'Big Brother 26' Cast Members Reveal Their Favorite Past Players

Across 25 seasons and multiple spin-offs, Big Brother has brought us a wide swath of houseguests. From strategic houses to social butterflies to competition beasts, they've come from all walks of life and cemented themselves as all-time reality TV contestants and players with their actions within the walls. And, if granted the opportunity to play, you would imagine you would look to the past to inform your future possibly.

So it only makes sense, then, when Parade was given the chance to ask the 16 new houseguests of Big Brother 26 a question before they went into the game, we chose to poll them about what previous players they identified with the most. Of course, some legendary names like Dan Gheesling and Rachel Reilly were thrown out . Others proved the level of their superfandom by making some old-school references, and even a couple of deep cuts from modern seasons.

Check out the video and transcript below to find out which previous houseguests the Big Brother 26 cast identifies with the most. Big Brother 26 kicks off with a special two-night premiere on Wednesday, July 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Related: Everything to Know About Big Brother 26

Cedric Hodges, 21, former Marine from Boise, ID: The former house guests I identify most with are definitely Cody Calafiore. The Hitmen was an elite duo. That's where I where I want to take the season. My duo partner, we're going to the top. Or any social players. Derek X was another great example of someone who kind of didn't get to live out his full potential. Those are definitely my favorite Big Brother players.

T'kor Clottey, 23, crochet business owner from Atlanta, GA: I definitely identify with Cirie the most of all of the past houseguests thus far. Very much so I am the girl who's walking around on my bathrobe all of the time back at home. And more than that, I just really relate to her story. I relate to her level of persistence. I'm definitely the type of person, if you don't get the first time, do it again, do it again, do it again. And so I find that story incredibly inspiring.

Matt Hardeman, 25, tech sales rep from Roswell, GA: Prior houseguests whose game I would try to mimic...there's so many, I feel like when looking at previous houseguests, you have to pick and choose ones from each season, or maybe from multiple different people to put it all together. Obviously, Season 20, the winner, Kaycee, fellow Filipino, is a hero to me. I hope to be the second Filipino winner, falling right behind her. And then also the way she played the game, she stayed so true to herself towards the end of the season, really turned that competitive side on, and started cranking out some wins. I really hope to play my game very similar to that, stay really true to who I am, not compete to the degree that I know I may be capable of in the beginning. But when we get towards the end, be able to turn that thing on and gather up some wins to take us to the end.

Kimo Apaka, 35, mattress sales rep from Hilo, HI: Some of my favorite houseguests, I mean, Dan Gheesling. I think that's a really common answer, because he was very good at what he did. Jun from way back when, also very good at what she did. I love Da'Vonne. Because, hello, such great TV! Great to watch, and she had such good gut instincts and intuition. And I'm very much like a "go with my gut" kind of a person. Or at least I try to be, because I feel like I have pretty good intuition. I'm very kind of observant. I know people have their opinions of Andy and all of the cast of Season 15. But I think he maximized the use of playing the middle really well.

I'm just a fan of taking bits and pieces of people who I thought, "Wow, that's actually pretty successful what they did to get where they were," and try to implement that into a strategy. But above all else, it's about adapting. So I'll take those things, keep it in the back of my mind. But I'm gonna do whatever I have to do, whenever I have to do, with whomever I have to do, to make sure that I'm making it week after week. Because ultimately, I want to win the game.

Rubina Bernabe, 35, event bartender from Los Angeles, CA: The former houseguest I identify the most with is probably Frankie. Because he's funny, he's cute. [ Points to self .] Hello! And I think he played a really good game, and I know I'm gonna play a really good game.

Cam Sullivan-Brown, 25, physical therapist from Bowie, MD: The previous houseguest that I think I identify with the most would probably be Jared. Because he's also a sports guy. He loves basketball, which I love too. And he got into a little showmance, which I can respect, and I think I might be able to do on this show, depending on the cast, maybe.

Brooklyn Rivera, 34, business administrator from Dallas, TX: My favorite houseguest to date is Tyler from Season 20. He just played I feel like, all the way to the very end, a flawless game. He had his hands in all the cookie jars. Everyone was on his side, and he was team getting to Final Two. So I feel like his strategic side of playing, plus also his abilities to win the physical competitions, was the perfect combination. What I'll do differently is actually walk away as the winner, though. He came in just a people's person. His communication skills were spot on, and he won when he had to win. So I feel like I won't be someone that'll throw competitions purposely, but I also will read the room if I don't have to win. I don't want to paint that target on myself, and he did a really good job of that. So I feel like my game will be a little more like his, except I will actually cook and clean and then sweep people out one week at a time.

Joseph Rodriguez, 30, video store clerk from Tampa, FL: I think personality-wise, I relate to Da'Vonne a lot. Because she was a poker dealer as her profession, she's really funny and witty, and she's not afraid to speak her mind. And I feel like I share a lot of those qualities with her.

