Favorite Female Challengers According to the Sub (2023 Edition)
A couple weeks ago I made this post asking members of this sub to rank their favorite men and women of The Challenge. This list is for the women, for the men go here. Without anything else to go over, here is the list:
25. Katie Doyle (RR: The Quest)
24. Nany Gonzalez (RW: Las Vegas 2)
23. Jodi Weatherton (RR: X-Treme)
22. Sarah Rice (RW: Brooklyn)
21. Georgia Harrison (Love Island UK 3)
20. Diem Brown (Fresh Meat)
19. Veronica Portillo (RR: Semester at Sea)
18. Melissa Reeves (Ex on the Beach UK 2)
17. Amber Borzotra (Big Brother 16)
15. Jonna Mannion (RW: Cancun) and Da’Vonne Rogers (Big Brother 17)
14. Theresa Gonzalez (Fresh Meat II)
13. Paula Meronek (RW: Key West)
12. Amanda García (AYTO? 3)
11. Michele Fitzgerald (Survivor: Kaoh Rong)
10. Emily Schromm (Real World: DC)
Debut Season: Cutthroat
Latest Season: Champs vs Stars
Upcoming Season: N/A
Last Year’s Ranking: #6
Peak: #2
Since her peak at #2 in the second year of doing this (2018), Emily has slid every year since. She hasn’t appeared since her win on the first Champs vs Stars spin off so a lot of newer viewers may not be familiar with how physically dominant she was. Her appearing on an All Stars 5 or maybe even Challenge 40 could certainly boost her ranking, though that doesn’t seem to be in the cards currently.
9. Jenna Compono (Real World: Ex-Plosion)
Debut Season: Battle of the Exes 2
Latest Season: Total Madness
Upcoming Season: N/A
Last Year’s Ranking: #17
Peak: #5
This sub seems to flip on how much they like Jenna every year. The last couple years she’s gone 7 to 11 to 7 to 17 and now to 9. Jenna has grown a lot since her first season and is considered one of the best women who has yet to get a win. She’s a likable person and that always counts for a lot for these rankings. I’m sure many would want to see her back but with her and Zach expecting baby #3 that seems unlikely for at least a while.
8. Tori Deal (Are You the One? 4)
Debut Season: Dirty 30
Latest Season: USA 2
Upcoming Season: Battle for a New Champion (as a mercenary)
Last Year’s Ranking: #11
Peak: #5
Tori returns to the top 10 after missing the past two years, she makes her return after becoming a Challenge champ on Ride or Dies. Tori can be pretty divisive with some fans but she has become a staple of the series these past few years for good reason as one of this generations toughest competitors. She has shown to not only compete well but has also become a go to narrator for the show in commentary.
7. Coral Smith (Real World: Back to New York)
Debut Season: Battle of the Seasons (2002)
Latest Season: The Gauntlet 3
Upcoming Season: N/A
Last Year’s Ranking: #4
Peak: #4
While she has dipped a bit from last year, Coral has shown to be a staple of these rankings. She is known for not only being a good competitor throughout her time on the show, but being one of the most entertaining women in the show’s history. She hasn’t appeared on the show in 15 years but her legacy has been long cemented as an icon. Coral would undoubtedly be one of the most wanted challengers to return on an All Stars season.
6. Ashley Mitchell (Real World: Ex-Plosion)
Debut Season: Rivals 3
Latest Season: Spies, Lies & Allies
Upcoming Season: N/A
Last Year’s Ranking: #8
Peak: #6
Despite not appearing since being kicked off SLA, Millionaire Mitchell has rose a spot to her new peak in these rankings. She had made at least an appearance on the previous 10 seasons and all three Champs vs spin-off shows. She has proven to not only be an impressive competitor on almost every season she’s been on but she has also been one of the most entertaining for many as well. Though, after appearing on so many seasons in a short time, a bit of a break can always be good not just for the challenger but for the fans as well. We don’t know when or even if she will be back after her DQ but there will be many anticipating the moment she returns.
