellow houseguest Corey Brooks. In interviews after the finale, both pointed to uncertainty about pursuing the relationship, with Brooks citing timing and distance: he lived in Dallas while she lived in Michigan[9](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/big-brother-why-nicole-franzel-and-corey-brooks-didnt-work-out/).
## Big Brother 22: All-Stars
In 2020 Franzel entered the second All-Stars season as one of only two former winners in the cast, alongside season 14 champion Ian Terry[10](https://www.tvguide.com/news/big-brother-all-stars-ian-terry-exit-interview/). She joined the season's dominant Committee alliance, whose members included Dani Briones, Tyler Crispen, Cody Calafiore, Christmas Abbott, and Memphis Garrett; when Terry was nominated, the alliance evicted him and Franzel voted to evict as well[10](https://www.tvguide.com/news/big-brother-all-stars-ian-terry-exit-interview/).
She reached the final three, surviving a triple eviction and winning a Head of Household along the way[6](https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/bigbrother-players/nicole-franzel). In the final Head of Household competition she came within one question of reaching the final two, which would have put her in position to become the show's first two-time winner. Instead, her closest ally [Cody Calafiore](https://www.edgepedia.org/cody-calafiore) cut her in the season's final move, and she became the last member of the jury[11](https://parade.com/1113537/mikebloom/nicole-franzel-big-brother-22-evicted-interview/). She voted for Calafiore to win, saying she was not a bitter juror and that he deserved the victory[11](https://parade.com/1113537/mikebloom/nicole-franzel-big-brother-22-evicted-interview/). She described the season as the most alone she had played, entering without the trusted partner she had hoped to find[11](https://parade.com/1113537/mikebloom/nicole-franzel-big-brother-22-evicted-interview/).
With 85 days that season, her three stints total 249 days in the house[6](https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/bigbrother-players/nicole-franzel), and she has said she spent more days inside the Big Brother house than any other player in the show's history[2](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview). She is among the small group of players, alongside Janelle Pierzina, Dan Gheesling, Paul Abrahamian, Enzo Palumbo, and Cody Calafiore, to reach the final three twice[8](https://bigbrother.fandom.com/wiki/Nicole_Franzel).
## The Amazing Race 31
In 2018 Franzel and Victor Arroyo, by then a couple, competed on the thirty-first season of *The Amazing Race*, which pitted former racers against alumni of *Big Brother* and *Survivor*[3](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/). They were the only non-racer team to adapt successfully to the format, finishing second in three of the first four legs, though they never won a leg. An alliance with Big Brother alumni [Rachel Reilly](https://www.edgepedia.org/rachel-reilly) and Elissa Slater broke down during a train ride through Switzerland over U-Turn rumors, and after a non-elimination leg saved them, they ran to the penultimate leg before being eliminated as the last team[3](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/). Arroyo credited their run to complementary skills and trust; Franzel said being underestimated worked in their favor[3](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/) • [12](https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/big-brother-couple-nicole-franzel-and-victor-arroyo-discuss-their-wedding-plans-and-future-%28exclusive%29-26088.php).
## Big Brother Reindeer Games
Franzel returned to reality television in December 2023 on *Big Brother Reindeer Games*, a six-day holiday spinoff built around competitions. She won the $100,000 prize, defeating Taylor Hale, the season twenty-four winner, in the final competition[2](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview) • [13](https://bigbrothernetwork.com/big-brother-reindeer-games-live-recap-finale/). The season also reunited her with Cody Calafiore and Britney Haynes after years of estrangement; she said she had not spoken to Calafiore in three years and that her grievance centered on his post-finale interviews rather than the eviction-night cut itself[2](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview).
## Personal life
Franzel and Victor Arroyo began their relationship after season 18 and raced together on *The Amazing Race* in 2018[3](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/). She now uses the married name Franzel-Arroyo[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/137031/nicole-franzel), and by the time of *Reindeer Games* she was a mother, breastfeeding her toddler during the six-day shoot[2](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview). She has also written about her casting experience on her own Substack newsletter[7](https://nicolefranzelarroyo.substack.com/p/my-personal-casting-experience).
## References
1. [Nicole Franzel, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/137031/nicole-franzel)
2. [Big Brother Reindeer Games (2023) – Nicole Franzel Winner Interview, Parade](https://parade.com/tv/big-brother-reindeer-games-nicole-franzel-winner-interview)
3. [The Amazing Race 31: Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo Reach Their Tipping Point in London, Parade](https://parade.com/895014/mikebloom/the-amazing-race-31-nicole-franzel-victor-arroyo/)
4. [Big Brother U.S. (franchise), Big Brother Wiki](https://bigbrother.fandom.com/wiki/Big_Brother_U.S._%28franchise%29)
5. [Checking In on 22 Big Brother Winners: Where Are They Now?, E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/news/1168012/checking-in-on-22-big-brother-winners-where-are-they-now)
6. [Nicole Franzel – Big Brother Player Profile, Big Brother Junkies](https://bigbrotherjunkies.com/bigbrother-players/nicole-franzel)
7. [My Personal Casting Experience, Nicole Franzel-Arroyo (Substack)](https://nicolefranzelarroyo.substack.com/p/my-personal-casting-experience)
8. [Nicole Franzel, Big Brother Wiki](https://bigbrother.fandom.com/wiki/Nicole_Franzel)
9. [Big Brother 18: Why Nicole Franzel and Corey Brooks Didn't Work Out, DocumentaryTube](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/big-brother-why-nicole-franzel-and-corey-brooks-didnt-work-out/)
10. [Big Brother All-Stars' Ian Terry Says He 'Doesn't Hold Anything Against' Nicole Franzel After Eviction, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/big-brother-all-stars-ian-terry-exit-interview/)
11. [Big Brother 22: Nicole Franzel Post-Eviction Interview (2020), Parade](https://parade.com/1113537/mikebloom/nicole-franzel-big-brother-22-evicted-interview/)
12. [Big Brother couple Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo discuss their wedding plans and future, Reality TV World](https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/big-brother-couple-nicole-franzel-and-victor-arroyo-discuss-their-wedding-plans-and-future-%28exclusive%29-26088.php)
13. [Big Brother Reindeer Games Live Recap Finale, bigbrothernetwork.com](https://bigbrothernetwork.com/big-brother-reindeer-games-live-recap-finale/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Reality television personalities and media celebrities › Competition reality contestants › House and confinement show contestants*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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