Chima Simone (born July 28, 1976) is an American TV personality and freelance journalist, best known as a former reality show contestant from Big Brother 11.[2] She is also notable for surviving an attack by the Bathtub Killer, Dale Devon Scheanette.[3] Her story was recounted in the true crime cable television show Cold Case Files[4] and again in the documentary shows Unusual Suspects and Surviving Evil on Investigation Discovery.[5]

Chima Simone Benson
Born
Chima Simone Benson

(1976-07-28) July 28, 1976 (age 48)
Alma materUniversity of Southern California (M.A., Specialized Journalism)[1]
Occupations
Websitewww.chimasimone.com

Career

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Simone has been a journalist for several television networks, including BET, MTV and The CW.[6] She has also been a backstage interviewer for the BET Awards.[7] Simone worked as an entertainment reporter with the Hollyscoop Show, a celebrity news television series and website. The nationally syndicated show, debuted Sunday, August 30, 2009 on KTLA, is based on the website of the same name.[8] She also covered season 12 of Big Brother and season 4 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta for entertainment news website The Wrap, syndicated on MSN.[9][10][11] She continues to cover entertainment for various outlets, including E! Online.[12]

Big Brother

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Simone was a contestant on the eleventh season of the American version of the reality show Big Brother where she competed as part of the Brains Clique. Former cast member, Marcellas Reynolds, helped Simone bypass the initial phases of the audition process. She was cast, despite having numerous television appearances prior.[13]

Midway through the show on day 42, Simone was expelled by producers, who stated that Simone had violated several of show's rules,[2] including refusing to wear her microphone and later destroying her microphone by throwing it into the jacuzzi.[14] Simone disputed the allegations in several statements issued upon her departure, maintaining she quit a game she could not win due to producer manipulation.[15][16][17][18] The broadcast of Simone's departure delivered Big Brother’s largest audience since 2008 and highest ratings in all key demos on any night that summer (highest adult 18-49 rating since the 8th edition finale in 2007).[19]

Chima Simone's ratings topping drama earned her a spot on People Magazine’s "Reality TV's 10 Best Catfights & Meltdowns".[20] Simone was also included in Yahoo! TVs "Top 10 Reality Moments of 2009".[21]

Simone continues to be featured in roundups of previous seasons. People Magazine’s countdown to the reality competition show’s milestone 25th season counted Simone’s exit as one of the wildest moments in the history of Big Brother.[22]

Awards

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Simone was nominated in the best Best Villain category at the Fox Reality Really Awards.[23] She attended and was accompanied by Romain Chavent (2009)[24]

References

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  1. ^ Chima Simone USC Alumni Chima Simone's LinkedIn
  2. ^ a b Chima's bio Archived 2009-07-04 at the Wayback Machine on Big Brother website, CBS
  3. ^ The Associated Press (February 11, 2009). "'Bathtub killer,' who was convicted of Arlington woman's 1996 slaying, is executed". Dallasnews.com. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  4. ^ "TV Schedule on History". Thehistorychannel.co.uk. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  5. ^ "Episodes: Unusual Suspects". Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  6. ^ "Big Brother's Chima Simone Addresses Eviction and Racism - Chima Simone". Hollyscoop.com. August 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  7. ^ Simone reporting for the Bet Awards in 2008, youtube.com
  8. ^ "Celebrity News - Fashion Trends, Celebrity Pictures, Gossip Celebrities". Hollyscoop.com. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  9. ^ "Big Brother's Chima Simone Runs Down the New Houseguests - Chima Simone". TheWrap.com. June 30, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  10. ^ "Big Brother Recap: The Breakup of Brenchel -Chima Simone". MSN.com. August 13, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  11. ^ "Chima Simone on 'Real Housewives of Atlanta': Living Big in Cape Town - Chima Simone". TheWrap.com. January 31, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  12. ^ "Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande Win Big at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards: See The Complete List!- Chima Simone". eonline.com. August 24, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  13. ^ Simone in an interview with Power 106 Radio Station, youtube.com
  14. ^ Producers Evict Chima Simone From 'Big Brother 11', ABC News
  15. ^ "Big Brother's Chima: I Quit a Game I Couldn't Win". People. August 27, 2009. Archived from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  16. ^ Booted 'Big Brother' contestant apologizes, Today
  17. ^ Reality TV scandals aren't just on the screen, NBC Miami
  18. ^ 'Big Brother 11' Some Final Moments With Chima, Entertainment Weekly
  19. ^ "Big Brother Ratings Hot Streak Continues". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. August 19, 2009. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  20. ^ "Reality TV's 10 Best Catfights & Meltdowns". People. December 8, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Reality Moments of 2009". tv.yahoo.com. December 8, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  22. ^ "The Wildest 'Big Brother' Moments Ever, from Dan's Funeral to Keesha's Birthday". people.com. July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Simone at the Fox Reality Really awards
  24. ^ Fox Reality Channel awards with Romain Chavent, YouTube
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