5. Kam Williams (Are You the One? 5)
Debut Season: Vendettas
Latest Season: Double Agents
Upcoming Season: All Stars 4
Last Year’s Ranking: #3
Peak: #3
Killa Kam fell a bit this year after being one of the most consistent risers of these rankings after not appearing on the show in two years. She has shown to be one of the consistently great girls on the show as of late with her combination of a great social game paired with her physical prowess. She’s going to be on All Stars 4, if that ever actually comes out, but after that it may be a wait to see her again as her and Leroy are expecting their second child.
4. KellyAnne Judd (Real World: Sydney)
Debut Season: The Island
Latest Season: World Championship
Upcoming Season: N/A
Last Year’s Ranking: #7
Peak: #4
KellyAnne has hit a new peak in her ranking as well now. After her great first two showings on The Island and The Ruins, KellyAnne disappeared from the show until having decent if not mediocre showings on her next two seasons (Bloodlines and Rivals 3). All four of those happen to be considered four of the worst seasons of the show. Her luck started to turn around on All Stars 1 where she could’ve won her first championship if there had been a male and female winner of the final. Since her strong showings as both a competitor and a personality on AS1, AS3, and World Championship she has turned into a fan favorite once again for many. When she returns next, I’m sure there will be a lot of fans cheering for her to get her first win and if she continues to compete like she has recently maybe she could make it into this sub’s top 3.
3. Laurel Stucky (Fresh Meat II)
Debut Season: Fresh Meat II
Latest Season: Ride or Dies
Upcoming Seasons: Battle for a New Champion(as a mercenary)/All Stars 4
Last Year’s Ranking: #1
Peak: #1
With Laurel dropping down from the top spot, we are guaranteed to have a different number 1 from last year. Laurel had a disappointing showing on Ride or Dies, showing that she may not be the dominant challenger we once knew. Outside of the show, her Twitter beefs with the likes of Wes and Michele may have left a sour taste in some fan’s mouths. Still, Laurel’s peak on the show is tough to compete with for any girl and she is still considered to be one of the best female competitors in the shows history if not the GOAT. Hopefully her All Stars 4 and her mercenary appearance on BfaNC show the dominant Laurel is still in there. I think we’re all ready to see her kick some ass again like she has in the past.
2. Evelyn Smith (Fresh Meat)
Debut Season: Fresh Meat
Latest Season: Rivals
Upcoming Season: N/A
Last Year’s Ranking: #2
Peak: #1
Evelyn holds steady at #2, meaning there will be someone new in the first place spot. Evelyn has managed to be #1 or #2 every single year. Her popularity holding strong long after she has stopped showing up is a testament to how beloved she is by many fans of the show. Many still put her as the GOAT of the women, and for good reason. She still remains tied for the most wins by a woman in the history of the show (3), a record that few are in a position to match soon. There have been teases of her potentially returning for an All Stars appearance but even if she doesn’t return, her legacy has long been cemented in the history of the show.
1. Cara Maria Sorbello (Fresh Meat II)
Debut Season: Fresh Mear II
Latest Season: War of the Worlds 2
Upcoming Season: Battle for a New Champion(as a mercenary)/All Stars 4
Last Year’s Ranking: #5
Peak: #1
Well there we have it, our new #1. After being #2 in the first year of this, she nearly fell out of the top 10 in the 2019 ranking. She is the third person ever to get first place in these women’s rankings after Evelyn and Laurel. Cara has certainly become a divisive figure of the show but without a doubt is one of the most iconic. After nearly four years off, her return to the show has been greatly anticipated for many. Whether this return lives up to the hype or if fans turn on her once more remains to be seen but for now a lot of people must feel it’s nice to see her be back. Cara is coming back for her challenge crown.
So those are the women. Sorry if you didn’t see the post and didn’t vote, there’s always next year. Leave your thoughts down below, any surprises? Or anyone higher or lower than expected?
Also go check out the male list and leave your thoughts there.
Posted Oct 17, 2023, 8:13 PM UTC