Tal Gilboa’s 10 defining moments, from 'Big Brother' winner to animal-rights activist

Tal Gilboa, born and raised in Ra'anana, became one of the most talked-about contestants in Israeli 'Big Brother' history before turning her fame in a very different direction. The article marks her birthday with 10 lesser-known facts about her life and career.

Before reality TV and activism, Gilboa served in the IDF as a personnel NCO and welfare officer, leaving the army with the rank of captain. She later said the turning point in her life came when she saw a calf being separated from its mother on a dairy farm, and after encountering more material online, she became fully vegan.

In 2014, Gilboa entered 'Big Brother', became one of the season’s dominant figures, repeatedly spoke about animal rights on the show and ultimately won. After her victory, she sparked controversy by publicly discussing behind-the-scenes details and claiming production staff wanted her to win.

Over the years, Gilboa took part in many protests and field actions for animals, and in some cases was arrested alongside other activists. Together with her partner, Roy Shafranik, she co-founded 'Kirot Shkufim' ('Transparent Walls'), a project that exposes footage from the animal food industry, and their YouTube talk has drawn millions of views. In 2019, she was appointed the prime minister’s adviser on animal-rights issues in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Gilboa also appeared in the 2021 couple reality show 'Winning Couple VIP' with her partner, but they were the first pair eliminated. The article also says that on October 7 her nephew, Guy Dalal Gilboa, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival to Gaza, and that she campaigned for months for his release before he was freed in a hostage deal.