Jag Bains wins Big Brother 25

Jag Bains, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Washington and owner of a trucking company, made history by clinching the title of Big Brother 25. His victory, achieved at the end of a grueling 100-day season, saw him win over fellow competitors Matt Klotz, a 27-year-old Deaflympics swimmer from Louisiana, and Bowie Jane Ball, a 46-year-old Australian DJ and barrister. Bains will be taking home a prize money of $750,000. Bains’ win is being largely seen as a Sikh win. It is surprising that Indian television media which usually celebrates even Spelling Bee contests, did not play up this win. The win was well covered in print media. After the show, Bains said, ‘Being a Sikh on the show, like, just being a houseguest on the show, was so important. Having this platform to be able to present myself and my community meant the world to me.’ The win is important in the context of hate crimes and turbaned identity. It is important that it is a win for Sikhs and also other racialized people who are targeted in hate crimes. Jag Bain's full name is Jagteshwar Singh Bains. Name shortening is a norm these days whether in the West or even in big Indian cities. Earlier, not using Singh was common among Leftists in India and in the Diaspora. That is not the case anymore. These days more folks commonly use last or caste names in legal papers and in common parlance.