MTV Reality: Floribama Shore - The Fun Begins Yet Again

A Review of Season 1
BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

When we say hello to the second half of 2018 in MTV Reality that's about to take off, it'll be time to warmly welcome back some familiar faces and offer a welcome to new ones. And before tomorrow's main event in The Challenge: Final Reckoning, tonight sees the start of a Premiere Week that sees the return of Catfish and Wild N' Out, and which begins with a passing of the baton down in Florida. It's something that was made possible by an outpouring of fan support and an alum of an worldwide franchise making his way to last season's Vendettas that saw this all-around MTV fan expand his horizons to the most famous show of all.
   This spring, we've been enjoying the company of Mike The Situation, Snooki, J-WOWW, Pauly D., Ronnie, Vinny, Deena - and for a time, Angelina - as the Jersey Shore cast and their Duck Phone returned to where they spent the first of two times away from Seaside Heights: Miami for a Family Vacation. From a high-profile baby mama cheating scandal to an epic return to a magic moment of a proposal to the fiance of the most improved man in this MTV community, a lot went down there on South Beach, with more to come when they return at summer's end, and where they have given so many people reason to watch this channel once again as well as look forward to Thursdays.
   The prelude to that reunion took place up the ways in Panama City Beach when eight strangers who grew watching them while they were in middle & high school had the privilege of following in their footsteps and creating their own mark on a franchise that's thrived overseas in between Jersey's 2012 finale and introducing its brand of crazy to a new generation. Combine what made the original so great with a slice of the South as seen on Party Down South and Buckwild, and Floribama Shore dazzled viewers in offering plenty of heat to our cold winter. It was a new take on a concept that seemingly woke MTV as it looked to find the next big thing at the beginning of this decade, which helped this channel ultimately embrace the one thing that it does best aside from music: reality TV.
   And as dessert to what Jersey Shore fans got to enjoy in Miami and as appetizer for MTV Reality fans before the main course of The Challenge debuts tomorrow, Season 2 promises to bring more of the same and even more of what fans enjoyed about Jeremiah, Aimee, Candace, Nilsa, Gus, Kirk, Kortni and Codi. And recent trips to New York and to Hollywood for the MTV Movie & TV Awards in the ramp-up to tonight's premiere saw them mingle with their Challenge counterparts and some of showbiz's best, as they now get to embark on doing this all over again. But it's worth a second look at where we began this ride just before Thanksgiving.

MTV Reality: Countdown to The Challenge - Final Reckoning

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Well, hey there folks... welcome on in to the second half of 2018 in the always fascinating and never-ending drama that is MTV Reality, and to the sixth season of Inside MTV Reality at DCBLOG. We hope you've been enjoying this holiday week with barbecue, fireworks, family time and all that comes with this mid-summer time to celebrate America with the 4th of July, north of the border with Canada Day, NBA & NHL free agency frenzy, and this year all around the world with the FIFA World Cup as a wild tournament in Russia reaches its last four. Amidst this backdrop, we are anxious to again bring you this site's signature coverage of the most unique and exciting programming of its kind anywhere. And as we dive into this summer, think about what we have ahead of us...
   Following an eventful first Jersey Shore Family Vacation down in Miami, Season 2 of Floribama Shore with Nilsa, Gus & friends will again take over Panama City Beach and will kick off Premiere Week tomorrow night. Also ahead, stars will turn their focus from challenging Champs to trying their luck on Celebrity Fear Factor, and new shows will take us to the heartland, the city and the tattoo parlor. Just after what we saw on Ex On The Beach, we'll soon return to Hawaii to meet the next wave of love-seekers on Season 7 of Are You The One?. And before you know it -- a new group of seven strangers will "stop being polite and start getting real" when The Real World returns to its roots. Of course, there are other series too -- and perhaps, we could have yet another crossover that will sure leave everyone shook... as we love to say around here, stay tuned.

