An over-the-top blue collar worker is Okotoks’ superhero in this season of Big Brother Canada.
Kyle Rozendal is representing Okotoks as one of 16 houseguests participating in a 12-week journey in a reality game show that isolates contestants from the outside world as they take on various challenges, striving to stay in the house until the end to claim the $100,000 prize.
The 31-year-old journeyman electrician submitted his video application to be a Big Brother Canada contestant last summer and was whisked away to the greater Toronto area on Family Day as the games prepare to begin.
“He wants the $100,000 cash prize,” said wife Claudia, a personal trainer. “He wants to make it all the way to the end so he can pay off some debt and put it in the kids’ accounts.”
Claudia said she and Rozendal bonded when they met in 2014 due to their love of Big Brother Canada.
Being a contestant is like a dream come true for her husband, she said.
“He is in heaven,” she said. “He’s been watching it ever since the first Big Brother Canada. It’s his dream to be in this house.”
In this season’s supersize theme, the contestants take on the persona of superheroes through parts of the show, which Claudia said is a perfect fit for her husband.
“His personality is like a superhero so it’s perfect,” she said. “He has too much self-confidence. He calls himself an eccentric meatball with a sprinkle of princess.”
Adding to his superhero persona is super strength.
Rozendal, who moved with his family to Okotoks from Cold Lake two years ago to be close to his mom, has been a competitive power lifter for almost a decade. He’s won seven national records.
But Claudia said it’s her husband’s social game that will shine.
“He’s going to enjoy the competition and meeting people because he’s a social butterfly,” she said. “Everyone said he would just be great at the social game.”
Before season 8 kicks off on March 4, fans are encouraged to vote for their favourite contestant to keep him or her safe for the first week. Claudia is encouraging people to vote for her husband to protect him from eviction.
They have until Saturday at 1 p.m. to vote at www.bigbrothercanada.ca
Big Brother Canada 8 will air on Global Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings.
Follow Rozendal on Instagram @kylebbcan8, Twitter @KyleBBCAN8 and find him on Facebook at Kyle Big Brother Canada 8.
