You remember the long hair. That surfer-dude aesthetic that felt almost too "California" for a house full of people ready to cut each other’s throats. Hayden Voss walked into the Big Brother 16 house in 2014 and basically became the human embodiment of a chill pill. But if you think he was just some guy wandering around in the background while Derrick Levasseur was playing 4D chess, you’re kinda missing the point of why people still talk about him.
He wasn't the strategist of the century. He wasn't a "comp beast" in the traditional sense.
Honestly? Hayden on Big Brother 16 was the soul of the season.
The "Haycole" Era and the Surprise Showmance
When the cast list first dropped, nobody pegged Hayden and Nicole Franzel as the "it" couple. Nicole was this shy, quirky nursing student from a tiny town in Michigan. Hayden was a 21-year-old pedicab driver from Long Beach. They were complete opposites. Yet, they spent half the summer practically living in that backyard hammock.
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It was cute. It was genuinely wholesome in a way most reality TV romances aren't. They did leapfrog in the yard. He gave her massages. He even did a fake proposal with a ring that she playfully tossed back at him. But beneath the flirting, Hayden was actually a solid ally for Nicole. He was the one person she truly trusted when the "Bomb Squad" alliance was busy eating itself alive from the inside.
That Wild Week 6 Double Eviction
If you want to know where it all went wrong, look at Day 49. Double evictions in Big Brother are always a mess, but this one was particularly brutal. Hayden had actually won a Head of Household (HoH) earlier in the game, but the "Battle of the Block" twist—which, let's be real, was a nightmare for everyone’s gameplay—constantly messed with the power dynamics.
During that second half of the double eviction, the house turned. Hayden was evicted by a 7-2 vote. It was a gut punch.
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- He was the second member of the jury.
- He didn't see it coming.
- Nicole was left totally vulnerable, following him to jury just a week later.
The crazy thing? Even as he was walking out the door, Hayden stayed classy. He didn't blow up. He didn't scream. He just took it like a guy who had a good time and was ready for a burger.
Life After the House: Did They Make It?
Fans were obsessed with "Haycole." After the show wrapped, they actually gave it a real shot. They dated for about two years, from late 2014 until early 2016. They were all over Instagram. They traveled together. It looked like the real deal.
But by the time Nicole returned for Big Brother 18, she confirmed she was single. What happened? According to the tea she spilled on the live feeds during her second season, they were just in different places. She wanted the "Ubly life"—marriage, kids, the whole suburban dream. At the time, Hayden wasn't there yet. He liked his freedom.
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There was a bit of drama when Nicole started dating Victor Arroyo (her now-husband), but Hayden handled it with a level of maturity you don't usually see from exes in this franchise. He basically deleted his Twitter, stayed out of the fray, and moved on.
Where is Hayden Voss Now?
If you look for him today, you’ll find a guy who looks pretty different. The long hair is gone. He’s traded the "surfer" look for something a bit more refined. In a full-circle moment that Big Brother fans loved, news broke recently that Hayden actually got married.
The kicker? He married a relative of Big Brother 15 winner Andy Herren. The BB community is small, but apparently, it's small enough to find your spouse through it. He seems genuinely happy, far away from the cameras and the "expect the unexpected" chaos of the CBS soundstage.
Actionable Insights for Big Brother Fans
If you’re rewatching Season 16 or just catching up on the lore, here’s the reality of Hayden’s legacy:
- Watch the Social Game: Hayden is a masterclass in being "liked" but not "respected" as a threat. It’s why he lasted as long as he did, but also why he was an easy target during a double eviction when people stop thinking and start reacting.
- The Showmance Trap: Don't let a relationship become your entire game identity. Hayden and Nicole were so linked that once one was gone, the other was a "dead man walking" in the house.
- Post-Game Privacy: Follow Hayden’s lead. If you ever find yourself on reality TV, the best way to handle a public breakup is to simply stop posting. It preserves your sanity and your reputation.
Hayden Voss might not be in the Big Brother Hall of Fame for his strategic genius, but he remains one of the most likable contestants the show ever cast. He was exactly who he said he was on Day 1. That’s rarer than a Power of Veto win.