‘The Challenge’ Greats: Where Are They Now?

Credit: Sipa/Shutterstock; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

'The Challenge' Greats: Where Are They Now?

Since The Real World launched in 1992 and Road Rules in 1995, MTV has gathered quite the lineup of athletes to compete in The Challenge. In 1998, the spinoff began as Road Rules: All Stars. Season 2, the title was changed to Real World/Road Rules Challenge. By season 19, the show made many changes and converted to The Challenge, although it's usually combined with a unique title — Rivals, Battle of the Sexes, Bloodlines, etc. While the cast now competes for a giant sum of money, that wasn't always the case. When the show began, the members won a trip for two to San José, Costa Rica. Fast forward to 2017, when The Challenge season 30 cast competed for $1 million. Ashley Mitchell, who began on Real World: Ex-Plosion, currently stands as the competitor with the most winnings, earning $1,121,250 in her two Challenge wins. Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio holds the title for male competing in the most Challenges at 20, while Cara Maria Sorbello holds the female title, being cast on 14. Although it began as only Real World and Road Rules alum, cast members from Are You the One?, Big Brother, Ex on the Beach, Geordie Shore, Vanderpump Rules, The Amazing Race, Bad Girls Club, Party Down South and Survivor have since joined the show. “We see ourselves now as the challenge show,” producer Emer Harkin told Variety in 2020 about adding in other shows. “It’s really about marrying the best of the best from those shows with the best of ours.” How big are reality star salaries? Jason Tartick breaks it down with Us Weekly editors. While looking for someone “athletic, young, entertaining, single” is important, “they can’t just be the hottest guy or the most loved girl, they also have to not die when they come on The Challenge," she said. “That, in and of itself, is a challenge to find them. [And] MTV being the home and safe place for the LGBTQ community and keeping casts diverse, people really want to see themselves represented on television. So all of those things mixed together create the unicorn that I am constantly searching for." Scroll through the gallery below to catch up with some of the biggest competitors and where they are today. [podcast_block]

Credit: Sipa/Shutterstock; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

'The Challenge' Greats: Where Are They Now?

Since The Real World launched in 1992 and Road Rules in 1995, MTV has gathered quite the lineup of athletes to compete in The Challenge. In 1998, the spinoff began as Road Rules: All Stars. Season 2, the title was changed to Real World/Road Rules Challenge. By season 19, the show made many changes and converted to The Challenge, although it's usually combined with a unique title — Rivals, Battle of the Sexes, Bloodlines, etc. While the cast now competes for a giant sum of money, that wasn't always the case. When the show began, the members won a trip for two to San José, Costa Rica. Fast forward to 2017, when The Challenge season 30 cast competed for $1 million. Ashley Mitchell, who began on Real World: Ex-Plosion, currently stands as the competitor with the most winnings, earning $1,121,250 in her two Challenge wins. Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio holds the title for male competing in the most Challenges at 20, while Cara Maria Sorbello holds the female title, being cast on 14. Although it began as only Real World and Road Rules alum, cast members from Are You the One?, Big Brother, Ex on the Beach, Geordie Shore, Vanderpump Rules, The Amazing Race, Bad Girls Club, Party Down South and Survivor have since joined the show. “We see ourselves now as the challenge show,” producer Emer Harkin told Variety in 2020 about adding in other shows. “It’s really about marrying the best of the best from those shows with the best of ours.” How big are reality star salaries? Jason Tartick breaks it down with Us Weekly editors. While looking for someone “athletic, young, entertaining, single” is important, “they can’t just be the hottest guy or the most loved girl, they also have to not die when they come on The Challenge," she said. “That, in and of itself, is a challenge to find them. [And] MTV being the home and safe place for the LGBTQ community and keeping casts diverse, people really want to see themselves represented on television. So all of those things mixed together create the unicorn that I am constantly searching for." Scroll through the gallery below to catch up with some of the biggest competitors and where they are today. [podcast_block]

Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock

Mike "The Miz" Mizanin

Miz began on The Real World: Back to New York in 2001 before joining The Challenge. He then went on to compete in Battle of the Seasons, The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2 and The Inferno II. He was a finalist in all but Battle of the Sexes 2 and won his first and last seasons. While he's gone on to host reunion specials, he hung up his Challenge hat to become a WWE Superstar. He landed a hosting gig for USA's Cannonball, premiering in July 2020.

In February 2021, he became the WWE Champion.

Miz has been married to wrestler Maryse Ouellet since 2014. The pair have two daughters.

Credit: Michael Bezjian/WireImage

Trishelle Cannatella

After making her first appearance on The Real World: Las Vegas, the former Playboy model competed on The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Seasons and Rivals II. She hasn’t appeared on MTV since 2013. She married fighter pilot John Hensz in March 2017 and is living in New Orleans.

Credit: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Steven Hill

Also making his TV debut on The Real World: Las Vegas, Steven Hill only went on one season of The Challenge, Battle of the Sexes 2 in 2004. In 2007, he married designer Donna Katz and they had a son the following year. However, they divorced in 2010.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Getty Images

Danny Roberts

Danny made a splash when he appeared on The Real World: New Orleans and went on to compete on Battle of the Seasons in 2002. Between the two, he appeared in an episode of Dawson’s Creek and went on to appear in multiple reality TV specials. In 2014, he moved to Georgia and worked in human resources until 2017. He currently works in Boston for the InVision App. He also married Wes Pereria in 2013 and together, they adopted a daughter.

