On Bisexual Visibility Day, let’s celebrate the bi+ alumni from MTV’s The Challenge !! 💙💜💗

NovaRogue
2 min readSep 23, 2019

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Today is Bisexual Visibility Day, to signify that bisexuality exists, is real, and is not just a “phase” or pit stop on the way to being gay or lesbian.

MTV has always had queer representation in their original programming and offered some of the very first opportunities for our LGBTQ+ stories to be told on national television.

This goes all the way back to the very first season of The Real World, with Norman Korpi. The most significant early representation was on the third season of Real World, filmed in San Francisco, featuring the famous Pedro Zamora — an openly gay and HIV-positive Cuban immigrant who dedicated his life to educating about HIV/AIDS and safe(r) sex, who died the same day that the final episode of RW3 aired due to health complications from the syndrome.

Since then, nearly every season of Real World, Road Rules, and The Challenge have featured at least one cast member who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. So let’s take today to recognize the bi- and/or pansexual alumni!

Top Row

  • Laurel Stucky (Fresh Meat 2)
  • Sarah Rice (RW Brooklyn)
  • Cara Maria Sorbello (Fresh Meat 2)
  • Veronica Portillo (RR Semester at Sea)
  • Rachel Robinson (RR Campus Crawl)
  • Aneesa Ferreira (RW Chicago)

Middle Row

  • Coral Smith (RW Back to New York)
  • Frank Sweeney (RW San Diego 2)
  • Emily Schromm (RW DC)
  • Ruthie Alcaide (RW Hawaii)
  • Marlon Williams (RW Portland)
  • Natalie Negrotti (Big Brother 18)
  • Jenn Grijalva (RW Denver)

Bottom Row

  • Jemmye Carroll (RW New Orleans 2)
  • Norman Korpi (RW New York)
  • Melissa Reeves (Ex on the Beach UK 2)
  • Ammo Hall (RW Go Big or Go Home)
  • Brooke Labarbera (RW Denver)
  • Shauvon Torres (RW Sydney)
  • Ayiiia Elizarraràs (RW Cancun)

Special Mention: the entire cast of Are You the One 8, the “sexually fluid” season, where everyone was open to relationships with all genders! And some T: (at least) 2 of them have gotten availability calls for season 35 of The Challenge!

Now get out there and be visible, y’all !💙💜💗

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NovaRogue
NovaRogue

Written by NovaRogue

I write about MTV’s The Challenge, with a queer / social justice / critical analysis bent. #UnspoiledGang

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