Related: Take a Tour of the Big Brother 26 House

Kenney Kelley, 52, former undercover cop from Boston, MA: Who I identify most with is probably Sam Smith. I liked how he went in the house. He was just a good guy. Family man, had kids, happy-go-lucky. Kind of went with the flow. I think I identify well with him. Although I might have a little bit more of a competitive streak than he does or did at the time. But I think that's who I identify the most with.

Lisa Weintraub, 33, celebrity chef from Los Angeles, CA: The former houseguest that I would identify most closely with would be Rachel Reilly. She is a boss babe that does what it takes to get the job done. She is fierce, strong and competitive. And then kind of mixed with some of the nicer, more personable players that are really, kind, really sweet, and they make it to the end as well. So I would say a dynamic hybrid of maybe two or three players.

Tucker Des Lauriers, 30, marketing and sales executive from Brooklyn, NY: The two houseguests that I think I can relate to the most: One, Dan. Shoutout to the legend. He's very good at playing the game and will do what it takes. And when someone's bashing him who shouldn't be, he'll sit there and take it and let things unfold as they will. And then Brett. Brett's one of the funniest dudes who've been in the Diary Room. He would make me crack up. And he's also somebody, when his back is against the wall, he has no problem lighting a bus on fire and running it over somebody. So those two.

Angela Murray, 50, real estate agent from Syracuse, UT: So I keep saying it. I do love Janelle. I don't think that her gameplay was maybe how I would do it. I just love how great she was. She calls herself the comp queen. And, I mean, I don't know if I could ever take her place with that. But I'm going to give it my all. I think that she was well-liked. I think a lot of people like Janelle. She's a real estate agent as well. And I think with that type of job, we are both people people. And so possibly I could relate to her because of that. Her gameplay was "eh." But, like I said, she's great at comps. Jun, I loved how she kind of flew into the radar a little bit. She was cooking for everybody, so I don't think she really came up on anybody's radar to vote her out, because she was making everybody fat and happy.

I love Cody's gameplay, too. I think I relate maybe more as a player like him in the way that he was kind of everywhere and in everybody's pot. He knew what was going on everywhere, at least that's the way it seemed. And I feel like that's kind of how I'll play too. I'll never say no--well, probably--to any alliances. So if it means multiple ones and being secretive about them, I'm doing that. I feel like Cody kind of did that too. He was just a great people person. He was easy on the eyes. I'm not saying I am, but he sure was, and I just really admired his gameplay. And I like Nicole too, though. I like Nicole. She was really cute, and I think she flew under the radar a little bit too. But I think she played a really good social game.

Leah Peters, 26, VIP cocktail server from Miami, FL: Personally, I really liked Britney Haynes because I felt like she was really raw and really cool. And she also came off as just a conventionally attractive girl, but she ended up playing a really good game. And if it weren't for the Brigade, I think that she would have won, because she built those personal relationships with Lane and everything like that. I also really liked Liz from Season 17, even though she was a twin. She was from Miami, just like me, and she kind of had, like, the same kind of dry sense of humor that I do. There was another character that I can't really think of right now. But, honestly, whenever I've watched any of the seasons, I think that I can see myself in a lot of different characters, and I don't think that anyone has come on that's exactly like me. I really relate to a lot of them, and I like how, whenever you get further into the seasons, you learn more and you start to like more of every character. You start to have a piece of your heart go out to each and each different character.

Quinn Martin, 25, nurse recruiter from Omaha, NE: The Big Brother house guest I most align with, personally and strategically, would have to be Jason Guy from Season Three. He was a real sweetheart, really nice, a young-looking guy that maybe gave off the vibe that, not that he's not here to win or play, but he's more about having a good time and putting others in front of him. I think I've got a little bit more teeth than Jason. But he and I definitely would vibe on a personality side of things.

Makensy Manbeck, 22, construction project manager from Houston, TX: So I think the houseguest I most identify with or align with, I would always come back to Angela. I really think that her vibe I kind of match with. I am very physical, and she was just a very tough mental player. She didn't let anybody give her any crap. She always did what she wanted, and she had a pretty strong alliance, too, with Tyler and Kaycee. So I think she just played the game really well. She stayed calm, cool, and collected. She did what she did best, and that was play a good game.

Chelsie Baham, 27, nonprofit director from Rancho Cucamonga, CA: Yes, I have a favorite houseguest. I love me some Da'Vonne, okay? Da'Vonne was just very entertaining in the Diary Room. Da'Vonne was a competitive player. Da'Vonne was funny. She was loud. I love me some Da'Vonne. That's how I model myself after.

Next, check out the photos, bios, and interviews with the cast of Big Brother 26 .