The Challenge isn’t just a reality show to win money; many people walk away with love. And if they don’t find that, they manage to hook up while filming the show.
After 25+ years on the air (and counting), The Challenge has seen an immense number of relationships. Some just result in one-night stands, but a few have led to engagements, wedding bells, and babies.
Here are 69 of the greatest hookups and romances from the franchise. The list ranks entries based on memorability, so couples with important story arcs, that appear on multiple seasons, or turn into life-changing romances are likely to rank higher. But this is still a reality show, and sometimes a surprising, one-time hookup can turn into an unforgettable piece of Challenge history.
Note: This list will consider anyone who had a romantic relationship or hooked up on The Challenge. If the couple only appeared on The Challenge as exes, they will not be considered — so don’t expect to see couples like Knight & Jemmye or Johnny & Averey, even though they have unforgettable Real World story lines.
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69. Kailah & Sam — When Kailah returned on Ride or Dies, she was married. This might have been the strongest bond on the season, but the newlyweds lasted all of one episode. We didn’t see much, but people do remember that Kailah got married.
68. Alton & Sarah — This connection only lasted for a few episodes, and it seemed very natural to most people — except for Trishelle, who assumed Sarah was playing a manipulative game. In response, Sarah volunteered to represent Brooklyn in The Arena, but the gesture wasn’t enough to build a lasting relationship with Alton.
67. Aneesa & Sam — All Stars generally isn’t a hookup-heavy show, but Sam’s admiration for Aneesa brought that element to the spinoff’s fifth installment. The attraction felt organic, and it was nice to see the two women get some appreciation on the show.
66. Tony & Camila — These two are no strangers to having brief flings on The Challenge, but there was so much wrong with this Dirty Thirty make-out session that it couldn’t get swept under the rug. The biggest scandal wasn’t Camila’s inexcusable actions that season, nor was it the fact that the two were paired on Rivals 3 and gotten kicked off for their disturbing behavior. Rather, it’s noteworthy because Tony was in a committed relationship with Alyssa, the mother of his second child, when he made out with Camila on that bus.
65. Darrell & Leah — When these two got together on The Inferno, it was somewhat surprising. Darrell was a top competitor, Leah was a flop competitor, and they didn’t seem like a match. The couple didn’t survive after the season, but they were cute and sweet while they lasted.
64. Nate & Nicole — Rivals 3 feels like a season that has a shockingly minimal impact on the franchise, which may be the reason Nicole’s relationship with Nate is seldom discussed. But the couple was a fairly big deal while they were together. They seemed like they could have impacted future seasons, but they broke up and refused to appear on the show together.
63. Derrick H. & Tori — Before there was Tori and Jordan, Tori arrived on Dirty Thirty with her then-boyfriend, Derrick Henry. The Are You the One? couple seemed deeply in love before Derrick’s early departure, then Tori fell for Jordan. The couple broke up after the season, brought a phone-hacking scandal to the reunion, and returned (and flopped) on Final Reckoning.
62. Nany & Hunter — After a four-season hiatus, Nany returned on War of the Worlds, and this was the first time Nany and Hunter overlapped. The two were attracted to each other (after Julia was out of the picture), and they seemed to have a good connection… until the reunion, when Nany revealed Hunter was fathering a child with another woman.
61. Nany & Will — Nany appeared on Vets & New Threats after breaking up with Kaycee. We didn’t get much info on that split, but we did see Nany look for a fun, short-term fling. She found that in Will, and the relationship was strictly physical. When Will left the season, he was mad at Nany for voting him into The Arena and didn’t even leave her a farewell letter.
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60. Derek & Marlon — When it comes to LGBTQ+ relationships on The Challenge, the women get most of the attention. The only confirmed gay hookup we’ve seen was Derek and Marlon on Rivals 2 (other than one-off kisses). The action wasn’t caught on camera, but Derek confirmed that something happened, as did Marlon after Knight mocked him for it.
59. Bananas & Dee (& Will) — Coming into Vets & New Threats, Dee already planted seeds for an alliance, and once the two met, it turned into a showmance. Bananas claimed he was struck by “Cupid’s empanada,” but unknown to him, Will had also fallen for Dee. As the season progressed, we watched Bananas & Dee grow closer as Will spiraled away.
