Dene Jones Breaks Silence on Big Brother Mzansi Exit: “I Walked Out with My Integrity Intact”

Dene Jones has finally opened up about her eviction from the Big Brother Mzansi house, offering a candid look at why she thinks South Africans stopped backing her and what ultimately led to her exit.

According to Jones, her departure wasn’t caused by a single event. Instead, it was a mix of how she was perceived, the dynamics of the game, and her choice to stick to her values in a high-pressure environment.

“I think one of the biggest reasons is that I didn’t fully align myself with what the majority felt in the house,” she told Sunday World. “There was an offensive situation involving another housemate. And while many people were against him, I didn’t experience that side of him personally. When I said that, people perceived me as fake or strategic, when I was just being honest.”

Reflecting on her time in the house, Jones admitted that sometimes staying silent might have been the safer choice. “In that house, people expect you to agree with the collective. Sometimes honesty costs you.”

She also addressed a criticism that she and fellow housemate llano “never stood up” enough during tense moments. “That narrative stuck,” she said. “I stepped back because I didn’t want to dominate the space, but that was read as passivity.”

Another challenge, she explained, was competing against returning housemates who already had large fan bases. “The house was very aware of numbers on the outside. Some people already had strong support before they even walked back in. That made it harder for new or less vocal housemates to survive nominations.”

Despite this, Jones believes her leadership and personality are her strengths, even if she didn’t fully showcase them on the show. “I have leadership qualities and a strong personality, but I didn’t fully showcase them,” she said. “I believed teamwork makes the dream work. But in that house, everyone wanted to be Beyoncé. Eventually, I stepped aside.”

Jones also defended her natural kindness, which some housemates misread as manipulation. “I compliment people naturally. If you look good, I’l say it. That doesn’t mean I’m sucking up or playing a game,” she said. “Unfortunately, in that environment, kindness is often mistrusted.”

She described the experience as a journey of personal growth. “I realised I’m more sensitive than I thought and very hard on myself,” she said. “The house exposed insecurities I hadn’t dealt with before, especially about my body. But it also taught me to trust myself more and take risks.”

Regarding public perception, Jones says she hasn’t fully engaged with social media but is aware that some viewers misunderstood her. “All I can say is I wasn’t fake. I didn’t compromise my values for airtime. Not everything deserves a reaction, and that’s something the house taught me.”

Looking forward, Jones is ready to build on her experience. “I was a content creator before the house, and now my name is out there,” she said. “And I didn’t make top five or 10, but the real work starts now. I want to use this platform with purpose—especially for young girls who are still finding themselves.”

For Jones, staying true to herself mattered more than surviving the game. “I stood my ground, protected my values, and walked out with my integrity intact,” she said. “For me, that’s a win.”