It’s officially been one decade; early in 2015 we saw our first Are You the One? competitors infiltrate the Challenge on Battle of the Exes 2. Since then, the dating show has given us about two dozen Challengers, and some have been hugely successful.
While it appears Are You the One? is over, the show hasn’t stopped giving us new Challengers (there’s even one on Season 41). While there are certainly some AYTO? alum who have fallen into Challenge obscurity, these 10 have proven to be strong (or strong-ish) presences on the show.
10. Christina LeBlanc
She may have been the first boot on Battle of the Bloodlines, but Christina nearly beat Jenna in End of My Rope and she had the best female/female performance during Water Battle with her partner Emily. Rivals 3 was a much more successful run for Christina. She won a daily challenge, and she helped Ashley and Cory get their first elimination loss. Christina’s performance on The Challenge was progressively getting better, but it ended after two seasons.
9. Britni Thornton
Britni’s time on the Challenge is usually remembered for her relationship with Brad and her endless string of drama. However, there was a time when she was a decent threat in the game. She won multiple eliminations on Dirty Thirty and was a top-performer during some of Vendettas’ challenges. While she ended her Challenge run in a blaze of glorious drama on Final Reckoning, she really didn’t get a fair shake on her final season.
8. Dario Medrano
Dario entered the Challenge scene as a hot-headed competitor, and that made his departure on Battle of the Bloodlines a bit satisfying. Then, he redeemed himself on Rivals 3 where he narrowly missed the final and proved he can be a tough competitor in the game. While we saw romantic Dario on Invasion and sleepy Dario on Dirty Thirty, his return to All Stars Rivals proved he still has some gas in the tank and he has potential to make it to a final.
7. Amanda Garcia
While Amanda hasn’t made it to a final yet, she’s earned a reputation on the show. She’s an outspoken player who’s known to stir the pot, and she doesn’t care who her opponent is. She’s taken stands against major competitors like Johnny Bananas and Tori — and while she hasn’t won all of her battles — she’s always fierce enough to make people squirm. This has made her infinitely castable on the show, and there’s no doubt she’ll have another chance to make it to the final.
6. Nelson Thomas
Though Nelson competed as a champion on the World Championship, he hasn’t actually won the title — but he’s come very close. He came in second place on Invasion and lost during an elimination on the Spies, Lies and Allies final. While daily challenges have been a struggle for this AYTO3 alum, he’s a proven elimination beast and an elimination hero. He sacrificed himself to let Cory run the Total Madness final. It seemed like it would only be a matter of time before Nelson earned a championship title, but after his foot amputation, he may never compete on The Challenge again.
5. Nurys Matteo
Battle for a New Champion was a standout season for Nurys, making it easy to forget her amazing rookie season. On Ride or Dies, she was a savvy player who broke Nelson’s multi-season daily challenge losing streak. This gave her confidence going into Battle for a New Champion, and she won multiple eliminations to get to the final. She was the best-performing female that season, helping viewers see her potential to win. However, her early exit on Battle of the Eras means her full potential remains unseen.
4. Devin Walker
If you watched Devin’s debut on Rivals 3, it may be hard to believe that he would go on to become a Challenge champion. Devin is a fairly hit-or-miss competitor, but his game a significantly improved over the years. He’s self-aware enough to know that he needs to use his political game to win, and risky enough to make bold moves to advance his game. He’s earned his share of enemies along the way, but after winning Ride or Dies, it’s hard to deny that he’s done something right.
3. Kam Williams
Kam may not be a champion (yet), but her three final appearances prove she’s capable of taking the title. Since her debut on Vendettas, Kam has proven she’s not a competitor to be messed with. She’s earned the nickname “Killa Kam” for her impressive elimination record and she’s been called “Queen Kam” for her ability to orchestrate bold moves. Every time Kam shows up, she’s going to be a force, and it’s only a matter of time before she takes the crown.
2. Hunter Barfield
From the moment Hunter debuted on Invasion, it was clear he’d be a force in the game. While he lost in a puzzle that season, he redeemed himself on Dirty Thirty — and he could have made that final if he hadn’t broken a bone in his hand. After recovering, he came back on Final Reckoning with his perfect match and mortal enemy: Ashley Mitchell. She was the brains to his brawn and the debt collector to his fortunes. She left him penniless after that final, and while he made his second final on War of the Worlds, he was unable to get his second win.
1. Tori Deal
Regardless of how you feel about her, Tori has stood out as one of the best girls to appear on The Challenge, not just from Are You the One? She’s made it to seven finals, including her rookie season, and she became a Challenge champion on Ride or Dies. Over the years, Tori has developed her stride in the game, including forming a successful (but polarizing) alliance. When push comes to shove, she can hold her own, and she proved that when she went against Bananas and still made the Battle of the Eras final.
Stop Being Polite 