But our principal focus for the next few months or so is on the main event of the summer, and the centerpiece of what we here alternatively call the MTV Trifecta: "the fifth major pro sport" - known simply as The Challenge, which premieres its 32nd season on Tuesday night. We are in the midst of a series trilogy that began last year in Latin America when dirtiness in every sense of the word defined Season XXX: Dirty 30. Then, we headed to Spain where newbies aplenty joined the veteran establishment to burn it all down on Vendettas. Now, the third & last chapter of this saga will unfold in the nation of South Africa as the ashes of these two seasons will be molded into a new Challenge season entitled, Final Reckoning.
   Here, the players have come from all walks of the MTV community: six past champions, big-name veterans, emerging contenders, the British continent who dazzled us this winter, alumni of summer sensation Big Brother, and just off the plane from Hawaii -- four members of the cast of the juicy U.S. iteration of Ex On The Beach. Plus, we have our our very first Star to come to The Challenge after a run to the pairs portion of Champs vs. Stars II, and beating a British Olympian to become the first to make the jump into the top flight.
   Like what we have seen in seasons aplenty recently, they all have something in common: they all have past histories between them full of bad blood, and as we've seen on Rivals and Exes seasons of years past, the teams who have been put together in this heartland must put it all aside when it matters most. And just as it was last year, the prize purse is as grand as you can get: $1 MILLION.

Yes, there's all the crazy, extreme and daring competitions we've come to expect from this show, along with all the love, politics and drama that makes this show so great - and of course, host TJ Lavin patrolling matters. We at DCBLOG will be here to bring you all of that and more every step of the way from here two days before the premiere, right through the champs being crowned later in the autumn... and in this, the 27th full season we have dedicated wall-to-wall coverage to, we'll cover not only all of those but also offer a unique angle you won't find anywhere else. And it all begins with this preseason preview as we'll look at what Final Reckoning is all about and what we can expect, break down the people who have been selected to be part of Season 32, and our traditional preseason introduction to the newbies of this season.
   So, if you are ready as we are... and are ready to escape the heat that's been engulfing the nation this summer's weekend, get warmed up, put on your Under Armour uniform and Join In with us after the jump as DCBLOG kicks off year six of Inside MTV Reality and our first look at The Challenge - Final Reckoning. We're so glad you're with us.

DC ExtraTime: AYTO AfterMatch - Shannon Speaks Out

From During Are You The One? Season 6

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As we have now had our first glimpse of it at midway through this week's episode, the Match-Up Ceremony is always the most intense part of every episode of Are You The One? - if not tied for that room of lasers known as the Truth Booth. It's in this outdoor setting where hopes and dreams or $1 million live or die in light beams being lit into the night sky. And it's what happened in the last one before this that offers the context for this Follow-Up to something that happened on Season 5.

Philippines native and L.A. resident Shannon came to the Dominican Republic intent on changing around her dating habits, which after her last serious relationship saw her question whether love existed. A key story in the Caribbean was her relationship with Tyler, which saw them stay together for much of the season, one that was marked by other couples staying together long after they had not been proven to be perfect matches.
   The most-talked about moment as far as the game is concerned came in Week 9 when the girls had their pick, and faced with having to go for strategy and the house vs. her heart, she opted to choose Tyler over her intended house pick. And although the cast got to nine of the eleven beams they needed to win, her choosing Tyler proved to be the difference and the week after, their last ditch effort came up just short. Then, Shannon and Tyler were together for some time, but then had a very bad breakup with him.
   Back in June -- and three months after the season finale - and having to put up with so much hate being sent her way for being the one who let the cast lose, Shannon took to Twitter to respond to those haters who got on her at the end of that season, and then what happened when the romance she thought was perfect was anything but and then some. Originally posted as a screen-cap of something she wrote on her Notes app on her mobile, below is her response in rich text form.

"I just saw everything being commented on Twitter and I'm completely at lost with words. All I have to say is that my heart is too big and it gave away too many chances to someone who did not deserve it. I am not perfect and I will never claim to make the relationship I was in perfect. It had its ups and downs, hardships, love, laughter, and tears. As everyone saw on the show, I was very naive and truly wanted love out of it. Unfortunately, I made a foolish decision that ultimately cost the loss and I'll continue to forever take the blame. It made my relationship very difficult and it caused a lot of problems, but I always thought it would get better. i forgave after I was lied to, manipulated, embarrassed and betrayed and I accepted all of it. I took the harsh words, the constant ignoring, and the shady excuses and I brushed it aside. I lost my self respect, forgot my worth, and accepted the love I knew I did not deserve. Majority of people would agree that I gave a lot of affection and love and maybe a little crazy, but I never let it affect me. I always believed that love conquers all. But for all you ladies that have ever been afraid to stand up for yourself or to call someone out for their wrongdoings, don't. Don't be afraid to walk away from anything that doesn't make you happy. I don't regret loving someone as much as I did, but it's a lesson learned. Not everyone will be ready for the love you are ready to give them."

