Casting Archetypes on MTV’s The Challenge 3: Feisty Black Women

Welcome to the third entry into my series about casting archetypes on MTV’s The Challenge! I’ve previously written about Spicy Latinas and All-American Studs. Both those articles include disclaimers about what I intend to do with this series and gives special nuance to my analysis and categories.

So before you jump down my throat for this being reductive (I know it is), plz read those. Gracias.

Archetype 3 is one everyone could have guessed — the Feisty Black Woman. Kemi from this season of US Big Brother (21) talked about it on the live feeds, how production (specifically someone named Christine) wanted her to say more stereotypical sassy or even “ghetto” lines in her DRs/confessionals, like “Nuh-uh, girlfriend.” I don’t use that adjective lightly, btw, and I know it is problematic.

There have been many Black women who fit this mold in Challenge herstory, however. Outspoken, in-your-face, opinionated, articulate, sassy, and entertaining to watch get into arguments because the one-liners that come out are iconic. And for most of them, their bark is backed up with quite the bite, too. So here they are, with Rulebreakers at the bottom.

III. Feisty Black Women

Piggy Thomas — originated on RR Down Under; debuted on Challenge 2000

Kameelah Phillips — originated on RW Boston; debuted on Extreme Challenge

Ayanna Mackins — originated on RR Semester at Sea; debuted on Extreme Challenge

Coral Smith — originated on RW Back to New York; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 1

Melissa Howard — originated on RW New Orleans 1; debuted on Sexes 1

Aneesa Ferreira — originated on RW Chicago; debuted on Sexes 1

Irulan Wilson — originated on RW Las Vegas 1; debuted on Gauntlet 1

Chanda Sneed — originated & debuted on Fresh Meat 1

Janelle Casanave — originated on RW Key West; debuted on Inferno 3

Angel Turlington— originated on RR Viewers’ Revenge; debuted on Gauntlet 3

Brianna Taylor — originated on RW Hollywood; debuted on The Ruins

Sydney Walker — originated & debuted on Fresh Meat 2

Jasmine Reynaud — originated on RW Cancun; debuted on Rivals 1

Naomi Defensor — originated on RW Las Vegas 2; debuted on Exes 1

Nia Moore — originated on RW Portland; debuted on Free Agents

LaToya Jackson — originated on RW St Thomas; debuted on Free Agents

Simone Kelly— originated on Are You the One 1; debuted on Exes 2

Cheyenne Floyd — originated on Are You the One 3; debuted on Rivals 3

Kam Williams — originated on Are You the One 5; debuted on Vendettas

Alicia Wright — originated on Are You the One 5; debuted on Vendettas

Da’Vonne Rogers — originated on Big Brother US 17 and 18; debuted on Final Reckoning

Faith Stowers — originated on Vanderpump Rules and Ex on the Beach US 1; debuted on Final Reckoning

Shaleen Sutherland — originated on Bachelor Canada 3; debuted on War of the Worlds 1

Tula “Big T” Fazakerley — originated on Shipwrecked 2019; debuted on War of the Worlds 2

Rulebreakers

These are Black women who have been less outspoken or “feisty.” That’s not to say they didn’t stand up for themselves, but they were more go-with-the-flow.

• Cynthia Roberts — originated on RW Miami; debuted on RR All-Stars
• Roni Martin — originated on RR Northern Trail; debuted on RW/RR Challenge
• Sharon Gitau — originated on RW London; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 1
• Gladys Sanabria — originated on RR Latin America; debuted on Sexes 1
• Christena Pyle — originated on RR South Apcific; debuted on Inferno 1
• Arissa Hill — originated on RR The Quest; debuted on Sexes 2
• Sophia Pasquis — originated on RR The Quest; debuted on Sexes 2
• Shavonda Billingslea — originated on RW Philadelphia; debuted on Inferno 2
• Brittini Sherrod — originated on RW Hollywood; debuted on Duel 2
• Jonna Mannion — originated on RW Cancun; debuted on Rivals 1
• Devyn Simone — originated on RW Brooklyn; debuted on Battle of the Seasons 2
• Candice Fowler — originated & debuted on Bloodlines
• Anika Rashaun — originated on RW Bad Blood; debuted on Invasion
• Esther Falana — originated on BKChat LDN; debuted on War of the Worlds 2 (so far)

Other Shows

Survivor also has this archetype, like with Alicia Calaway; Ghandia Johnson; Tijuana Bradley; Jolanda Jones; Yasmin Giles; Na’Onka Mixon; Stacey Powell; Michaela Bradshaw; etc. ad nauseam.

Big Brother US does as well — obviously with Da’Vonne, but also Bayleigh Dayton (BB20) and who they wanted Kemi Fakunleto be this season.

Also Ex on the Beach US — such as Janelle Shanks, Maya Benberry, Kenya Scott, and Tyranny Todd — and Floribama Shore (Kandice) and Are You the One — Tyler Abron, Rashida Beach, Kaylen Zahara, Jada Allen, Jasmine Olson, and many others.

It’s a lot, and it is a negative stereotype and generalization. No bueno.