Hey y’all.
I’m back from my gaycation and ready to deconstruct yet another casting archetype apparent on The Challenge, along with other MTV shows (Real World, Road Rules) and reality TV shows in general (Big Brother, Survivor).
The previous 6 entries are:
If you’ve been following along with this series, you know by now that I am not advocating for such reductionism, synedoche, and pigeonholing, but rather critically analyzing casting and the decisions for whom to include on what seasons.
You also probably know that Season 35 of The Challenge starts filming very soon (next week!), so speculation about who will make the cast began a month ago and has been poppin’ as of late.
(Spoiler alert for the likely cast and for this article) And what I find fascinating is how Melissa Reeves only became very likely to appear after Georgia Harrison declined her offer. Which is super fkn apropos for this article.
Which brings me to the subject — the Bubbly Blondes. These are women who, obviously, are bubbly and blonde (either natural or by a bottle). Most often, they are upbeat, carefree, likable, sweet, and not known for their intellectual capacity. That is, in common parlance, the Bubbly Blondes = dumb blondes / ditzes / bimbos.
As far as competition goes, and their role on the show — they are good sidekicks, members of showmances, and used for entertainment, comedy, and/or drama. They are typically good enough at competing but not elite, and are not known for being scrappy, confrontational fighters or politicians.
Sugar Kiper comes to mind for Survivor, along with all the forgettable blondes (Purple Kelly, Gabon Kelly, WA Kelly, Hope, Allie….). Kelley Wentworth and Andrea B would be rulebreakers.
Let’s get to it!
Amaya Brecher — originated on RW Hawaii; debuted on Challenge 2000
Michelle Parma (RIP) — originated on RR Europe; debuted on Extreme Challenge
Christina Pazsitzky — originated on RR Down Under; debuted on Sexes 1
Leah Gillingwater — originated on RW Paris; debuted on Inferno 1
Robin Hibbard — originated on RW San Diego; debuted on Sexes 2
Cameran Eubanks — originated on RW San Diego; debuted on Sexes 2
Melinda Stolp — originated on RW Austin; debuted on Fresh Meat 1
Casey Cooper — originated & debuted on Fresh Meat 1
Diem Brown — originated & debuted on Fresh Meat 1
Paula Meronek — originated on RW Key West; debuted on Duel 1
Colie Edison — originated on RW Denver; debuted on Inferno 3
Shauvon Torres — originated on RW Sydney; debuted on Duel 2
Kim Alexander — originated on RW Hollywood; debuted on Duel 2
Carley Johnson — originated & debuted on Fresh Meat 2
Mandi Moyer — originated & debuted on Fresh Meat 2
Heather Marter — originated on RW Las Vegas 2; debuted on Exes 1
McKenzie Coburn — originated on RW New Orleans 2; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 2
Ashley Kelsey — originated on RW San Diego 2; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 2
Jenna Compono — originated on RW Ex-Plosion; debuted on Exes 2
Christina LeBlanc — originated on AYTO2; debuted on Bloodlines
Brianna Julig — originated & debuted on Bloodlines
Liz Nolan — originated on Big Brother 17; debuted on War of the Worlds 1
Julia Nolan — originated on Big Brother 17; debuted on War of the Worlds 1
Morgan Willett — originated on Big Brother Over the Top; debuted on War of the Worlds 1
Georgia Harrison — originated on Love Island UK 3; debuted on War of the Worlds 1
Zahida Allen — originated on EotBUK 6; debuted on War of the Worlds 1
Not Blonde
These are women who are likable and bubbly, but aren’t strong physical competitors or strategists. But they are not blonde.
Brooke LaBarbera — originated on RW Denver; debuted on Gauntlet 3
Priscilla Mendez — originated on RW San Diego 2; debuted on Exes 1
Anika Rashaun — originated on RW Bad Blood; debuted on Invasion
Nicole Bass — originated on EotBUK 6; debuted on War of the Worlds 2
Not Bubbly
These are blonde women who are too intense or confrontational to be a “Bubbly Blonde.”
Beth Stolarczyk — originated on RW Los Angeles; debuted on RW/RR Challenge
Julie Stoffer — originated on RW New Orleans; debuted on Extreme Challenge
Tonya Cooley — originated on RW Chicago; debuted on Sexes 1
Trishelle Cannatella — originated on RW Las Vegas; debuted on Gauntlet 1
Brianna Taylor — originated on RW Hollywood; debuted on The Ruins
Marie Roda — originated on RW St Thomas; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 2
Jill Tuttle — originated on & debuted on Bloodlines
Nicole Zanatta — originated on RW Skeletons; debuted on Invasion
Britni Thornton — originated on AYTO3; debuted on Dirty Thirty
Melissa Reeves — originated on EotBUK2 ; debuted on Vendettas
Not Ditzy
And these are blonde women who are not ditzes. They are excellent competitors in terms of strategy, politics, and/or the mental game — and for many, physically as well.
Emily Bailey — originated on RR Second Adventure; debuted on Extreme Challenge
Susie Meister — originated on RR Down Under; debuted on RW/RR Challenge
Kelley Limp — originated on RW New Orleans; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 1
Holly Brentson — originated on RR Maximum Velocity Tour; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 1
Genesis Moss — originated on RW Boston; debuted on Sexes 1
Evelyn Smith — originated on & debuted on Fresh Meat 1
Sarah Rice — originated on RW Brooklyn; debuted on The Ruins (even though she had black hair on Real World and her first couple seasons)
Ashley Mitchell — originated on RW Ex-Plosion; debuted on Rivals 3
Tori Deal — originated on AYTO4; debuted on Dirty Thirty
