Kenny Brain (born August 26, 1988) is a Canadian television personality, currently cohost with Kortney Wilson of the HGTV Canada home renovation series Making it Home with Kortney and Kenny.[1]

Originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, Brain worked as a model before competing in the second season of Big Brother Canada in 2014.[2] Although openly gay in real life and honest about his sexuality in viewer confessionals, he initially pursued a strategy of remaining closeted among his housemates;[3] although he did come out to housemate Sarah Miller a few weeks into the season, his strategy sparked some viewer and media debate about whether his choice was sending a message to viewers that being gay could be seen as a shameful secret.[4] He and Miller were both voted out of the Big Brother house on Day 43.[5] He has also since stated that his decision to stay in the closet at first, and come out as gay once the season was underway, helped to spark a valuable conversation about homophobia and the differing standards to which gay and straight people are held.[6]

After appearing on Big Brother Canada, Brain quit modelling and trained as a construction contractor, later launching his own contracting business in Vancouver, British Columbia.[1] Following Wilson's divorce from her former husband and business partner Dave Wilson, Brain debuted as the new cohost of Making it Home in the show's second season in 2021.[7] He has stated that one of his goals as an HGTV host is to provide a positive role model for LGBTQ representation and inclusion in construction trades.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Alex Kennedy, "This N.L. model turned contractor is making it big on a home improvement show". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, September 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ Cassandra Szklarski, "Round two of 'Big Brother Canada' to feature models, Cape Town refugee". Canadian Press, February 26, 2014.
  3. ↑ Dan Avery, "Gay “Big Brother Canada” Star Kenny Brain Comes Out To Housemate". NewNowNext, April 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ Ruth Myles, "Living a lie? Or playing a brilliant reality-TV gambit?; Gay Big Brother contestant is sending the wrong message by pretending he's not". Vancouver Sun, April 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ Ruth Myles, "Big Brother evictees friends for life; Pair shares thoughts on time in house". Calgary Herald, April 12, 2014.
  6. ↑ Christopher Turner, "Catching Up With ‘Making It Home’ Co-Star Kenny Brain". In Magazine, October 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Melissa Hank, "Kortney Wilson moves on with new Making It Home show". Canada.com, September 3, 2021.
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