Since what happened that chaotic March night and then dealing with that breakup, Shannon has stayed strong and has even gained much support after airing things out on Twitter and a final fight with Tyler before he cut ties with her. But she's not alone in dealing with AYTO heartbreak, and just recently fellow Season 5 castmate Carolina, who had her heart broken by Hayden on Second Chances earlier this year, moved in with her in SoCal.


- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime Flashback: AYTO Meets Ochocinco

From The Challenge XXX Premiere Week in July 2017;
reposted as our subjects are playing in the American
Flag Football League and anticipating new baby

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Last week, there was a transition of power at Are You The One?, as Ryan Devlin will pass on his hosting gig to Season 5 After Match host Terrence J for Season 6 this fall. Over a week ago, one of those who was part of Ryan's last duty as host and lived through in the show's most infamous moment ever, got a chance to become a winner for a change, and be part of a group of rich friends of an NFL superstar as Training Camp is now underway with rookies now starting to report in the July heat.

Chad Johnson spent his childhood and adolescence in Miami and flew out west to college, and as a senior was a key member of the 2000 Oregon State team that made it to the BCS and knocked off Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals made him a 2nd round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, but it was in second year in the league where Chad started to make his mark in the Queen City. There in 2002, he had the first of what would be seven 1,000 yard seasons in eight seasons during his eleven year NFL career, notching six Pro Bowl appearances, a receiving yards crown in 2006, eleven franchise records for the orange & black, and membership in the 10,000 receiving yards club.
   Chad left Cincy to help lead the Patriots to Super Bowl XLVI but only after changing his last name to Ochocinco and encountering some turmoil late in his tenure in Ohio. And he came back to his native South Florida with aspirations to finish his career with the hometown Dolphins, but him getting arrested during training camp was the last straw, and him getting cut by coach Joe Philbin was shown during the team's season of HBO's Hard Knocks. And Johnson's last pro playing time came with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in 2014, and a recent one game stint down in Mexico.

   Along the way, Chad's off-field credentials are immense: contestant on Dancing with the Stars, an NBCSN show with fellow NFL showman Terrell Owens, guest hosting WWE Raw, riding a bull in the PBR, and running against a racehorse for charity and leaving the thoroughbred in the dust. In his post-NFL career, Johnson now hosts a show on ESPN in a Hispanic-targeted version of SportsNation, influenced by a childhood love of soccer which translated into a four-day training gig with Sporting Kansas City of MLS during the 2011 NFL lockout, and him being a fan of both Real Madrid and C.D. Guadalajara - Chivas of Mexico's Liga MX.

The last time we saw Hayden from Are You The One? Season 5, it was back in April of him and his perfect match in the house, Carolina, facing the music and Karamo Brown on AYTO Second Chances when they were up for The Choice. They got together after he & his true love, Gianna, returned a truth booth no match, and after their fling in the Dominican Republic and then down under, it was obviously clear that Hayden was more attracted Midwest love, and he chose steal to take away the $60,000 from their pot back to the Midwest much to Carolina's displeasure and to the joy of the Ohioan in being able to invest in their own summer boat. You can best call this move the "Bananas."
   This past week, Hayden hung out with some of his Team 22 pals out in Los Angeles and while he was there to take care of paperwork that will move him & Gia out west, he got to run into Mr. Ocho Cinco. Chad posted a video on Instagram which is located below, but not before he and Hayden had a chance to tweet thanks to one another. And the Colts/Pacers fan captioned on Instagram, "Went from being a fan in the stands years ago to becoming one of OchoCinco's "rich friends" last night at LAX along with Dwayne Bowe and Miko Grimes. This took "pics or it didn't happen" to a whole new level. Thanks for the beer and good times! #ChildPlease"

Thank you so much for the beer @ochocinco, tonight was one of the coolest moments of my life. Good luck to your daughter tomorrow!

— Hayden Weaver (@HaydenPWeaver) July 13, 2017

No problem boss, safe travels & never forget, I fucking love you man 💯 https://t.co/xrz6p3D5Is

— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 13, 2017

I love you as well good sir ✊🏽✊🏽 https://t.co/EOCDa4QgxL

— Hayden Weaver (@HaydenPWeaver) July 13, 2017

Him being able to meet up with Ochocinco only adds to Hayden's strong sports fandom, exemplified best by his love of his native Indiana's favorite game of basketball as showcased here earlier this year before both NCAA March Madness and his AYTO cast's Caribbean heartbreak. Him & Gianna have spent the past weekend down in Honduras to help the needy of that country for charity, and we'll share you their inspiring journey later during this cycle.

