Brendon & Rachel

Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly are a team of PhD Student & Event Hostess on the 20th season of The Amazing Race.

Brendon

 * Age: 31
 * Hometown: Westwood, California
 * Connection to Teammate: Fiancé
 * Current Occupation: Ph.D. student at UCLA
 * Met Rachel on Big Brother 12 and finished in 6th Place.
 * Reappeared on Big Brother 13 and finished in 9th Place.
 * Describe what you do: Cancer research via Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging. I am investigating biological mechanisms in the human brain that may aid in preventing neurodegenerative disease; also involved in proliferation of various types of cancer.
 * How will these skills help you win The Race? I am a logical thinker and believe I am fairly proficient at cartography.
 * Three words to describe you: Fun, competitive and intellectual.
 * Favorite hobbies: Running, reading and swimming.
 * What famous person reminds you of yourself? Stephen Colbert
 * What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Scarlett Johansson
 * What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Working on my PhD. in Biomedical Physics.
 * What scares you most about traveling? Nothing.
 * What excites you most about traveling? Exploring new places with the love of my life.
 * Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together? I am impatient.
 * Pet peeve about your teammate: She’s short with me and often doesn’t want to listen to me.
 * What country and place would you most like to visit and why? South America, because they are Latin and I feel like I share similarities with them, culturally.
 * What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I hope we are able to enjoy the small moments and not forget to stop and smell the proverbial roses.

Rachel

 * Age: 27
 * Hometown: Westwood, California
 * Connection to Teammate: Fiancée
 * Current Occupation: Event Hostess
 * Met Brendon on Big Brother 12 and finished in 9th Place
 * Reappeared on Big Brother 13 and was the winner of that season.
 * Describe what you do: Just got off “Big Brother.”
 * How will these skills help you win The Race? We’re very competitive. Brendon and I work very well together: fast, strong, smart. If we can survive “Big Brother,” we can do anything.
 * Three words to describe you: Fun, bubbly and effervescent.
 * Favorite hobbies: Working out, making clothes with glitter and hiking with my dog.
 * What famous person reminds you of yourself? Lucy from “I Love Lucy.”
 * What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Ricki from “I Love Lucy.” He’s a fiery Hispanic and I’m the ditsy, flighty redhead.
 * What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? My B.S. Chem degree. I worked really hard. My magazine cover with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Winning “Big Brother.”
 * What scares you most about traveling? I love it.
 * What excites you most about traveling? Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and seeing the world.
 * Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together? Brendon is impatient.
 * Pet peeve about your teammate: Impatience. He’s always rushing me.
 * What country and place would you most like to visit and why? Africa on a Safari. I’d love to go to Egypt and Kenya.
 * What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? Traveling around the world, bonding, falling deeper in love and working together as a couple.

Biography
Brendon and Rachel met on reality show Big Brother.

Season 20

 * Leg 1: 2nd
 * Leg 2: 4th
 * Leg 3: 2nd
 * Leg 4: 6th
 * Leg 5: 5th
 * Leg 6: 4th
 * Leg 7: 4th
 * Leg 8: 4th (1st U-Turned by Art & JJ; 2nd U-Turned Vanessa & Ralph)
 * 1st U-Turned by Art & JJ; 2nd U-Turned Vanessa & Ralph.
 * Leg 9: 2nd
 * Leg 10: 2nd
 * Leg 11: 3rd
 * Leg 12: 3rd

Memorable Moments

 * Brendon slipped at the pit stop in leg 5.
 * Went for a fast forward in leg 10, which required them to shave their heads, and didn't do it.

Franchise

 * Second team of Big Brother following Jordan & Jeff.
 * Highest average placing team to finish 3rd without winning any leg at all, 3.42

Trivia

 * Brendon & Rachel got married on September 8, 2012.