From Big Brother to Believer: Jessica Graf Stands By Her Faith Eight Years Later
Eight years after Big Brother, Jessica Graf says she’s not the woman viewers remember. Embracing faith and a new style, she’s pushing back at commenters determined to keep her stuck in the past.
Remember Jessica Graf from Big Brother 19? She just checked in on Instagram to say, pretty bluntly, that she is not the same person you watched on TV back in 2017 — and she is very happy about that.
The post that kicked this off
On Tuesday, April 21, Jessica, now 35, put up an Instagram caption about how followers love to remind her she did not always post about faith or dress the way she does now. Her point: that was then, this is now — and change is the idea.
"If you’re the same person you were 8 years ago, that’s the thing that should concern us. Growth isn’t something to be suspicious of. It ’s the whole point."
She added that she has, in fact, changed and is grateful for it, tagging it with #bigbrother #personalgrowth #christianwoman #faithandfunny.
- Then: Big Brother 19 in 2017, 26 years old, single, still figuring out what she believed and what kind of life she wanted.
- Now: Married to her BB19 costar Cody Nickson (he is 41), five daughters, living in Texas, and open about her Christian faith.
- Post-reality win: She and Cody won The Amazing Race in 2018.
Support from the reality TV universe
Other reality alums chimed in with applause. Big Brother vet Elena Davies essentially said she is glad she has grown too. Bachelor Nation’s Vanessa Grimaldi dropped an amen of support. Not exactly a controversial take, but the comments rolled in fast.
Faith, front and center
This has not been a sudden pivot. Over Easter weekend, Jessica and Cody took their crew to church and shared the moment. Cody’s April 5 Instagram message was a straight-up Easter proclamation about Jesus rising on the third day, celebrating victory over sin and death, and encouraging everyone to spread the good news. Subtle? No. Clear? Absolutely.
Life in Texas, finally settled
As for day-to-day life, the couple says they have found the right setup in Texas. In an August 2025 interview with Us Weekly — yes, the timeline on that one jumps out — Jessica admitted that building real community while working from home is tough when you are starting over. Her workaround: become regulars at local coffee shops and restaurants, plug into a church that actually feels like home, and keep showing up until acquaintances turn into friends who feel like family.
Cody, for his part, talked about how grateful he is that their daughters have Jessica as a role model and mom. Between the Easter posts, the everyday routines, and that Instagram caption, the throughline is pretty simple: they wanted a different life than the one you saw on TV in 2017, and they built it.