58. Fessy & Amanda — Fessy has had his share of Challenge hookups, but his relationship with Amanda on Spies, Lies and Allies felt a little different. Amanda was a bit more serious about things than other Challenge girls, and there was some drama because Tori had a thing with Fessy in the past. Fessy and Amanda even saw each other after the season finished, but as expected, Fessy wasn’t relationship material.
57. Mike & Kendal — When Mike dated Trishelle, it raised a few eyebrows. When he dated Kendal, most people felt the couple made sense. They were sweet until Mike got upset when Kendal volunteered to go into The Inferno. They moved past that fight, but were broken up before Mike was on Battle of the Sexes 2.
56. Ashley & Dario — When these two met on Invasion, they quickly clicked and fell in love. The romance lasted a year or two, but for a relationship that lasted that long, it’s fairly forgettable. Dario was committed to Ashley while he was on Dirty Thirty, which allegedly made him boring. Then, they reunited on All Stars: Rivals and discussed their breakup. They competed fairly well together.
55. Thomas & Cara Maria — We know Cara Maria gave Tom massages and fed him egg sandwiches, but the two were rumored to be much more handsy behind closed doors (and on the back seat of a bus). Whether the rumors are true, the “relationship” was enough to anger Abe and make Tom fear for his life.
54. Devyn & Eric — This is another one of those couples that’s mostly memorable because the pairing is so unexpected. Before Battle of the Seasons, Eric was known as the life of the party, and Devyn was known for being stage-ready at all times. They didn’t seem like a match on paper, but they brought out a sweet side in each other. So sweet that Eric quit in the Arena so Devyn could stay in the game.
53. Amber & Chauncey — Amber brought Chauncey onto Ride or Dies as her partner, and he looked like he was built to compete. The duo made it deep into the game until Jordan defeated Chauncey in an impressive upset. Then, Amber found out she was pregnant with Chauncey’s baby on the World Championship, and Chauncey competed on Battle for a New Champion to win money for his new family. He went home penniless, but you can support him on OnlyFans.
52. Rachel, Veronica & Abe — There’s nothing like a threesome to get people to stop and stare — and this hookup demanded attention. Veronica allegedly felt guilty for voting Abe into the Gauntlet, so she and Rachel gave him a farewell viewers will never forget… even if Abe was just an accessory to Rachel and Veronica’s fun (more on that later).
51. CT & Anastasia — When CT wasn’t in a committed relationship, he was a bit of a player on The Challenge. That was never clearer than when he hooked up with Anastasia on the first two episodes of Rivals 2. Anastasia had no idea what she’d gotten herself into, freaked out on CT, and walked away from the season with some serious emotional baggage.
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50. Cory & Aneesa — Based on Cory’s Real World season, we knew his Challenge hookup potential would be high, but his connection with Aneesa on Bloodlines was quite unexpected — until Cory treated Aneesa like she was just a hookup, which was very expected. The romance didn’t last, but a friendship did, and the relationship is etched in Challenge history with the Bloodlines episode named “Cornessa.”
49. Mike & Paula — Paula has a few exes in the Challenge world, but the most unexpected may be Mike from Real World: Las Vegas. You probably remember this hookup because it seemed to be super random, but it was a fun moment, and it was nice to see Mike’s appreciation for Paula.
48. Nany & Cohutta — These two come from two different worlds, but they couldn’t deny the spark that formed when they met on Free Agents. Cohutta was smitten, but Nany hooked up with Johnny R., which could have ended the romance. Cohutta tried to move past the scandal, but it didn’t really work out.
47. Abe & Coral — Some of the most memorable Challenge romances are the ones you didn’t see coming, and this couple certainly fits the bill (especially if you watched Abe’s Road Rules season). Coral once swore she wouldn’t hook up on TV, but on Battle of the Sexes 2, we saw a softer side of Abe and a vulnerable side of Coral that’s hard to forget.
46. Bananas & Moriah — By the time Bananas was on Ride or Dies, hooking up with a rookie had become one of his signature moves. This was seen when he started a relationship with Fessy’s “friend” Moriah. Apparently, their relationship lasted for a while after Ride or Dies, but Moriah was never officially Bananas’ girlfriend. So, she used that as permission to hook up with James on Battle for a New Champion.
45. Ashley & Jamie — At the start of Rivals 3, Ashley and Jamie stole camera time when they started making out, then they hooked up in the shower. A few nights later, Smashley came out and accused Nicole of hooking up with Jamie (which never happened). This concerned Jamie, but he later realized Ashley might be crazy in the head… and in the bed.
