MTV’s “The Challenge” might be one of the most exciting shows that reality TV has ever given us. Premiered in 1998 from joining together the shows “Road Rules” and “The Real”, “The Challenge” stands on its own by bringing the best of the best when it comes to entertainment, as audiences not only love the physical and mental challenges with which participants struggle, but also the inevitable dramas and rivalries they get into every season.
That said, not everything in “The Challenge” is about winning or losing. Sometimes the show joins likely and unlikely people who develop intense romantic feelings for each other, though not all of these relationships last long against adversity.
So who are the couples still together from “The Challenge”? What’s their story, and how have they stuck together for so long? Keep with us to learn all about them!
Zach & Jenna
Zach Nichols and Jenna Compono are one of the most famous couples who made it out of “The Challenge” in one piece. The pair met in the “Battle of the Exes II” season in 2015, though Jenna’s original show was “Real World: Ex-Plosion” and Zach’s was “The Real World: San Diego”.
While Zach was known for his messy romantic endeavors in the show, his relationship with Jenna hinted that he was changing his ways once and for all. Unfortunately, the relationship was on the rocks when he cheated on her onea year into their relationship, leading them to be on and off for a couple of years.
Their long-awaited happily-ever-after began when Zach proposed to Jenna in 2019. They tied the knot in early 2021, and went on to welcome their first child later that year. Their second and third children were born in late 2022 and early 2024.
Rachel & Sean
The title for the longest-standing couple from “The Challenge” goes to Rachel Campos and Sean Duffy. They met in the show’s first season entitled “Road Rules: All Stars”, shown in April and May 1998 ,resulting in Rachel and Sean’s victory.
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According to an article Rachel wrote for Fox News, Sean and she didn’t hit it off right after the meeting, nor during their time traveling together for the show, despite his relentless efforts to flirt with her. They kept in contact after the season’s end, but Rachel didn’t realize she was in love with him until they reunited for breakfast in Los Angeles months later. They married in 1999.
Fast forward – today, Rachel and Sean have welcomed nine children together., while both of them have been involved with conservative politics and entertainment for several years.
Cara Maria & Paulie
The first time we saw Cara Maria Sorbello and Paulie Calafiore in the same show was in “Final Reckoning” in 2018. Back then, Paulie was dating Danielle Maltby, from whom he later publicly split ,but kept in contact with, as he pursued a relationship with Cara Maria.
The messy situation led to a public drama and lots of entertainment for “The Challenge” fans, who saw Paulie and Cara Maria together again in the 2019 seasons “War of the Worlds” and “War of the Worlds 2”, when the couple had finally fixed things and even moved t o Montana together.
Although the couple took a step away from “The Challenge” starting in 2020, that didn’t diminish the interest in their relationship. Later in early 2024, rumors about their break-up surfaced on the internet, but after being spotted together in Paris, some sources reported that Cara Maria and Paulie were still together, and ‘pursuing’ their connection’. Later that year, the couple took part in “The Challenge”’s 40th season “Battle of the Eras”.
Kam & Leroy
The spot as one of the most memorable couples from “The Challenge” belongs to Kam Williams and Leroy Garrett. The pair met in late 2017 while filming the “Vendettas” season, though both of them had plenty of experience in the show, with Kam coming from “Are You the One?” and Leroy from “The Real World: Las Vegas”.
Despite meeting in “Vendetta”, the pair’s relationship didn’t develop until the show ended. From then on, Kam and Leroy’s appearances in the two seasons of “War Of The Worlds” and “Double Agents” established their partnership and also shed some light onto the romantic inner workings of the couple.
In 2024, Kam and Leroy made their triumphal return to “The Challenge: All Stars 4”, but this time as parents of kids, born in 2022 and 2024. Also that year, they were named the ‘ultimate “Challenge” power couple’ by Rolling Stone magazine.
Averey & Adam
Despite being together for a relatively short time when compared with other “The Challenge” stars previously mentioned, Averey Tressler and Adam Larson have been going strongly since starting a relationship in 2024. They met early that year while filming the spin-off “All Stars 4”, and created a connection that didn’t take long to become romantic.
Their relationship was confirmed as the pair shared several lovey-dovey pics on social media, and it was also revealed that Averey moved to South Carolina to be with him.
Nany & Kaycee
The couple formed by Nany Gonzalez and Kaycee Clark is one of the most stable relationships that “The Challenge” has given us. They met in 2019 while filming “Total Madness” and created an alliance and friendship which slowly turned into a romance. By the time they competed together in “Spies, Lies & Allies” in 2021, their relationship was in its earliest stages.
Back then, Nany affirmed that Kaycee and she always had a ‘connection’ despite being friends and bulk-mates at first. On her part, Kaycee praised Nany for being ‘caring’, ‘real’, and a ‘total badass’. Their relationship continued after the show’s end, with them announcing their engagement in late 2023.
Nurys & Horacio
Last but not least, we have Nurys Mateo and Horacio Gutiérrez Jr.. The pair met while filming “The Challenge” season 38th “Ride or Dies” in late 2022, but their relationship didn’t blossom until “Battle for a New Champion” in 2023, so sticking together ever since.
Previously Horacio appeared in “Exatlón Estados Unidos 5” while Nurys comes from “Are You the One?”. They returned to “The Challenge” in 2024 to take part in “Battle of the Eras”, which was ‘hard’ as it was they competed together after becoming a couple, meaning that they were no longer by themselves but taking care of each other as well, as they told US Weekly.
All in all, the inherent rivalry and excitement of “The Challenge” brings up many complicated and intense romantic feelings among the cast. However, very few of them manage to turn their on-screen chemistry and partnership into a full-fledged, long-lasting romance when the cameras aren’t looking.