I feel so blessed, I keep running into all my rich friends, the legendary @iheartmiko & my rich friend Dwayne Bowe. One day I'm gonna be rich'R

A post shared by Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) on Jul 12, 2017 at 10:05pm PDT

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

UPDATE: 4/15/20 to include Hayden's note from Instagram

DC ExtraTime Flashback: AYTO Meets UFC's DC

EDITORS' NOTE: Tonight (July 7, 2018) saw UFC history being made as for the second time in the past two years, a fighter won a second championship belt to hold titles in two different weight divisions at the same time. Below is a repost of an ExtraTime story from fall 2017 when now new Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier met Are You The One? alum and aspiring fighter Anthony Bartolette from Season 2.

From During AYTO Season 6
BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Thirteen days ago tonight, the world watched with horror and grief as the unfortunate events of the deadly shootings in Las Vegas unfolded. A banned weapon located inside a hotel room of the Mandalay Bay on the Strip fired downward at concert goers at an outdoor venue across the street, and fifty-eight people were killed... the worst mass shooting in American history, overtaking the rampage at Pulse Nightclub when 49 people were gunned down sixteen months ago in Orlando.

   Vegas was distraught by the events of 1 October, and Southern Nevada has had plenty of time to heal in the wake of the city's biggest tragedy since the two deadly hotel fires that took place in the early '80s. I was affected in a way by this event as a friend who went to high school with me works as a first responder and he and others got to shine during that dark hour. And Challenge host TJ Lavin offered his thanks to the Metro police department yesterday on his YouTube channel.

As the city is also its hometown, last Saturday night the UFC had the chance to host the first major event held there since the Route 91 Harvest Festival, as the region came to heal but also have a night of MMA to take, at least for some time, people's minds off of the events of the previous seven days. And together with the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights winning their first three games, sports has offered some comfort for a grieving community as Vegas Strong has become the city's rallying cry.

   The UFC card was affected by the nixing of a planned Heavyweight Championship bout between titlist Stipe Miocic and former champ Cain Velasquez, but taking its place was a Flyweight Title bout where champion Demetrious Johnson made history in successfully defending his title for an 11th time, surpassing the great Anderson Silva. And an interim Lightweight belt bout saw Tony Johnson win and then call out Conor McGregor for a chance at him after what happened back in August.

Instagram @A_Bartolotte

For someone who loves the UFC and who actually stated his intentions to follow in the footsteps of the man who will host next month's Champs vs. Stars - The Miz, Anthony from AYTO Season 2 and The Challenge Invasion spent his birthday weekend in Vegas with some of his friends and went to UFC 207. While gambling the night away up the Strip at The Cosmopolitan (where my mom stays when we go to Vegas), they got to run into Daniel Cormier, who earlier in the night had words for former champion Anthony Johnson, but then apologized.
   Last we saw Cormier in the Octagon, he was getting stopped via TKO in his much anticipated Light Heavyweight Title rematch against Jon Jones back in July. A month after, that bout was declared a no-contest after Bones had tested positive for a banned substance, got suspended yet again and had that title stripped and handed back to Cormier, who gained the title after Jones' dealings with the law saw him being suspended. Below is an Instagram picture Anthony, DC and friends... both Ant and I now have something in common in having spent our birthdays in the great town.

Another Vegas trip in the books. Really made for an amazing and memorable birthday weekend. Super thankful for everyone who helped make it so great. Also S/O to @dc_mma for the picture

A post shared by Anthony Bartolotte (@a_bartolotte) on Oct 11, 2017 at 8:54am PDT

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: Running of the Bulls with Some Sydneysiders

From Premiere Week of The Challenge XXX,
also includes media not seen in original post

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

Our ExtraTime series has ventured along with Team MTV to some of the most interesting places anywhere: South Padre Island for Spring Break, the Nevada desert for the Burning Man festival, Nickelodeon's Guts Aggro Crag in Manhattan, the streets outside a national political convention, the Chicago-based set of mega-hit Empire, and Hollywood for Floyd Mayweather's 40th birthday bash, among others. But for this first travelogue of this cycle, we may have found the most rad and extreme setting you can have, all the way across the Atlantic.
   Before Premiere Week during a fairly light sports week in the month of July with baseball's All-Star Game, free agency, Wimbledon and the Tour de France, the highlight for many was an event that takes place in the country of Spain which brings people to the streets of a northern province for a tradition that's been around for hundreds of years. And before there was skate- and snowboarding, mixed martial arts and all else, this sport and rodeo helped define the word "extreme."