44. Nicole & Melissa — On Vendettas, Nicole wasted no time getting to know Melissa, a new British bombshell. Melissa reciprocated Nicole’s advances, likely to benefit her game, and the relationship ended after the season. Apparently, their split wasn’t too nice, which we discovered when they reunited on All Stars: Rivals.
43. Jenn & Rachel — Jenn’s fling with Rachel on The Island may have been chalked up to experimentation, but the spark returned on The Duel 2. While there was no real relationship, you may also remember the hookup upset Aneesa, and this was before we really knew she dated Rachel.
42. Dave & Cara — These two Road Rulers started dating after their season, but they were an item on The Gauntlet. Their game was more mellow than some of the Real World couples, but they managed to win the season together.
41. Kina & Randy — The Gauntlet 2 often feels like it lives in a bubble, because many of the stories are isolated to that season. One example is Kina’s success story and her relationship with Randy. They were a cute, young couple who were supportive of each other. There wasn’t much scandal here, and the romance lasted for a couple of years after The Gauntlet, but the two eventually called it quits.
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40. Nelson & Kayleigh — This relationship was a recurring storyline on Vendettas and Final Reckoning, but what actually came of it? Drama. We saw Devin rock the boat by exposing Kayleigh’s kiss with Bananas on Vendettas (pre Nelson), and we saw Nelson try to repair things on Final Reckoning, only to rehash the Bananas drama and allegedly cuddle with Natalie. This relationship was supposed to be explored on Ex on the Beach UK, but that season will never make it to air.
39. Kailah & Bear — Kailah has had a few Challenge flings, but for a lot of her time on the show, she was in an off-screen relationship with Mikey P. This ended when she hooked up with Bear on Total Madness, causing quite a stir in the house. Bear was very persistent, and Kailah took the bait. In retrospect, Kailah was likely trying to end her relationship with Mikey but chose to sabotage it instead.
38. Dunbar & Paula — When you think of Paula and Dunbar, you’re far, far more likely to think of bad times than good times. They met on the Island, which carried into The Duel 2. That’s when the drama really started. Then they did Cutthroat together (and might have hooked up), but definitely fought when Dunbar voted Paula into the Gulag. Surprisingly, when they buried the drama and romance for Battle of the Exes, they were a solid pair.
37. Rogan & Dee — Sigh. You might remember these two hooking up on War of the Worlds 2, only for Rogan to struggle with having Dee on his team. He never had the guts to send her into an elimination, so he took her to the final, where they won together. Likely, these exes would be higher on the list if we saw their story on Total Madness. They definitely hooked up there, and Rogan played a role in sending Dee into her second elimination that season, but most of that footage got edited out.
36. Tony & Christina — Battle of the Bloodlines might have been a hot mess of a season, but Tony kicked it off with a huge, messy bang. He hooked up with rookie cast member Christina on the first night, which normally isn’t a huge deal… except Tony had just had a baby with Madison a few months earlier. He was kinda-sorta broken up with her, but after one night on The Challenge, he could fully kiss that romance goodbye.
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35. Bananas & Natalie — You might remember Natalie coming into the Vendettas house and Bananas taking a liking to her eerily fast (so fast it almost felt set up). Allegedly, their romance continued off-camera when US Weekly caught them on a blatantly staged date. More likely, you remember the fallout after Devin exposed Bananas’ make-out session with Kayleigh, which resulted in Kayleigh’s luggage being thrown off the balcony and Natalie getting outed.
34. Wes & Theresa — Wes came onto Fresh Meat 2 after ending his romance with Kellyanne, and Theresa came onto Fresh Meat 2 trying to leave an impression on the show. Her first approach was to hook up with Kenny, but when that didn’t work, she moved to Wes. This stirred a bit of controversy, but they made an incredible team when paired together on Battle of the Exes 2.
33. Cory & Kailah — Invasion of the Champions introduced us to a new class of Challenge rookies, and before the Champions show up, Cory was one of the big dogs in the game. Kailah quickly took a liking to him, and they spent their early days hooking up in the Shelter. Once the cast made it to the Oasis, the romance quickly ended when Kailah got drunk, wet the bed, and Cory moved on to Camila.
