\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Us Weekly’s Top 23 Reality TV Moments of the Year<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tIn honor of Us Weekly\u2019s first-ever Reality TV Stars of the Year issue, we\u2019re rounding up the moments that had Us shook in 2023. As the year of Scandoval, it was no-brainer to name Ariana Madix the No. 1 spot\u00a0\u2014 and give the jaw-dropping, three-part Vanderpump Rules reunion a spot on the list. Thank You! [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe got it wrong twice,\u201d Chris revealed. \u201cSo, we were counting second by second to an hour for three hours straight while standing up on these columns in the middle of the night \u2014 and then a couple hours later [we had to] wake up to run the final. It was pretty miserable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Challenge-USA-Chris-Underwood-Explains-torturous-Moment-That-Didn-Get-Aired-1.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n (L-R): Johnny \u201cBananas\u201d Devenanzio, Tori Deal, Desi Williams, Chris Underwood, Faysal Shafaat, Michaela Bradshaw, and Chanelle Howell<\/span> Paramount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Survivor<\/em><\/a> alum theorized that the grueling test didn\u2019t make it into the finale episode because of the group\u2019s \u201ccollaborative\u201d approach.<\/p>\n\u201cWe banded together and some people counted seconds while other people kept track of minutes,\u201d he explained. \u201c[Johnny \u2018Bananas\u2019 Devenanzio<\/strong><\/a>] got it [right] first, actually. So, he got the most sleep. He was on his own and he stepped off within the right time.\u201d<\/p>\nThe test of Chris\u2019 internal clock was just one of many trials he faced on his road to victory. He was repeatedly targeted in the game and won a total of four elimination rounds, including one against three-time Challenge<\/em><\/a> champion Wes Bergmann<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t![\"Us](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Us-Weeklys-Top-10-Reality-Stars-of-the-Year.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=400%2C225&quality=40&strip=all\")
\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Meet Us Weekly’s Top 10 Reality Stars of the Year<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tIf you hadn\u2019t heard of Ariana Madix before this year, you definitely have now. Already a beloved star of Bravo\u2019s long-running Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff, Vanderpump Rules, she became a household name this past spring after uncovering her boyfriend\u2019s infidelity with her best friend \u2014 both Pump Rules costars. Madix was cheered for [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Chris\u2019 impressive performance on The Challenge: US<\/em>A serves as redemption for him after he became known as the least deserving Survivor<\/em> winner of all time following his victory on Survivor: Edge of Extinction<\/em> in 2018. (Chris earned the reputation due to the \u201cEdge of Extinction\u201d twist, which allowed him to win despite being voted out third and then spending 26 days cut off from the game in the destitute locale known as the Edge.)<\/p>\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Challenge-USA-Chris-Underwood-Explains-torturous-Moment-That-Didn-Get-Aired-3.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>Paramount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cAll the couch critics can correct their statement about me,\u201d Chris told Us<\/em> of those who doubted his potential after watching him on Survivor<\/em>. \u201cIt was a personal thing for me coming into this game having been out of reality TV for five years and wanting to prove that I was deserving of my first win, and that if I made it to the end, I would be deserving of this one [too].\u201d<\/p>\nDesi, meanwhile, had a much different journey in the game. She formed several strong alliances, including tight bonds with fellow Survivor<\/em> alums Michaela Bradshaw<\/strong> <\/a>and Chanelle Howell<\/strong><\/a> and a working relationship with Challenge<\/em> veteran Tori Deal<\/strong><\/a>. All four women made it to the final. The hardest moment of the game for Desi came when she decided to betray Tori, 30, by voting to send her into elimination.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t![\"Challenge](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Challenge-Controversies-Through-Years-On-Offscreen-0009.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=400%2C225&quality=40&strip=all\")
\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>‘The Challenge’ Controversies Through the Years<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tWith so many personalities, there\u2019s bound to be drama \u2014 even behind the scenes. That\u2019s definitely the case for MTV\u2019s The Challenge. The reality show debuted in 1998 and was originally titled Road Rules: All Stars, then Real World\/Road Rules Challenge, before simplifying its name. Ever since, the cast has been one to watch \u2014 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWhen I voted [for] Tori, that was kind of the first time in the game where I felt like I had truly betrayed someone<\/a> who had trusted me. That was tough for me because I\u2019m a very loyal person and I had gotten to that point in the game being loyal,\u201d Desi exclusively told Us<\/em>. \u201cThat, I would say, was my toughest moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Challenge-USA-Chris-Underwood-Explains-Torturous-Moment-That-Didnt-Get-Aired-4.