Taylor Hale just added another major magazine moment to her post-“Big Brother” run.
The “Big Brother” 24 winner was named one of Vulture’s “Reality Masterminds,” a new feature spotlighting the stars, hosts, executives, producers, podcasters, and franchises helping shape reality TV right now.
Hale also appeared on the cover tied to the project alongside “Dancing With the Stars” pro Ezra Sosa and “Survivor” legend Parvati Shallow. Hale posed in a black strappy two-piece look with matching garter details.
According to Vulture, the list focuses on achievements from the past year while also taking each person’s larger reality TV trajectory into account.
Taylor Hale Was Honored for Her Post-‘Big Brother’ Rise
Hale’s “Reality Masterminds” placement comes after several years of building a reality TV career beyond her original CBS season.
She entered “Big Brother” season 24 as an early target before gaining stronger footing in the house. Over the course of the season, Hale built key relationships, won competitions, and kept moving forward as other targets took priority around her.
By finale night, Hale won in an 8 to 1 vote. She also won America’s Favorite Houseguest, making her the first “Big Brother” player to win the main game and the fan-voted prize in the same season. She’s also the first Black woman to win the game.
Hale later returned for “Big Brother: Reindeer Games,” where she finished as runner-up. She also competed on “The Amazing Race” in 2025 with fellow “Big Brother” alum Kyland Young.
Her connection to “Big Brother” has continued off the competition floor, too. Hale moderated the jury house deliberations and co-hosted “Big Brother: Unlocked,” the prime-time recap show that aired during season 27.
Vulture also pointed to Hale’s future potential beyond competing.
“If one mastermind can follow the Kristen Kish path from winning to hosting a reality-competition series, it’s Big Brother’s Taylor Hale,” the outlet wrote.
Rob Cesternino, the “Survivor” alum and reality TV podcaster, also praised Hale in the feature.
“She’s so polished I’m surprised that it hasn’t happened yet,” Cesternino told Vulture about her hosting capabilities.
Taylor Hale Has Had 2 Major Magazine Moments This Year
The Vulture cover is Hale’s second major magazine cover of 2026.
Earlier this year, Hale was featured as Playboy’s Miss March 2026. The photoshoot was paired with a personal essay about visibility, consent, and taking control of her image after “Big Brother.”
Hale described the Playboy feature as “an act of reclamation” in the essay.
The moment came after Hale reflected on the intense visibility that follows reality TV contestants. “Big Brother” houseguests are recorded around the clock through live feeds, which can make moments from inside the house circulate far beyond the show itself.
“Choosing to be photographed in this way, now, is a direct engagement with this new reality,” Hale wrote in her Playboy essay, referencing her scantily clad photoshoot.
The magazine feature also included Hale writing that her body is “not public property simply because it was made public before.”
The Full ‘Reality Masterminds’ List Includes Stars, Hosts, and Producers
Vulture’s “Reality Masterminds” list includes a wide range of reality TV personalities, producers, executives, and behind-the-scenes figures.
The full list includes:
- Ariana Madix – “Vanderpump Rules,” “Love Island USA”
- Alan Cumming – “The Traitors”
- Kristen Kish – “Top Chef””
- Michelle Visage – “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
- Parvati Shallow – “Survivor,” “The Traitors”
- Nic Vansteenberghe – “Love Island USA”
- Amaya Espinal – “Love Island USA”
- Taylor Hale – “Big Brother”
- Maura Higgins – “Love Island UK,” “The Traitors”
- Nene Leakes – “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”
- Tiffany “New York” Pollard – “Flavor of Love,” “House of Villains”
- Stacey Rusch – “The Real Housewives of Potomac”
- Ryan Serhant – “Owning Manhattan”
- Witney Carson – “Dancing With the Stars”
- Maksim Chmerkovskiy – “Dancing With the Stars”
- Ezra Sosa – “Dancing With the Stars”
- Jessi Draper – “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”
- Lindsay Hubbard – “Summer House”
- Nick Viall – “The Bachelor,” “The Viall Files”
- Bob the Drag Queen – “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “The Traitors”
- “Boston Rob” Mariano – “Survivor,” “The Traitors”
- Amber Desiree “AD” Smith – “Love Is Blind”
- Rob Cesternino – “Survivor,” “The Traitors”
- Sharon Vuong – Executive Vice President, Unscripted Programming, NBC
- Rachel Smith – Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content, Lifestyle & Documentaries
- Rob Mills – Head of Walt Disney Television Alternative
- Brandon Riegg – Vice President, Nonfiction and Sports, Netflix
- Stephen Lambert – CEO, Studio Lambert
- Yoo Ki-hwan – Director, Netflix Korea
- Jazzy Collins – Casting director
- Cian O’Clery – Director and producer
- Corie Henson – President, Beast Industries Studios
- Chris Coelen – Television creator and producer
- Nathan Fielder – Comedian
- Brooks Marks – “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”
- Riley Burruss – “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”
