Elkhart native on 'Big Brother'
Published: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 -- The Truth, A1
Last updated: 7/11/2005 11:20:31 PM
By Jodee Shaw
Truth Staff
ELKHART -- An Elkhart native made her mark on reality television, winning the "Head of Household" designation on the first episode of "Big Brother's" sixth season.
Rachel Plencner, 33, who bested the other 13 house guests to win the coveted title Thursday, grew up in Elkhart, graduating from Central High School in 1990.
It was a thirst for adventure that prompted Plencner to move to Colorado three years ago, said friend Vicki Gaddis of Thornton, Colo., also an Elkhart native.
Gaddis added it was fate that led Plencner to the "Big Brother" house.
"Big Brother" contestant Howie Gordon listed Plencner as one of six potential candidates to be his teammate. Gordon and Plencner had met through a mutual friend, Elkhart native Francine Lamble.Gordon had auditioned for "Big Brother" after appearing on a previous reality show, "Elimidate."
"Rachel went out to the interview, but she initially had no intention of being on the show," Gaddis said. "When she was chosen, she really struggled with the decision.
"She didn't want to lose her job," Gaddis explained. "And she didn't know if she wanted that kind of national exposure."
The pair weighed the pros and cons several times. "Eventually Rachel decided to go for it," Gaddis said. "She saw it as a once in a lifetime experience. She knew she'd never get another opportunity like this."
Rachel also believes in fate, Gaddis continued. "Since she didn't pursue being on the show, since it just kind of fell into her lap, Rachel felt like maybe she was supposed to be there."
Still, the prospect of losing her job as a computer program analyst was daunting, Gaddis said. Plencner's company has promised to hold her job for five weeks, but no longer. If she does well on "Big Brother," Plencner could be in the house for up to three months.
And Gaddis thinks Plencner will do well. "Rachel has a great personality. And once she figures out what she wants, she's very persistent," Gaddis said. "She is a go-getter."
Gaddis pointed out that Plencner moved to Colorado without knowing anyone there. "I admire that about her," Gaddis said. "She's very adventurous."
Gaddis' assessment of her friend's chances were confirmed during the first episode, when Plencner's orange team won the first competition and she went on to outlast six other contestants balancing on a surfboard. Plencner remained on the board for more than two hours.
What Plencner doesn't know, Gaddis reported, is that she and Gordon are not the only secret teammates. They were informed before they moved into the house they would be the only team. But Julie Chen, the show's host, announced to viewers Thursday that there are seven "secret" pairings.Another twist is that the winner will receive $1 million, twice the amount promised to contestants.
Other than those details she gleaned from the first episode, Gaddis said she doesn't know much about the season. Plencner signed a privacy affidavit prior to the taping and is prohibited from contacting anyone on the "outside" while she remains in the "Big Brother" house.
Gaddis said the last time she saw Plencner was June 25, only a couple of weeks after the interview, when representatives from "Big Brother" arrived in Colorado to whisk Plencner away.
"The first thing they did was confiscate her cell phone," Gaddis reported. "For the first week, she had to remain at a hotel. She couldn't even leave the room."
Gaddis said she knows that must have been tough on her friend. "Rachel's so sociable," she explained. "Not being able to talk to anyone for a week probably about drove her insane."
In addition to communicating with her friends from home, Gaddis said Plencner will also miss her chocolate Lab, James Brown, and the Arabian horses she shows.
But Gaddis said Plencner is hoping that a little loneliness now could turn into a personal relationship somewhere down the line.
"Rachel's always joked around, and it's probably one of the reasons Howie put her on his list, that she would like to be the next Bachelorette," Gaddis said. "She might have been persuaded that if she was on 'Big Brother,' more opportunities could come her way."
Elkhart resident Robert Plencner said it felt strange watching his sister on television Thursday night, but he was proud of how well she fared. "She did pretty good, getting 'Head of Household' and all," Plencner noted.
He declined to make any predictions on the show's outcome, pointing out there are at least two people against Rachel, the two she proposed kicking off the show.
Prior to this season, he had never watched the show, Plencner added. "This gives me a reason to watch it, but I don't really understand it yet," he stated.
He said he's surprised Rachel is on the show. "I just never thought she would do something like that," he said. "That's what makes it so bizarre to watch her."
What will he do if she wins the $1 million? "I'll congratulate her," he said, adding he wouldn't think of asking for a cut. "She's the one doing the show. It's all hers."
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