The Daily Telegraph

The Running of the Bulls has been annual ritual in the town of Pamplona and other towns in Spain for centuries. It involves having to run for your life in front of a small group of usually a half dozen cattle of the Spanish Fighting Bull, or Toro Bravo, being let out of the cage from their barn down a course through the town's streets. And that chase leads into a bull ring at the end of the course, part of the nine day San Fermín Festival to honor Saint Fermín, the region's co-patron, and for which the event's origin came from… part of one of Spain's great national rituals, bull fighting.

   Each bull run begins almost at the crack of dawn at 8AM local time during each full day of the festival, which begins with some fanfare and then rockets being set off to signal that the bulls' corral is open and for the runners to take off and run. The average time for each trip from when the corral opens to until the last bull enters the arena is about two minutes and thirty seconds at the pace of the herd's average speed, about 15 mph through Pamplona on a course that measures the length of nearly 10 U.S. football fields. And this is taking place in the streets of this town which is typical Europe in a canyon of buildings that have been around for centuries as well as cobblestones instead of pavement.

   Rules state that the runners with their distinctive white shirts & red neckerchief must be 18 & older, run in the same direction as the bulls, not incite them in any other way and to make sure they are also running clean too. Given than about 50-100 runners are injured each year by the onslaught of the fury of the bulls and leading in rare cases to death, there are wooden fences and other places to help the runners get to safety, and the local Red Cross is on hand at every corner should someone get gored.

   The Running of the Bulls receives worldwide TV exposure every July and a year ago, the event's fascinating appeal even tempted NBC Sports' hilarious Premier League duo, The Men in Blazers, to leave what they call their "crap part of SoHo" in New York City to watch and commentate on the proceedings during the offseason in European football and just after the international tournaments of the summertime. It even made an appearance in Billy Crystal's movie, "City Slickers."

During our last Trifecta cycle, we caught up with Isaac Stout from Real World Sydney and two Challenges, where we showcased his passion of traveling and him traveling to several countries both for The Duel II and Free Agents and for his travel venture, Bucket List Club. Him being able to spend time in Australia after filming of that Real World ten years ago this summer spawned that love of going around the world, which at last check brought him to Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona when Messi, Neymar and FC Barca had that historic comeback in the UEFA Champions League earlier this year.

   Someone who lived with him in Darling Harbour is Cohutta, when we last saw briefly on Bloodlines with cousin Jill, but we all remember him for his memorable romances with Kelly-Anne in Australia and then with Nany in Uruguay. And he joined Isaac for his return trip to the Spanish countryside, where they got the chance to take part in this year's Running of the Bulls as part of a trip Isaac's company arranged that brought other fellow travelers to not just Pamplona, but also a return to Barcelona. And they capped off the rendezvous on the island of Ibiza, the European hub for all things summer partying and who got a shoutout from a good friend of Brandon from AYTO Season 2, Mike Posner.

IG @CohuttaLee

   They took part in Day 1 of that Running of the Bulls and Cohutta captioned in his Instagram post, "Early this morning, as my friends and family were asleep in their beds, I did what is easily the dumbest, most terrifying, irresponsible, exhilarating, memorable, badass thing I've ever done in my life. Unbelievable. We ran with beasts and we survived."  And before that, he also wrote on the time of calmness before the bulls came running: "The opening ceremonies to San Fermin was almost as insane as the actual bull run. Thousands of people piled on top of each other in the square of this extremely old Northern Spanish town spraying gallons of Sangria though the air. I had Sangria in my eyes, ears, everywhere. It got hotter and hotter until rockets went off signifying the beginning of festivities. Needless to say by that time all that Sangria had began to kick in. Viva San Fermin!!!"
   Below is a video the Georgian took just moments after they ran, but it was marred by what happened to two other Americans who also made the trip to the festival and were not so lucky. They were gored during that same opening day's run, one of many incidents during the festival, though luckily no one was killed in the stampede. And in another Instagram post below, the caption from Bucket List Earth read, "The exact moment when terror and adrenaline turner to excitement and high fives. We survived! Somehow."