32. Wes & Kellyanne — Wes came onto The Ruins with a lot of baggage and animosity, but he brought some love to the season, which he could direct at his new girlfriend, Kellyanne. The Champions team tried to weaponize their relationship (and Kellyanne’s friendship with Evelyn), which further drove a wedge between Wes and his teammates. That seemed to make the couple’s bond closer on The Ruins, but by the time Wes was on Fresh Meat 2, he had broken up with Kellyanne. Though they’ve never competed as exes, and they kind of worked together on Rivals 3, the two finally talked about their relationship on All Stars 3.
31. Alton & Irulan — If you watched The Gauntlet, you’d know these two Vegas roommates formed a connection after the season wrapped, and they were a bit of a power couple on the Real World team. The Road Rulers hated them, but they had undying support for each other. Alton would vocally cheer for Irulan during missions, and Irulan would support Alton with memorable lines like “that’s my dawg” when he excelled in competitions (which was frequently).
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30. Bear & Georgia — War of the Worlds 1 and 2 might be buried seasons, but if you caught them, you’ll likely remember Georgia’s romance with Bear (and this was before things went terribly wrong). The two Brits seemed to take a liking to each other, but Bear had a girlfriend at home. When Bear called this girl, he memorably told Georgia it was his cousin. She didn’t buy it (for good reason), but she still seemed attracted to him on War of the Worlds 2. Bear ended up taking a liking to Laurel that season, and he apparently reunited with Georgia after they were eliminated … only for Bear to cheat.
29. CT & Shauvon — We’ve had our share of shocking hookups, but this one will go down in history for the fight it started. CT’s relationship with Shauvon only lasted for one night on The Duel 2, and while CT and Diem were broken up, this deeply hurt her. Plus, Adam broke the news to Diem, so to retaliate, CT broke Adam’s face.
28. Ashley & Hunter — When you think of these two, you’re more likely to remember the aftermath than the hookup itself. Ashley met Hunter in the Shelter on Invasion, and once they had real beds, they were quick to break them in. The flame fizzled before the end of the season, but it was enough for the “exes” to be paired on Final Reckoning, which had a very lucrative outcome for Ashley.
27. Emily & James — The early days of The Challenge were a bit less cutthroat than the modern seasons, but there were exceptions. One such example was James and Emily. These Road Rulers met during the Extreme Challenge, but we didn’t see their relationship until they returned on Battle of the Sexes. James was a solid competitor, but Emily played a more aggressive game. She wasn’t afraid to eliminate her competition, and she made some ballsy moves. Perhaps the biggest shock was when Emily decided to self-eliminate from the game because James was going home, even though she had a clear path to the final.
26. Frank & Jillian — According to Tyler, these two were voted the most boring couple on the internet, but they left a lasting impression on The Gauntlet 3. They survived multiple eliminations and eventually became quasi-leaders on the Rookies team. They won the season together, and the relationship lasted for a little while after the season, but it eventually came to an end.
25. Evelyn & Brooke
This relationship may not have lasted a long time, but if we’re measuring romances based on memorability, we can’t ignore this one. Brooke came onto the Gauntlet 3 with a new sexuality, and she immediately caught Evelyn’s eye. The girls (well, Evelyn at least) fell fast and hard, but Brooke was fated to leave the season early because she doesn’t have an athletic bone in her body. Evelyn gave her a long kiss goodbye, and Brooke felt the love, but by the time Ev was on The Island, her romance with Brooke had sailed away.
24. Danny & Melinda
If this were a list of Real World relationships, this couple would be at the top. They appeared on Fresh Meat together, days after their engagement, but they were the first two “veterans” booted from the season. While they did more Challenge seasons, each appearance felt like it was a Christmas card, giving a quick update. They were on The Gauntlet 3 together, but they weren’t on the same team, and we didn’t see a whole lot of interactions. While they were married, Danny did a couple of Challenge seasons and let us know he was still with Melinda, but when Melinda did Cutthroat in 2010, she announced the divorce. Fortunately, the exes appeared on Battle of the Seasons in 2012, and they were very cordial, revealing that the breakup was a mutual decision.
23. Adam & Averey
This is one of the more recent couples on the list, and viewers watched Adam & Averey early into their relationship when they met on All Stars 4 — but they weren’t an item then. After that season, Averey competed on Battle of the Eras and was motivated by Adam and his daughters. Adam then competed on All Stars: Rivals with the goal of winning so he could get engaged to Averey. That happened in early 2025, and the wedding is on the way. But, this relationship gets knocked down on this list because the two never actually competed as a couple, though the relationship has been central to both of their stories.
