We didn’t know it at the time, but Road Rules Xtreme was going to become the reality show’s last real season. After it finished, the cast infiltrated the Challenge with people like Derrick and Jodi being regarded as some of the best players.
Somewhere in the mix, we also had Kina Dean — the second person voted off Road Rules. She did three Challenges and hung up her jersey, and we haven’t seen her since she appeared on Road Rules Viewers Revenge in 2007.
While many cast members (especially successful ones) have returned for All Stars, Kina is one holdout who doesn’t seem interested. She’s very likely done with the show, but she’s still remembered fondly for her brief stint on the Challenge.
Battle of the Sexes 2
There’s not a whole lot to remark on from this season because Kina was the third girl eliminated. She didn’t get a whole lot of screen time, and allegedly, she was a late addition to the cast (rumored because Jisela dropped out).
While Kina didn’t make a huge impression on her episodes, she was allegedly behind the prank to steal Eric Nies’ jump rope, which was pretty funny. She was probably 20 years old at the time, and she didn’t realize Eric, a man in his 30s, was so passionate about his jump rope. (It was because he was promoting a fitness video.)
The Gauntlet 2
This is the season that really changed Kina’s reputation on the show. Back in the early 2000s, the Challenge was generally considered to be an easier competition with a lot of partying in the mix. On the Gauntlet 2, a team captain twist was implemented that ended the party for the selected leaders. Initially, Kina was not one of them, but once Jo left the game, she defaulted into the position. This meant every time her team lost on a female Gauntlet day, Kina had to compete in the elimination to remain in the game.
While it seemed like a curse at first, the captain twist really put a spotlight on Kina, and she rose to the occasion. The first time she was sent into The Gauntlet, Cameran quit, allowing her to stay in the game. However, chirps of an alliance really angered Kina, so it was satisfying to watch her earn her spot on the rookies team by winning two Gauntlets.
Kina was definitely the star of this season, largely because she was forced to show her strength and navigate the political game. She also had a romance with Randy, and the then-couple won the final together. By the time the season was over, the team captain twist seemed like a blessing, because it made Kina look like a hero, and without the twist she probably would have just floated through the game in a Road Rules Xtreme alliance.
The Duel
After winning the Gauntlet 2, it seemed like Kina was destined to be a mainstay on The Challenge. She only did one more season, the Duel, and her time there was fairly mediocre. This was the season where she relied on her alliance to get through the game, but it didn’t feel like her heart was in the competition.
Kina’s most memorable moments on The Duel were scheming against Beth and facing Svetlana in the Push Me elimination. Svetlana won that Duel, memorably saying she took Kina “for a ride,” and this was the only time a competitor won Push Me without relying on the flag-ripping loophole.
What’s Kina’s Legacy?
Kina’s time on MTV didn’t really end with The Duel — she also did the often-forgotten Road Rules: Viewers Revenge season. She was one of the better girls on that show, and she developed a friendship with Susie and Tori. This season was a better display of Kina’s feisty side than the Duel. She had a memorable fight with Angel in the Pit, and she would go on to defeat Angel in a second Pit and win the whole competition.
If we isolate Kina’s time on MTV to just the Challenge, she’s best remembered for having a fairly wholesome underdog story. She had to fight her way to the end of the game, but it wasn’t because her team disliked her — it was because of the captain twist. So when she returned, she was embraced by her friends and boyfriend Randy.
If we’re being honest, this type of underdog story isn’t quite as compelling as someone like Sarah from the first Gauntlet season. In Sarah’s case, she was fighting a much steeper battle. Kina was in a tough situation, but she also had allies who were looking out for her best interest. Not only that, if people were playing a strategic game that didn’t align with Kina’s objective, her allies would target them — at least that’s what happened to Cara and Jillian.
Kina is one of those hit-or-miss competitors. When she’s good, she’ll stand out. Otherwise, she’ll fade into the background and enjoy the company of her friends. She left the Challenge with a great performance on the Gauntlet and she bid farewell to MTV after Viewers Revenge, which was a nice departure because she lost Road Rules Xtreme. She exited the franchise on a respectful high note, and it’s nice to see someone truly leave the game in such a fashion.
Stop Being Polite 