Candice - My Opening Statement!

[Candice Stewart]

Hi Jurors!

I am so sorry for the wait, as some of you know, I have been without a computer that I personally own since around October and I was trying to save some money up to buy a new one for the holidays so it finally came today! Super excited about that. Also just in case you were curious, to get competitions done I usually had to go to a library and use their computer (that's also why I wasn't that good at competition's that involved puzzles or screenshotting pictures). So for basically 80% of this game I played it on my phone which is definitely a challenge but I did it; so I am finally happy to have my own computer! Alright, enough of that, I'll get to some game talk now.


I am going to go way back and try to explain my whole game since the first day.
Going into this game, I never expected to make it here, I honestly was just hoping that I wouldn't be the first person out (shoutout to Allison!). I will admit that during the first week I was not as active in this game as I would have hoped to be, I am sure each and everyone of you also have important things that need to be taken care of in real life and for me, I have three kids (one that is just 16 months old) so that took away a lot of attention from me in this game. But once I sort of got a schedule down I made room for real life and this.
My strategy this season was to try and be everyone's friend so they wouldn't target me. You can be the judge on how well I did that (obviously I was more friendly with some more than others...). I also tired to lay low, with the small twelve person cast it was easy to be a target. So laying low plus being friendly with everyone helped me make it to the Jury early on in the game.
I just want to talk about my pre-Jury game, like Jackie, I honestly did not do much. I will admit that. But the reason being is that is just that; I did not have a reason to make waves yet. Some people may have even called me a "floater" during my pre-jury game. Here is a definition from the Big Brother Wikia on the "floater" strategy:


The Floater social strategy includes consciously joining no alliances or joining many but having true loyalty to none.

During the pre-jury stages of the game I aligned myself with one alliance which included Nick and Nicole. Going into this alliance I trusted them... to an extent. I had a feeling that there was a larger alliance that they might have been a part of and, this might just be the paranoia talking, but I always had a feeling that they may just be using me as an extra vote. But even if they were, I knew that would most likely tell this "bigger alliance" that they shouldn't take me out so Nick and Nicole use me as they "have me in their back pocket" when in actuality I most likely knew what they were up to (and Nicole I love you! Nick, well... yeah). But once again, this might have just been the paranoia talking. Despite that, I never ever fully trusted them. I was just with them until I thought I had to ditch them. On the other spectrum, I had a few other friendships with people such as Eddie, Meg and Victoria. While I don't believe I had ever joined any official alliance with those people (except for Victoria, which I will get to soon), I was just friendly to them and tried to make sure if they ever become the Head Of Household they wouldn't nominate me for eviction, or at least make them feel guilty or bad if they do.
However, my one true ally that I trusted 100% was Victoria (I love you <3). But unfortunately she was nominated for eviction in week three this is probably where one of my first moves began. It was either Frank or Victoria going home. On one hand my "alliance" of Nick and Nicole were BEGGING me to evict Victoria and save Frank, thinking that was a bit fishy, I talked to Victoria and she came up that she had three people to save her (not including me). When I talked to Frank, he also said he had three people saving him (once again, that did not include me). So I was in an awkward position. Do I go with my Nick and Nicole alliance that I do not even trust 100% and risk Frank who I did not really talk to becoming Head Of Household and possibly nominating my for eviction? Or do I go against my alliance and save my other friend/ally, Victoria, have her becoming the Head Of Household and know that I will most likely be safe for the next week? I ended up doing the latter and so Frank was evicted in a 4-3 vote, the closest vote of the season, basically. However, to cover up my tracks with Nick and Nicole I told them I saved Frank and someone else probably evicted him. Did they believe me? I don't know, but they had no proof that I did or did not evict him.


From there, as you all know; the Big Brother Auction took place and I received my 'Mystery' power which was an eviction flipper. It allowed my to flip any eviction votes cast against me to the other person. I also won 'Another Mystery'. That did nothing except make my memory wall pictures look weird.
I kept my power secret and told no one about it.


After that, I continued to lay low and be friendly to people. After Meg and Cody were nominated for eviction in week four, I heard the "house" was all voting out Cody and he was going to be evicted. Now, I'm sure you're all wondering where these strange extra one vote's to evict came from... well... surprise! Since everyone was expecting the Jury to start around this time I told Cody I would save him... and I did. I did this because in case Cody would be upset that he might be blindsided and evicted (which he was) since I voted to keep him it would, I don't know, make him feel better; possibly keep a bond between us and Cody -- but I am sorry that you were evicted!


During the week Eddie was evicted was probably the week where I think my game got the most active. I was friends with Eddie and since once again, the "house" was all voting out Eddie I took another opportunity to tell him I'd save him and then save him with him leaving in a 3-1 eviction vote, just like Cody. I did this once again to maybe keep a bond between us and also Eddie I am sorry you went. Also, yes, Nicole; this does mean I evicted you but I knew at the time you would stay 100% so I wasn't worried about you going. After that however, rumors started swirling around about "who is the hinky vote?!". But once again with no proof to say that it was or wasn't me I stayed quiet.   