22. Devin & Michele
Like many of Devin’s Challenge relationships, his early conversations with Michele were more hostile than heartwarming. On Ride or Dies, Devin accused Michele of being a snake, but he must have gotten over that feeling by the time he was on Battle of the Eras. During that season, the two started to develop feelings for each other, and it turned into a real relationship. As of late 2025, they remain a couple, and Devin was focused on keeping the love alive while he was on All Stars: Rivals (even though Michele wasn’t there).
21. Brad & Britni
Watching these two kind of felt like watching a midlife crisis. Brad returned to The Challenge after a 10-season hiatus and a divorce, and Britni was one of the new, emerging rookies. They quickly connected and started a fast romance. It was all fun and games during Vendettas (except when Marie threw pizza on them), and sparks continued to fly off-camera. When they came onto Final Reckoning, Britni was cursed by being paired with her ex, Chuck. The two fought constantly in the Redemption House, and Paulie started a hookup rumor that shook Brad to his core. This seemed to put the breakup into motion, and both Brad and Britni eventually decided to end things.
20. Zach & Jonna
On Battle of the Seasons, this couple quickly became central to the game. Zach was quickly drawn to Jonna, and she broke up with her boyfriend in the first episode to be with him. When she left the season, it seemed like they were going to try to keep in touch, but Zach allegedly ghosted her. This led to some uncomfortable energy on Rivals 2 and Free Agents, but the exes could avoid each other… until they were paired on Exes 2. This is where the tension came to a head, and Zach was an awful partner to Jonna. He was loud and aggressive, and she just wanted to do well. They were eliminated slightly after the midway point, and Jonna stopped doing the Challenge for a long time after that. Years later, she’d go on to win two All Stars seasons (earning more victories and money than Zach ever won), and Zach apologized for his behavior on his podcast.
19. Nurys & Horacio
At the start of Battle for a New Champion, there were two distinct alliances, and Nurys and Horacio were not on the same page. But as the season progressed, lines blurred, and hearts fluttered. Nurys was smitten with Horacio, and he was falling for her, but they worried that their lifestyles weren’t fully compatible. After talking, they realized the relationship was worth giving a try, and it worked out for a while. They remained an item on Battle of the Eras, which made it really difficult for Horacio to watch Nurys lose to his former Ride or Die Olivia in the first elimination. While the couple split up in 2025, their romance remains a sweet Challenge love story.
18. Mark & Robin
Battle of the Sexes 2 felt like the first season where the rookie/ veteran dynamic really impacted the game, but not all competitors were going to let their status define them. The most notable example was rookie Robin, who quickly formed a relationship with Mark. This was somewhat scandalous because there was an age difference (it was nine years, she was 24, and he was 33), but the two seemed to want to keep the romance alive after the season wrapped. By the time Robin was back on The Inferno 2, Mark had allegedly spent time with Tonya, which sparked a humongous fight in the house. Then, Mark flirted with Jodi on The Gauntlet 2, which upset Robin, but she wasn’t rude to Jodi. Years later, the duo reunited for Battle of the Exes, where they were the last team cut before the final.
17. Kyle & Cara Maria
This pairing started as a season-long hookup on Vendettas, and it seemed pretty good at first. After Cara Maria’s previous Challenge relationship, the idea of her having a fun, carefree hookup didn’t seem so bad. Both Cara and Kyle knew their locations would make it difficult to continue a romance after the show, but of course, it wasn’t a clean break. When the two reunited on Final Reckoning, their spark reignited before things exploded. Kyle hooked up with other girls, and Cara Maria met Paulie. As Cara Maria distanced herself from Kyle, Paulie started an epic feud with him.
16. Kenny & Johanna
The Island may feel like a useless Challenge season, but it produced a decent amount of drama that carried into other seasons. Perhaps the biggest scandal of all was the Kenny and Johanna hook-up, where the two rolled around in the sand and made out by the water. To be clear, Johanna had broken up with Wes by this point, but the hookup seemed to deeply upset her ex. This drama really exploded on The Ruins, and it sparked an epic rivalry between Wes and Kenny that played out on Fresh Meat 2 and The Island. Bonus: Johanna’s hookup on The Island allegedly made Snooki want to appear on reality TV.
15. Chadwick & Holly
It didn’t take long for a married couple to appear on the Challenge, and they entered the competition in a fairly scandalous way. Both Chadwick and Holly landed in the first Inner Circle, and they decided to kick off their biggest competition, which made them unpopular on the Road Rules team. Luckily, they had each other, until Chadwick found himself directly outside the Inner Circle after the second mission. Then, the power teams kicked him the h-e-double-hockey-sticks off.
