MASON CITY -- Chelsia Hart, a 2005 Mason City High School graduate, got the boot Wednesday night from the CBS reality TV show "Big Brother."

Hart, 21, a student at the University of Northern Iowa, lasted 49 days in the game, where 16 contestants are confined to a house and yard and each week one or more contestant is voted off by the others.

A twist this year, the ninth "Big Brother," is that contestants started out paired up and playing as teams.

Hart and her partner, James, a single 21-year-old who was bicycling around the world, remained in a strong alliance even after the couples were broken up, but that may have proved her undoing.

James was evicted from the show two weeks ago, but then came back in a twist that caused hard feelings among some other houseguests.

Hart and James were both "put up for eviction" this week, but James won "the Golden Power of Veto," allowing him to remove himself from consideration for eviction.

Another houseguest was chosen to replace James "on the block," but the houseguests decided Wednesday to evict Hart by a 5-0 vote.

Hart now goes into seclusion for the remainder of the game. When the contest is down to the final two players, most of the houseguests previously evicted will be brought back to decide the final winner and the recipient of the $500,000 grand prize.

Hart is the daughter of Dennis and Robin Hart of Mason City.

Contact Bob Steenson at bob.steenson@globegazette.com.