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n Desi Williams<\/span> Jonne Roriz\/Paramount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLike Chris, Desi also came into this season wanting to make up for her past experiences in the world of reality TV. She made it to the final during season 1 of The Challenge: USA<\/em> last year but was disqualified when her partner, Enzo Palumbo<\/strong><\/a>, quit during the last leg.<\/p>\n\u201cI truly felt like I could and was going to win that final. So, when it was kind of ripped from underneath me, it was like all of that [was] for nothing,\u201d she said of her season 1 experience. \u201cSo, I was building off that same momentum [during] season 2. It was like, \u2018OK, it wasn\u2019t a fluke that I made it to the final. Now let me prove to myself and everybody else that I can win this.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n (L-R): Johnny \u201cBananas\u201d Devenanzio, Tori Deal, Desi Williams, Chris Underwood, Faysal Shafaat, Michaela Bradshaw, and Chanelle Howell<\/span> Paramount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Survivor<\/em><\/a> alum theorized that the grueling test didn\u2019t make it into the finale episode because of the group\u2019s \u201ccollaborative\u201d approach.<\/p>\n \u201cWe banded together and some people counted seconds while other people kept track of minutes,\u201d he explained. \u201c[Johnny \u2018Bananas\u2019 Devenanzio<\/strong><\/a>] got it [right] first, actually. So, he got the most sleep. He was on his own and he stepped off within the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n The test of Chris\u2019 internal clock was just one of many trials he faced on his road to victory. He was repeatedly targeted in the game and won a total of four elimination rounds, including one against three-time Challenge<\/em><\/a> champion Wes Bergmann<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tIf you hadn\u2019t heard of Ariana Madix before this year, you definitely have now. Already a beloved star of Bravo\u2019s long-running Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff, Vanderpump Rules, she became a household name this past spring after uncovering her boyfriend\u2019s infidelity with her best friend \u2014 both Pump Rules costars. Madix was cheered for [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chris\u2019 impressive performance on The Challenge: US<\/em>A serves as redemption for him after he became known as the least deserving Survivor<\/em> winner of all time following his victory on Survivor: Edge of Extinction<\/em> in 2018. (Chris earned the reputation due to the \u201cEdge of Extinction\u201d twist, which allowed him to win despite being voted out third and then spending 26 days cut off from the game in the destitute locale known as the Edge.)<\/p>\n \u201cAll the couch critics can correct their statement about me,\u201d Chris told Us<\/em> of those who doubted his potential after watching him on Survivor<\/em>. \u201cIt was a personal thing for me coming into this game having been out of reality TV for five years and wanting to prove that I was deserving of my first win, and that if I made it to the end, I would be deserving of this one [too].\u201d<\/p>\n Desi, meanwhile, had a much different journey in the game. She formed several strong alliances, including tight bonds with fellow Survivor<\/em> alums Michaela Bradshaw<\/strong> <\/a>and Chanelle Howell<\/strong><\/a> and a working relationship with Challenge<\/em> veteran Tori Deal<\/strong><\/a>. All four women made it to the final. The hardest moment of the game for Desi came when she decided to betray Tori, 30, by voting to send her into elimination.<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tWith so many personalities, there\u2019s bound to be drama \u2014 even behind the scenes. That\u2019s definitely the case for MTV\u2019s The Challenge. The reality show debuted in 1998 and was originally titled Road Rules: All Stars, then Real World\/Road Rules Challenge, before simplifying its name. Ever since, the cast has been one to watch \u2014 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhen I voted [for] Tori, that was kind of the first time in the game where I felt like I had truly betrayed someone<\/a> who had trusted me. That was tough for me because I\u2019m a very loyal person and I had gotten to that point in the game being loyal,\u201d Desi exclusively told Us<\/em>. \u201cThat, I would say, was my toughest moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Chris, Desi also came into this season wanting to make up for her past experiences in the world of reality TV. She made it to the final during season 1 of The Challenge: USA<\/em> last year but was disqualified when her partner, Enzo Palumbo<\/strong><\/a>, quit during the last leg.<\/p>\n \u201cI truly felt like I could and was going to win that final. So, when it was kind of ripped from underneath me, it was like all of that [was] for nothing,\u201d she said of her season 1 experience. \u201cSo, I was building off that same momentum [during] season 2. It was like, \u2018OK, it wasn\u2019t a fluke that I made it to the final. Now let me prove to myself and everybody else that I can win this.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Meet Us Weekly’s Top 10 Reality Stars of the Year<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>‘The Challenge’ Controversies Through the Years<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>
\n Desi Williams<\/span> Jonne Roriz\/Paramount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n