Redemption is a classic story arc in entertainment. Some of the oldest storytelling involves a character who experiences a major life change and vows to change their ways for the better. It is ingrained into our collective psyche to enjoy the idea that the person who reforms and repents becomes worthy of whatever reward they receive.
In that sense, the fan response to Rachel’s winning Big Brother 13 should be pretty easy to predict. People like a comeback story, and Rachel has certainly filled that quote. From the time she was split from her fiance, she became a new player. That person, the Rachel that won Big Brother tonight, had managed to do something that few thought possible at the start of the season- she redeemed herself.