14. Wes & Johanna
It might be surprising to see Wes & Johanna higher than Danny & Melinda, but this story almost entirely lived on The Challenge. The two came onto Fresh Meat as a couple, but Wes ended up eliminating Johanna in the third Exile. Their romance continued after that season, and Wes was allegedly competing on The Duel to buy Johanna an engagement ring. The proposal never happened, and Johanna was single on The Gauntlet 3, but shit really hit the fan when Johanna hooked up with Wes’ rival Kenny on The Island. This ignited a heated feud that exposed a lot of personal drama during The Ruins, likely souring Johanna’s opinion of The Challenge.
13. Abram & Cara Maria
When Abram & Cara Maria met on Cutthroat, it seemed so right. They were two misfits who found comfort in each other, and during Rivals, Cara Maria clung to her connection with Abram as motivation to do well in the game. By the time they were on Exes (despite not really being exes), we started to see the flaws. Abram has always been a very intense person, and his communication style caused Cara Maria emotional stress, especially when Cara Maria wanted to move in with him. We also learned that they had an on-again-off-again dynamic, and that was clear when they did Bloodlines together. It almost felt like Abe appeared on the season solely to help Cara Maria win, but it was a last-ditch-effort that couldn’t prevent the eventual final breakup.
12. Olivia & Theo
After meeting on Battle of the Eras, Olivia & Theo quickly became the “it” couple of The Challenge. This started when Olivia got her tattoo of Theo’s name, before season 40 started airing. Then, viewers saw the couple’s origins when Battle of the Eras aired, but the duo really stood out on Vets & New Threats. They were in a smaller alliance, and they fought their way through the game, but they were fully loyal to each other. During summer 2025, viewers found out just how close they were while filming season 41, because Olivia announced she was pregnant and gave birth to her son a couple of weeks before her victory aired.
11. Laurel & Nicole
If there was ever a Challenge relationship built for reality TV, this may have been it. Laurel and Nicole met on Invasion, and it felt positive at the start. Laurel was smitten and exploring her sexuality; meanwhile, Nicole was just exploring Laurel. The relationship lasted for a little while off-screen, and by the time Nicole appeared on Vendettas, the two girls had split. Their baggage was exposed on Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love, and it was clear (to most people) that this was not a healthy relationship for either woman. Four years later, they reappeared on All Stars 4, and the sparks flew again. They gave the relationship a second go, but the eventual breakup seems to be a bigger disaster than the first time.
10. Mike & Trishelle
In the early days of The Challenge, there were two types of relationships: the one-season romances and the ones that formed off-screen. Then, we got Mike and Trishelle on The Gauntlet, and they seemed like a perfect reality TV couple. They caused a stir on the Real World team, especially when Mike protected Trishelle at Coral’s expense, but they both seemed invested in the relationship. Then, that season ended, and the couple split up. They reunited on The Inferno, and we saw the first real cross-season Challenge relationship. Of course, there was drama, but the romance was a perfect disaster and helped The Challenge build its identity.
9. Nany & Kaycee
Nany has had her share of Challenge romances, but her greatest one of all was the one no one expected. Not just because it was a same-sex relationship, but because Kaycee was in a relationship when they first met on Total Madness. There was definite chemistry that season, and suppressed chemistry on Double Agents, but the relationship was in full swing on Spies, Lies and Allies. Kaycee was a support system for Nany on Ride or Dies, right after her mother passed away, and the two were planning to spend their lives together. This was discussed on Battle of the Eras and All Stars: Rivals, but they called it quits before Nany showed up for Vets & New Threats.
8. Sean & Rachel
We didn’t know it in 1998, but Road Rules: All Stars (technically the first Challenge season) would spawn the show’s longest-lasting relationship. This is when Sean Duffy met Rachel Campos, and the two would go on to get married and have nine kids. The only reason this couple is so low on this list is that their time on the show was relatively brief. Rachel only did the one season, but Sean would return for Battle of the Seasons (after getting married to Rachel) before entering a long career in politics.