Credit: J. Vespa/WireImage

Julie Stoffer

Julie also made her debut on The Real World: New Orleans, becoming the first Mormon to star on the series. She went on to appear on Extreme Challenge, Battle of the Sexes, The Inferno, The Inferno II and made her last appearance on The Gauntlet 2 in 2006. She went on to marry Spencer Rogers, a surgeon, and together they have three children, Evelyn, 9, Westley, 6, and Forrest, 2. She runs a personal website called, PlanetJulie.com.

Credit: Courtesy of Katie Cooley/Twitter

Katie Cooley

Katie made her debut in 2001 on Road Rules: The Quest and went on to appear on The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, Fresh Meat, The Gauntlet III, The Duel II, The Ruins and lastly, Cutthroat, in 2010. Afterward, she moved to Kentucky to get her degree in finance and began working at a media production company. She’s also a real estate agent. She got married and welcomed a daughter in 2015. In 2018, she launched a decor blog, called decorkate.com.

Credit: Courtesy of Abram Boise/Instagram

Abram Boise

After making his debut on Road Rules: South Pacific in 2003, Abram went on to star in The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Inferno 3, The Island, Cutthroat, Battle of the Exes and lastly, Battle of the Bloodlines in 2015. He and brother Michael Boise launched Soundcolor Studios, to inspire creativity. In 2019, he married Rachel Missie and the couple lives in Montana. They welcomed their first child in April 2021 and she revealed the pair had split in September 2021.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Getty Images

Ruthie Alcaide

The world was introduced to Ruthie on The Real World: Hawaii in 1999. She appeared on Battle of the Sexes, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2 and lastly, The Duel II in 2009. She now works behind the scenes in television production and has worked on shows like Bad Girls Club and Big Brother.

Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Kenny Santucci

While Kenny never appeared on The Real World or Road Rules, he made his debut on Fresh Meat in 2006 and then went on to appear on The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Ruins, Fresh Meat II and lastly, Rivals, in 2011. Since then, he has taken on fitness and is the general manager at Solace Gym in New York City.

Credit: Courtesy of Tori Hall/Twitter

Tori Hall

The former beauty queen first appeared on Road Rules: Viewers Revenge in 2007, then competed in The Gauntlet III, The Duel II and Cutthroat. She married Challenge costar Brad Fiorenza in 2010 and they had two children. However, they divorced in 2016 and she is currently single, living outside of Chicago. She works as a talent acquisition specialist at ULTA Beauty. In October 2020, she married lawyer Dusty Gwinn after one month of dating.

Credit: Mat Hayward/Getty Images

Evan Starkman

Evan made his debut on Fresh Meat and then appeared on The Duel, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, The Ruins and lastly, Rivals, in 2011. He is the founder and president of The Bait Shoppe, a boutique creative agency specializing in experiential marketing. He got married in 2016 and has one son.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Getty Images

Paula Meronek

Fan favorite Paula was introduced during The Real World: Key West in 2006. She then appeared on The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Duel II, Fresh Meat II, Cutthroat, Rivals, Battle of the Exes and Rivals II. She works as the Regional Officer Manager for the Power Home Remodeling Group. In 2014, she got married and as of 2020, they have three children.

Credit: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage

Coral Smith

Coral made her MTV debut on The Real World: Back to New York, then went on to appear on Battle of the Seasons, The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, Fresh Meat and The Gauntlet III. Following her time on the show, she hosted Challenge reunions and after-shows. She also moved back to San Francisco and began hosting an internet-based travel show. In 2014, she welcomed a daughter.

Credit: Michael Bezjian/WireImage

Tonya Cooley

After appearing on The Real World: Chicago in 2002, Tonya appeared on Battle of the Sexes, The Gauntlet, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, Fresh Meat, The Inferno 3, The Island and The Ruins. Tonya, who stays pretty private on social media, later opened her own hair salon.

Credit: Courtesy of Mark Long/Instagram

Mark Long

Mark appeared on the first season of Road Rules in 1995 and went on to appear on the first Challenge, as well as Battle of the Sexes, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, The Duel II and Battle of the Exes. Mark is now an entrepreneur and has gotten involved in the production side of reality TV. In 2020, Long pitched an all-OGs season of The Challenge.

Credit: Courtesy of Rachel Robinson/Instagram

Rachel Robinson

After being introduced to the world on Road Rules: Campus Crawl, Rachel went on to compete on Battle of the Sexes, The Gauntlet, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Island, The Duel II and Battle of the Exes. Now, she works as a master instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp. In October 2017, she revealed she was married to makeup artist Natalie Gee and the two welcomed twins. In December 2018, they welcomed daughter Ari Gee-Robinson.

Credit: Courtesy of Susie Meister/Instagram

Susie Meister

After appearing on Road Rules: Down Under, Susie competed on Extreme Challenge, The Gauntlet 2, The Inferno 3 and The Ruins. She used her winnings for college and got her PhD in Religious Studies. She founded the WAVE Podcast Network with her husband, and the two share a son. She now hosts the Brain Candy Podcast with best friend and Real World alum Sarah Rice.

Credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Yes Duffy

Yes was a cast member on Road Rules: Semester at Sea, then competed on Challenge 2000, Battle of the Seasons and Battle of the Sexes. Now, he is an architect and fabricator, whose portfolio can be found on yesduffy.com. He is currently an instructor in the Architecture Department at University of California Berkeley.

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