KEANNA, 36, bested three other housemates after garnering 571,607 votes or 44.2 percent of total votes received from viewers of the top-rating show, Pinoy Big Brother- Celebrity Edition aired over ABS-CBN. She beat housemates John Prats, Bianca Gonzales and Zanjoe Marudo.

“This is just too good to be true,” said the former bold starlet, who still could not believe she won. She first came into the limelight when she exposed an escort service syndicate servicing elected government officials in 2004. Her role in the sex scandal earned her the moniker “Kilabot ng Senado.” It also earned her the support of the militant group, Gabriela.

Shortly after the Senate sex scandal, Keanna was cast in two forgettable movies—the sexy comedy Shut up… I-memorize Mo Na Lang Yan, with Pacquito Diaz, and a bold movie that was never finished.

She drifted to night club acts and was about to go to Japan as a performer in January when “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition” opened for auditions.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” Keanna said, referring to showbiz career opportunities that await every PBB housemate, especially the big winner.

Big Winner Nene Tamayo welcomed her fellow Big Winner Keanna outside Kuya’s house while ABS-CBN’s Chairman, CEO and President Eugenio Lopez III showered her with prizes. The Kilabot ng Senado received one million pesos from Rebisco. Her chosen charity, Gabriela, also received a million pesos. Keanna was also awarded a condo unit by Chateau Valenzuela, an appliance showcase and computers.

The other PBB housemates did not go home empty-handed. Second Celebrity Big Placer John and his chosen charity, the National Children’s Hospital, received P500,000 each courtesy of Rebisco.

Third celebrity big placer Bianca and fourth celebrity big placer Zanjoe were both awarded P100,000. Their chosen charities, Gabriel Symphony Foundation and Santa Ana-San Joaquin Bahay Ampunan Foundation, respectively, got P250,000 each.
In addition to the cash prizes, each of the Big 4 received Promac appliances, a RedFox laptop and a Sony DVD camera.

Comedienne, nanay and a true friend.

These words best describe Keanna as a housemate in the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition.

But Keanna won respect from her housemates the hard way. On the first week of PBBCE, the housemates noticed that she was not keen to do housework. Her laziness earned her a nomination for eviction, but her funny jokes and antics saved her from being booted out.

Things changed after the 1st eviction night. The Kilabot ng Senado became more cooperative in terms of helping others do the household chores, tasks and challenges given by Big Brother. She eventually earned the respect of her housemates, especially of the younger celebrities like John, Roxie and Bianca, who made Keanna their Nanay-nanayan. John would always go to her “Nanay” to seek her advice on how to handle the difficult situations inside the house.

Aside from being his “nanay,” John also considers Keanna as one of his closest friends. One of the most recognizable barkadas in the house was the triumvirate of John, Keanna and Rustom. Both the prodigal son of showbiz and the dance floor dynamite say that Keanna is a person whom they can truly trust. And when the moment came for Rustom to reveal the biggest secret of his life, without any hesitation, Rustom chose Keanna to be the first housemate to know that he’s gay.

Keanna is also considered the funniest housemate of PBBCE. This comedienne is known for cracking anticlimactic but hilarious jokes, just like what she did during her big fight with former housemate Mich. She mistakenly labeled Mich as “KFC” (Kentucky Fried Chicken) instead of “KSP” (kulang sa pansin). Who can forget the moment when Keanna suddenly excused herself to attend to nature’s call just when Rustom was about to reveal that he’s gay? These are just two of Keanna’s hilarious moments in Kuya’s house that have become part of the highlights of the 14 celebrities’ 56-day stint in PBBCE.

Now, Keanna had become so popular that she is easily recognized and mobbed in public.

Keanna had auditioned to become a housemate in “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition” with the help of Boy Abunda, who now runs her career.

“I thought that becoming a housemate would boost my career in showbiz,” she admitted. “I wanted the public to know the real me.”

“I’m looking forward to more work now,” she said. “Becoming a housemate was the best decision I have ever made in my whole life."