7. Rachel & Veronica
This is the Challenge’s greatest love story never told (though Rachel and Veronica confirmed it on The Challenge: Untold History in 2022), so many details have been lost to time. We saw these women grow progressively closer during The Gauntlet and Battle of the Sexes 2, but their bond was undeniable when they appeared on The Inferno 2. Of course, rumors were flying from 2003 to 2005, but that semi-secrecy was the reality of many LGBTQ+ relationships in the early aughts. While the romance didn’t last forever, Veronica has confirmed the relationship was built on love and loyalty, which is likely why the exes were so excited to see each other on All Stars 4.
6. Paulie & Cara Maria
These two met under scandalous terms on Final Reckoning, and no one really expected them to last — then, they proved us wrong. The couple brought more drama to seasons like War of the Worlds and War of the Worlds 2, and while they made a few enemies, they remained loyal to each other. Their commitment lasted off-screen, as both of them took a break (likely mandated by production), starting with Total Madness. That didn’t stop their romance. They lived together, worked on personal development, and continued their story on seasons like All Stars 4, The Challenge: USA 2, and Battle of the Eras. Based on Paulie’s episode of Netflix’s Pop the Balloon, the two no longer seem to be in a committed relationship, but they had a solid five years together, and that’s 59 months longer than anyone anticipated.
5. Zach & Jenna
Early into his Challenge days, Zach was a bit of a player. On Battle of the Exes 2, he met Jenna, and the two were smitten from the start. They continued their relationship after Exes 2, which was seen on Bloodlines, but Zach’s player ways didn’t fully die. They broke up while Jenna was on Rivals 3, only to rekindle things during Zach’s brief appearance on Invasion. Unfortunately, the two are convinced they’re cursed if they appear on a season together, meaning one will go home early. Jenna was a first boot on Final Reckoning, and Zach left War of the Worlds early (though the couple had a fight early on). The last time Jenna was on The Challenge, the two were arguing over FaceTime about Instagram DMs, but it seems they resolved that drama. They’re now married and have four kids (and counting) together.
4. Jordan & Tori
This relationship was far from perfect, but it was entertaining from the start. Tori kinda, sorta, but not really, cheated on Derrick H. with Jordan during Dirty Thirty, and they kinda, sorta, dated for a while after that season. Their relationship wasn’t fully confirmed until War of the Worlds 2, and the couple navigated this season on their own terms, which meant seeing multiple eliminations. Jordan got engaged to Tori after defeating Theo in the Proving Grounds, and the newly engaged couple made it to the final together, but only Jordan won. They returned for an unsuccessful run on Total Madness, and the relationship fizzled as Tori competed on Double Agents and Spies, Lies and Allies while Jordan stayed home. By the time they were both on Ride or Dies, they had to navigate the game as exes, and they proved just how sacred the bond of ex-fiancés can be.
3. Leroy & Kam
These two started to fall for each other on Vendettas, but allegedly production decided to downplay their romance to focus on other hook ups. That was a mistake, because their story continued on War of the Worlds when Kam made a non-committal Leroy jealous by flirting with Theo. He got his act together on War of the Worlds 2, and Kam & Leroy showed power couple potential that season. Then, they took it to new levels on Double Agents. They made both the War of the Worlds 2 and Double Agents finals, but neither one has gotten first place yet. However, they’ve received something better: a family. The couple returned on All Stars 4 after Kam gave birth to their son, and they had a daughter together in 2024. In 2025, they finally tied the knot.
2. Brad & Tori
There’s something to be said about a couple that met on The Challenge and fell in love as they navigated the competition. Viewers watched as Brad & Tori’s story developed on The Gauntlet 3 — his fifth season and her first. Then, they returned as an engaged couple on The Duel 2, and we saw the stress the game placed on the relationship. Brad was determined to become a champion, and he came close on The Duel 2, but it wasn’t until he ran a final with his then-wife Tori on Cutthroat that he won. After this season, Tori retired, and Brad took a break. They had two kids together, but the two champs would eventually divorce before Brad made his comeback on Vendettas in 2017.
1. CT & Diem
Was there ever really another option for the top spot? We were first introduced to CT & Diem on The Duel in 2006, and we followed the couple for eight years. We saw good moments, like their first kiss on The Duel or their commitment on The Gauntlet 3. We also saw bad moments, like the infamous fight on The Duel 2 and the aftermath of their breakup on Battle of the Exes. Then, we saw them move past their drama as Exes continued, and they reunited on Rivals 2. On Diem’s final appearance, Battle of the Exes 2, the couple was definitely in a good spot. CT left the season to be with Diem during her final days, and there’s a part of Diem that will always live in the hearts of CT and her millions of fans.
Stop Being Polite 