As Big Brother 27 races toward its dramatic finale, another houseguest has been sent packing just short of the coveted finale night. In an exclusive tell-all with Men’s Journal, Ava Pearl pulls back the curtain on her rollercoaster journey in the house, revealing the truth behind her fractured alliance with Big Brother legend Rachel Reilly, the strategic moves that defined her game, and her take on who’s poised to claim the $750,000 prize. From a controversial eviction decision to that viral arm grab moment, Ava holds nothing back.
Ava entered the Big Brother house with stars in her eyes, striking a Final 2 deal with season 13 winner Rachel Reilly. But what seemed like a rock-solid alliance quickly crumbled under the weight of mistrust. “Our relationship changed during the Rylie [Jeffries] vote,” Ava confesses. “I didn’t like how Rachel talked to me at the eviction. It felt off.” Her suspicions grew when whispers from fellow houseguest Keanu Soto revealed Rachel’s web of overlapping Final 2 deals and secret alliances. “I realized she was throwing my name out there,” Ava says. “I didn’t know if she genuinely wanted to go to the end with me. I needed to be with people I could trust completely.”
That betrayal stung, but it also sharpened Ava’s focus. She pivoted, setting her sights on a new endgame partner: Will Williams. “I was hoping to sit in those final two chairs with Will,” she shares. “He was someone I trusted, and we had a strong bond.” Ava also forged a tight connection with Lauren Domingue, creating a loyal trio that she hoped would carry her deep into the game.
One of Ava’s most talked-about moves came during the White Locust elimination, when she made the shocking decision to pick Vince “Vinny” Panaro over one of her allies. The choice raised eyebrows, but Ava insists it was a strategic masterstroke. “Rachel told me not to pick Lauren, and I wanted to keep Lauren safe,” she explains. “I was hoping Vinny would make the call to pick Lauren, so I wouldn’t get blood on my hands. And that’s exactly what happened.”
The move paid off in ways Ava didn’t anticipate. “Seeing how the game played out, I don’t regret it at all,” she says. “Rachel was in an alliance with Vinny that I wasn’t part of. If I’d made a different choice, I might not have reached the top four.” By letting Vinny take the fall, Ava protected her allies and kept her own game intact—a decision that showcased her knack for subtle, yet effective, gameplay.
No moment from Ava’s Big Brother 27 journey sparked more buzz than the infamous “arm grab” incident, which set social media ablaze with speculation. Addressing the controversy with a laugh, Ava keeps it light: “My arm is okay, people, don’t worry! I don’t even know what happened with that arm grab. Like, what was that?” Her breezy dismissal of the moment suggests it was more of a fleeting misunderstanding than a game-defining scandal, but it’s clear the incident left fans hungry for answers.
With the finale looming, Ava has a clear read on the remaining players and their chances of winning. She’s placing her bets on Morgan Pope, whom she calls a “comp beast” with a killer social game. “Morgan’s been dominating competitions and playing smart,” Ava says. “She’s got the best shot right now.” On the other hand, Ashley Hollis faces an uphill battle. “Ashley’s the only one in the top three without an HOH win,” Ava notes. “She’s got the least amount of comp wins, so she’s got the most to prove.”
Reflecting on her Big Brother 27 journey, Ava stands by her choices, even the ones that stirred controversy. Her decision to distance herself from Rachel wasn’t personal—it was a calculated move to protect her own path to the end. “I played with my heart, but I also played smart,” she says. “I wanted to go to the end with people I could trust, and I made the moves I needed to make.”
As the season hurtles toward its conclusion, Ava’s candid revelations offer fans a front-row seat to the strategic maneuvering and emotional highs and lows that defined her game. Whether you’re Team Morgan, rooting for an Ashley comeback, or still dissecting that arm grab, one thing’s certain: Big Brother 27 is delivering drama until the very last vote.