The very first Big Brother contestant, Cassandra Waldon, has died at 56-years-old from a tragic car accident. She competed on the debut season of Big Brother back in 2000. Not only was she one of the contestants on the first season in the US, but she was also the very first Big Brother contestant to enter the house.
Big Brother, a television reality game show that was originally based on a Dutch series of the same name, created a fan following that hasn’t let up since its debut in 2000. The “HouseGuests” or contestants live together in a custom-built home that is monitored under constant surveillance to compete for the $500,000 grand prize. The US version has been the longest-running adaptation to date as it’s just finished its 21st season. Waldon was one of the ten original houseguests to compete on season 1. When Waldon first entered the house she was 37-years-old.
According to TMZ, Waldon passed away on September 25th from injuries related to a car accident in Rome. The Big Brother alum had been working at the United Nations as its Director of Communications for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Waldon was living and working in Rome, Italy during the time of the car accident. A source at the UN, where Waldon worked, revealed that the former Big Brother houseguest was struck by a car about two months ago. The accident had seriously injured Waldon and she suffered a head injury. According to the source, Waldon’s brain trauma was so severe, she never regained consciousness before her death at 56-years-old. According to TMZ, Waldon’s funeral will be held next weekend in her home state of Maryland.
Waldon was not only apart of the premiere US cast for the hit CBS show, but she was also the very first contestant to ever step foot into a Big Brother house on US soil. According to fans, there is a “First to Enter Curse” that plagues the players who are the first to step foot in the house. In all of the non-celebrity seasons of Big Brother in the US and Canada, every contestant that has crossed the threshold first has ever won the competition. Even though Waldon didn’t win the season, she did make it to day 72 before being banished from the house in 6th place.
It seems that even though it’s been 19 years since the premiere season has aired, there are plenty of fans mourning the loss of one of the show’s premiere contestants. The ambitious and intelligent Waldon had left her mark on the reality TV competition. As the premiere contestant to enter on the premiere season of Big Brother US, she will be remembered. RIP Cassandra Waldon.
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Source: TMZ
