Kaycee Clark is no stranger to the world of competition. As a renowned champion in both Big Brother and the Challenge, she is now setting her ambitions on a monumental global event: the Olympics.
“With flag football being incorporated into the 2028 Olympics,” shares Clark during a Zoom interview with Refinery29, having spent nearly a decade playing professional women’s tackle football, ”I’m excited to explore this new avenue and possibly even try out for the Olympic team.”
Before heading towards Los Angeles for the Games, Clark is determined to reclaim her champion status on MTV’s flagship series,The Challenge. This upcoming season titled “Battle Of The Eras,” will kick off on August 14. Celebrating its monumental 40th season, it will feature iconic competitors from various eras vying for supremacy.
This version marks an extraordinary opportunity for Clark as it allows her to compete against icons of past seasons—a prospect that thrills her. “I’ve never had the chance to play with legends likeRachel Robinson, orCara Maria Sorbello. It will be intriguing to study their game strategies up close,” she states enthusiastically.
Pitted against emerging talents like Olivia Kaiser, Josh Martinez, andHoratio Gutierrez Jr., Clark has been making waves since joining Season 35 of this popular series—she has reached finals each time she’s competed, except once—solidifying herself as an unyielding competitor.
Ahead of this electrifying season premiere, we discussed everything from engagement plans with fellow Challenger Nany González to managing challenges within the intensely competitive environment of reality television.
The Excitement Around Engagement and Wedding Plans
Refinery29: Congratulations are certainly due on your engagement! How are you finding wedding preparations going?
Kaycee Clark: We’re definitely enjoying our engagement! We’re contemplating having our wedding around late 2025 but are taking our time with it all—we’re really thrilled at what lies ahead!
Navigating Complications With Your Partner On-Screen
How do you manage being paired with your partner on such competitive platforms? Is it advantageous or does it become distracting?
[Nany] and I started competing together during my first appearance [on “Total Madness”], which formed an innate trust between us. After celebrating three years together last week, collaborating inside such intense shows feels comforting when you can rely fully on someone else amidst that tension—with them by your side offering emotional support makes things less overwhelming.”
The Anticipation Surrounding This Historic Season
This edition marks one of the largest casts ever seen! What was your experience playing alongside legendary veterans whom you’ve never faced before?
I can’t express just how immense this cast felt—39 other contestants sharing space leads to such dynamic personalities clashing together! Coming into this experience without ever having seen prior seasons added layers of thrill knowing I get playmates who helped define whatThe Challenge is today.”
You encountered surprises while meeting some huge names; which individual stood out against their reputation when interacting face-to-face?
“I had heard mixed reviews about Cara Maria initially but upon interaction found that our energies meshed pleasantly,” she recalls fondly. Moreover “Emily Skeens was someone whose dominant persona made me cautious entering games yet she pleasantly surprised me too.”
Navigating Relationships Beyond Competition Eras
Your placement puts you amongst peers classified under ‘Era Four,’ yet interpersonal relationships extend well past those confines—how have you navigated working within these different generations?*
Merging teams through multi-faceted backgrounds creates fascinating synergy…Within Era Four itself we’re far more liberated than OGs – Our shared experiences across various competition realms—fromBIG BROTHER>.“;