As this was also week six, it was my last week to use my 'Mystery' eviction vote flipper power; and wow... how this worked out well for me. Prior to this Power Of Veto ceremony, I was growing un-trusting of Nick. He kept getting shadier and shadier. I honestly think he had deals with everyone so after Nicole nominated him for eviction I thought now would be a good time to get rid of him as he is big threat. But after Nick pulls out his Diamond Power Of Veto and saves himself (good play on that, by the way!) he nominates me for eviction! This was the very first time I had ever been nominated for eviction (I was the second to last person to go un-nominated, good job on that, by the way, Zach!) and the only reason I was nominated for eviction... was because of a twist. But I had my own twist to twist up the game.
Nick, to you I say good job, actually because to be quite honest if you weren't going to do it, I was going to try and get you evicted sooner or later. Sorry! But I really did not trust you at all.


Anyways, for my power to work, I had to get the majority of people to evict me so I could in turn use my power and get out Meg. So I went down to business. Here is where my acting skills payed off! This also probably wasn't the best thing to do, but I had to do what I had to do! I went to Victoria, Nicole, Zach and Jackie and told them all to evict me. I even pulled out some 'attitude' to make sure they did do it (I couldn't risk anyone saving me or else if I use my power I would literally just be evicting myself). So after I made sure they'd "evict" me, I used my power and what do you know, someone else uses their Extra! Extra! double vote power against me... well... thanks? I don't know who this person was yet, but whoever you are, you actually helped me so thank you! In the end, Meg was evicted and Meg, you know I love you and I am sorry. I am the sole 100% cause you were evicted and you were my friend but I had to save myself. I am really sorry!


After I personally got Meg out, who in my opinion was a very big social threat, I obviously set my eyes out to get Nick out.
Also, after I revealed my power it was hilarious. I literally still remember no one really talking to me on AIM when they all thought I would be evicted to after I became Head Of Household everyone trying to be my best friend, nice one guys!


So at this point I set up another alliance officially with Victoria and due to Victoria's strong bond with Jackie she also joined. I also kept Zach and Nicole in my back pocket in case they would become the new Head Of Household. In the end, I had a very successful Head Of Household reign. I got out my intended target, Nick, who was also basically the biggest threat left in the game at that point so I made a HUGE move by getting out both Meg and Nick; two big threats.


I also find it very ironic too. Nick used his Double Power Of Veto to try and evict me and make a big move -- try and make an "iconic" move. He was rude to me that whole week by making remarks such as "there's the door!" and more. So when I stayed, became the Head Of Household and then sent him out, I told him "THERE'S THE DOOR!". What Nick did was very ironic... but in my opinion, what I did was iconic. Also, I know some people will say that the only reason I stayed that week was due to my twist; well I have this to say to you. If it weren't for a twist that Nick got... I wouldn't have been nominated for eviction that week in the first place. Also, technically what I had wasn't a twist; more of a power. But anyways... moving on.


The following week was also very interesting. After Jackie won the Head Of Household competition and Victoria and Zach were nominated for eviction it was a very hard choice and a very sad moment for me in the game. Victoria, I absolutely love you and I am so sorry that you were evicted. I never wanted that to happen but Jackie and Nicole both voted you out but in the end you were another huge threat and if taken any further, would probably win. 


After Victoria left, out of everyone left I felt like I was the next biggest target and unfortunately, when Zach became the Head Of Household he nominated me for eviction. This was the first time I was ever nominated for eviction at a Nomination Ceremony and also the first time I was nominated for eviction by 'normal' standards.


I don't really think I have to recap the rest of what happened as it is pretty obvious. Nicole was evicted and I also love you, sorry you went.
Then Jackie won the final Head Of Household competition and here we are.


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Alright, enough of the whole recap. Now I just want to wrap this up. Yes, Jackie won quite a few competitions but I want to remind you all that 2/3 of the competitions that Jackie won were pure luck such as winning a Deal Or No Deal competition and a 'who said what' competition and such.
I won tough Endurance competitions, I spend hours and hours competing in them and most people never came close to how long they went; the reason being is because I want this more than anyone else.


This is my very first ORG ever, I have three kids and have been extremely busy and still have time to sit down and do an Endurance competition for 5+ hours because I want it -- it even amazes me. I even made pages and pages of handwritten notes in real life about this game to figure out social aspects of this game. I had two overall alliances, a few one person allies that I trusted, two very LONG and HARD Endurance competition wins under my sleeve and arguably the most iconic moves this entire season.


Jackie, I love you and thank you for taking me to the final two, jurors, I want this so badly and I really think I deserve it too. I figuratively poured my heart and soul -- and literally my entire game -- into this speech. If anyone would like to have a discussion in this it would be fine with me and I am excited to answer everyone's questions! 


Good luck Jackie!