Local beauty queen among 'Big Brother' contestants

Jamie Kern of Des Moines should have no trouble coming up with tales of what she did on her summer vacation. The Washington State University alumna who plans to pursue an MBA at Yale or Columbia is one of 10 contestants on CBS's "Big Brother," the latest TV show to mine America's voyeuristic tendencies.

"Big Brother" contestant Jamie Kern is the reigning Miss Washington USA.

Kern is accustomed to being under scrutiny: She is the reigning Miss Washington USA and competed last February in the Miss USA pageant. Though CBS doesn't release the surnames of its "Big Brother" contestants, it was only too happy to mention Kern's status as Miss Washington USA, so her identity will hardly remain a mystery.

As to the curious coincidence that CBS also telecasts the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants (both owned by Donald Trump), a CBS spokeswoman yesterday would only say: "They went through a thousand applicants; obviously she impressed the producers of the show."

In "Big Brother," which premiered Wednesday night on KIRO/7, the contestants are isolated in an 1,800-square-foot home built on a corner of a CBS Studio Center parking lot, where they will have their every move recorded for up to three months.

CBS is hoping the show will match the success of its "Survivor" game show, which gathered 16 contestants on a Malaysian island to compete for a $1 million prize under television's watchful gaze.

Like "Survivor," the contestants on "Big Brother" will gradually whittle their ranks to a final participant. Every two weeks, the housemates will nominate two colleagues for expulsion, and TV viewers vote out one of them by phone. The audience chooses the winner of the $500,000 prize from the three remaining players.

A police escort early yesterday delivered the 10 contestants to their new home. The network withheld the identities and hometowns of the contestants -- who sent in videotaped applications and underwent what CBS called extensive screening and background checks -- until the group was secluded in the house.

"I'll see you in three months," said a contestant named George, who gave a tearful kiss goodbye to his wife and three daughters before entering the home.

In an interview for the Miss USA pageant, Kern said her goal in five years is to be making a difference in the world.

"Ultimately," she said, "I would like to be a major icon, role model and example for women throughout the United States. Also, in about five to 10 years, I plan on adopting my first baby girl from China."

Kern said she plans to study business and communications in graduate school. "Eventually," she said, "I'd like to either run a multimillion-dollar breast cancer research endowment fund or become the next Barbara Walters, or both!"

Although the original Dutch version of "Big Brother" was harshly criticized as exploitative and voyeuristic, the show became a hit and was copied in Germany and Spain. Criticism has been more muted in the United States, although some media observers have questioned how far the reality-TV trend might go. Fox already saw how far it could go wrong with "Who Wants To Marry a Multimillionaire?"

"People want something different. There's more of a voyeuristic nature to our watching habits," said Leslie Moonves, president of CBS Television, which paid a reported $20 million to the show's Dutch creator for the rights.

"Big Brother" is intended to be "fun," according to series producer Paul Romer. "Humans are curious beings. We like to know how other people live."

The show's debut last night came right after the sixth episode of "Survivor" and is intended to capitalize on its popularity. The castaways show was the first series to make a dent in the high ratings of ABC's hit game show, "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire."

Unlike "Survivor," which was filmed last spring and airs weekly, "Big Brother" is airing five nights a week, and constantly on the Internet. Condensed versions of each day's footage will be shown in half-hour episodes Monday, Tuesday and Friday, with a one-hour recap Saturday. On Thursday, "Big Brother" raises the ante with a full hour of live TV.

The daily record made by 28 cameras and 60 microphones installed throughout the house will be quickly edited for the next broadcast. The Thursday episode, which will feature the contestant ousted that week, will be a live in-studio edition.

The house, with adjoining vegetable garden, is stocked with staples (minus the rats that served as a "Survivor" menu item). There's no TV or radio and no newspaper delivery, but each person can bring a small suitcase with books or games.

If her Miss USA interview is any indication, Kern also will bring a whole lotta love. Asked to describe her most treasured possession, she replied: "Love." And her best advice for the next generation was: "Love is what makes the world go around. In our country we have a huge emphasis placed on success, and I have a strong drive to succeed myself, but when it really comes down to it, if you keep love around you and do good to others, you are successful."

William, another contestant, entered the house yesterday dressed in a suit and tie and handed his girlfriend, Naima Benson, 22, of Philadelphia, a red rose. William rallied a crowd gathered at the studio and entered the home to chants of his name.

"He's realistic," Benson said. "He knows there's a possibility he won't win, but he's confident about the type of person he is."

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