“I don’t need someone else to validate my accolades,” says Azah.
“I’m very, very proud of the game that I played.”
Xavier then evicted Azah moments later.
CBS
(Also double-check to read ourinterview withBig Brotherwinner Xavier PratherandQ&A with runner-up Derek Frazier.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I watched the finale, you looked pretty shellshocked after being voted out.
And then you have to go straight to the jury.
Xavier Prather, Derek Frazier, and Azah Awasum were the final three for ‘Big Brother’ season 23.CBS
Tell me what that whole whirlwind experience was like because it seemed pretty jarring.
AZAH AWASUM:Yes, it is a whirlwind experience.
So, I had that process in my head.
Also, I knew what I signed up for in this final three.
I knew the only way I could get to that final two chairs was by me winning myself.
So, as soon as I lost, I knew I wasn’t going to be the winner.
And it was me just processing all of that.
Snd for the longest time knew that if I wanted to get there, I had to win myself.
How much have you been replaying that one wrong answer in your head?
Yeah, I’ve definitely thought about it quite a few times.
I’ve thought about it a lot.
I’ve asked myself, dang.
So, if it’s not meant for me, it wasn’t meant for me.
I think the winner is extremely deserving.
Let’s say you win that final HOH.
Yeah, I would have.
I say that because in that house you have so much time to think.
And when we got to final three, I started asking myself other questions.
This is not just a regular season ofBig Brother.
This is a historical season.
Who has encompassed a lot of great gameplay and everything and also played with integrity?
And I had to say that I did not feel comfortable with X taking third.
Even if I knew I had more friends in jury than Big D did.
And I could have probably came out with the win.
I could have kept that to myself.
But because I do respect Big D as a friend, I had to tell him how I felt.
And you know, it is disappointing.
But at the end of the day, these are the cards that were dealt.
And I got to be at peace with that.
If you win that final HOH, that’s a big notch on your belt too.
If you win that and take Xavier, how do you think you do: win or lose?
What do you think?
It would’ve been difficult.
I think me being there would’ve resonated with some people.
I know that would’ve resonated very well with Hannah and Tiffany, who made that clear to me.
And then the relationships that I had with DX and Claire were genuine and very real.
And they both told me how much they were rooting for me as well too.
So, it would’ve been close.
Well, you mentioned telling Big D that if you won that you were not going to take him.
You guys really had a roller coaster relationship, especially at the end there.
And he was basically saying that he carried you to the final three.
Do you feel that he respected your game play, Azah?
You know, I think he can respect it now.
I don’t say the things that I’ve done.
I move more in silence.
But I’m not going to tell you or say that you carried me.
I am very proud of myself.
I wanted to win the HOH to see my family and I got it at final five.
And I contributed a lot in terms of strategy to the Cookout.
And I’m very, very proud of the game that I played.
What were those doubts and insecurities that you had during the game?
You know, it’s funny.
I had doubts when I was getting those 50 BB bucks every single week.
And I’m just like, “Oh my gosh.”
Like I had started having doubts of like, “Okay, do people think I’m like furniture?
I just sit around.”
It definitely does get to you.
I had insecurities because I wasn’t winning at competitions, but I pushed those away as well.
And at the end of the day, I pulled through a win when I absolutely needed it.
When I think about it, I never hit the block up until final four.
I kind of didn’t need to win a competition.
And I’m proud of myself., I’m proud of what I did.
But to have an alliance that stayed till the six with all of us, it’s amazing.
And I can’t believe that I’m a part of it.
It’s very humbling.
I have this big stupid smile on my face whenever I think about it.