I was able to capture 19 seconds of adrenaline bliss the other morning after entering a packed arena at 8am with the herd. The Toro Bravo is no ordinary bovine. He's an absolutely fearless animal. #pamplona #bucketlistclub #spain #travel #wanderlust #vivasanfermin #runningwiththebulls #torobravo

A post shared by Cohutta Lee Grindstaff (@cohuttalee) on Jul 12, 2017 at 9:09am PDT

The exact moment when terror and adrenaline turner to excitement and high fives. We survived! Somehow. #runningofthebulls #sanfermin #spain #instatraveling #travel #travelgram #pamplona #bucketlistclub #pals

A post shared by The BucketList Club (@bucketlistearth) on Jul 26, 2017 at 1:48pm PDT

- I AM DC

#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: Dear Mama... from Simone

From Week 5 of Ex On The Beach USA

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

As Las Vegas celebrates the Golden Knights taking the NHL's Western Conference title and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final earlier today in Winnipeg, Canada, it has been home to music fans this weekend in hosting both the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand tonight, and the Electronic Daisy Festival up the way at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. As we're halfway thru EOTB, two notable exes are waiting in the wings including a member of the legendary cast with a link to the subject of this bit…
   The first time that we went to Hawaii in this site's five years of documenting this MTV beat was for Are You The One? Season 1… renowned in many ways for that, it introduced the romantic reality genre to MTV viewers and a memorable cast including that show's only perfect match who are husband, wife and parents: Amber & Ethan Diamond. But one game-changing moment that took place in Kauai four years ago was also the first time that a Truth Booth held as much meaning in the game as watching lights go up in the night sky at the Matchup.
   In Episode 6 - and with more to be discussed on this when her moment comes to enter the house, Shanley's crush in the house, Chris T., was put into the Truth Booth with Canadian native Paige... a scheme conceived by Chicagoan turned Atlanta DJ Simone Kelly to try and help the house get back into the game. Once the words "Perfect Match" appeared, all hell broke loose as Shanley went after Simone in the first high-profile fight to take place in the AYTO house, and by which Simone would later take her talents to three Challenge seasons afterwards.

Last Sunday was Mother's Day, and Simone chose the right day & place to reveal something new: music. She released a new song on both SoundCloud and Instagram called "Dear Mama," and not surprisingly she dedicated the track to every mom, including hers - the only parent in their house. Monie wrote in her IG caption @SimoneJKelly:

"Growing up in a single parent home wasn't always easy. There were times when the hot water and lights were off, I stole toilet tissue from school, and my mom even worked 3 jobs to make ends meet. But she did it with such grace and never complained.! I'm from Chicago where you gotta leave to make it, before u get shot or become another statistic. I knew there were always bigger things in store for me. My mama taught me how to be a fighter & go-getta. My nanny taught me how to cook and be so nurturing. And my tee tee taught me how to pray. They all raised me 💕 I use to say I wish I only had ONE talent, it would be so much easier to pick a stable career. However, God made us to be GREATER in more ways than we could ever imagine! This cover video is only a small step towards my journey as an artist & my artistry. My untitled EP will drop late Summer! The love & support I've received from the writers, to the producers, to the engineers for this project has been unimaginable. (I'm not gonna name drop just yet, lol) SINGLE COMING SOON! 🤞🏾 #HappyMothersDay 🌸"

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC WRAP: The Challenge Champs vs. Stars III - Finale Endgame

BY DC CUEVA                     

■ @DC408Dxtr  @ TW / IG / YT

We are at halftime of 2018 in MTV Reality, and what a time to be alive for those who follow these shows you love following an eventful first half of the year. We began just after New Year's Day with The Challenge Vendettas, then went to Hawaii for Ex On The Beach -- and both have certainly brought us the goods. For those into shows outside the Trifecta, there was the second half of Siesta Key, two generations of Teen Mom being joined by those Young & Pregnant, and of course, Jersey Shore Family Vacation.
   And then, there's the third spinoff season of The Challenge, Champs vs. Stars II. There, despite having just three actual champions and a group who joined them who didn't all have finals experience, nonetheless they brought their very best against an almost-entirely new group of athletes and celebrities who gave it their best shot... and then, there was the Olympian who heralded the British invasion to The Challenge who certainly put up a strong effort in a season we won't forget.
   As is custom for the final act of the major series this site covers - and in the first of two of them to come here this week, this entire WRAP is dedicated to the stretch run and final of a Champs vs. Stars season that had everything we wanted in a regular Challenge season: drama, competition, an intense final and worthy champions. We'll have some takeaways from this season, head into the Strategy Room to dissect the finalists and discuss Team Dad Bod... that is all ahead.