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For the first 21 seasons of Big Brother, the winner of the staple Power of Veto competition OTEV, has never become the champion of that season, known as the OTEV curse. When forerunner Cody Calafiore won the POV in Week 8 of BB22, many fans thought he might not win the season due to the unfortunate pattern. However, Cody unanimously became the winner of All-Stars, breaking the curse.

Houseguest Cody on Big Brother 16
Houseguest Cody on ‘Big Brother 16’ | Sonja Flemming

OTEV curse on ‘Big Brother’

First introduced in Big Brother 7, the musical chairs-style recurring Power of Veto competition OTEV requires players to find the answers to riddles and bring them back to the statue by climbing up a slippery slope using a rope.

The competitors then sit down on seats and reveal their answers. Whoever had an incorrect answer or arrived last is then eliminated and a seat is removed. The last player remaining then wins the POV.

Throughout the past 21 seasons of the regular U.S. franchise, no houseguest who won the competition has gone to win the season.

Known as the OTEV curse, previous victims include Janelle Pierzina (BB7), Eric Stein (BB8), Ryan Quicksall (BB9), Jeff Schroeder (BB11), Enzo Palumbo (BB12), Adam Poch (BB13), Dan Gheesling (BB14), Elissa Slater (BB15), Zach Rance (BB16), Liz Nolan (BB17), Michelle Meyer (BB18), Mark Jansen (BB19), Tyler Crispen (BB20), and Tommy Bracco (BB21).

Cody Calafiore returned for ‘Big Brother 22’

After placing second in Big Brother 16, Cody Calafiore returned six years later for All-Stars to prove himself deserving of winning his original season. He won the first Head of Household competition and used it to put him in a good position with most of the house moving forward.

The BB16 runner-up joined a few final two pacts with Nicole Franzel, Memphis Garrett, and Enzo. Additionally, Memphis invited him into a six-person alliance, The Committee, which dominated the season.

His allies won most of the HOHs, keeping him safe until they had to turn on each other during the triple eviction.

He then went on to physically dominate the season, ending with four HOH and four POV wins.

Cody broke the OTEV curse with his win

After sending competition beast Tyler Crispen to the jury house, Cody flipped on Wise Guy ally Memphis Garrett to save Christmas Abbott, someone he perceived as less of a threat.

He successfully avoided becoming a backdoor target by winning the POV and cast the sole vote to evict Christmas. The BB16 runner-up had final two deals with both remaining houseguests, Nicole and Enzo, and promised them both he would take them to the end.

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Cody then won Part 2 and 3 of the final HOH and chose to face the jury sitting next to Enzo, devastating Nicole, who genuinely thought he would have picked her. His decision paid off as he won unanimously, becoming the second houseguest ever to do so.

Additionally, Cody won OTEV in Week 8, thus breaking the curse with his historic victory. CBS has renewed Big Brother for a 23rd season with Julie Chen Moonves set to return as the host.

Follow Tamara Grant on Twitter.

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