Andy DehnartTwo former Survivor cast members are among the teams on the 25th season of The Amazing Race, which began this morning in New York City’s Times Square. CBS has taken the atypical approach of announcing the cast and start of the race on the day it began. The show moves to Friday nights at 8 this fall.
Among the cast members are two CBS reality stars: Survivor South Pacific contestants Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson, who had an affair on the show that ended her marriage. Whitney divorced her then-husband, and she and Keith are now engaged.
Other cast members include pro surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm to a shark and inspired the film Soul Surfer, which was based on her autobiography; she’s also appeared on shows such as The Biggest Loser, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, and 19 Kids and Counting. She’s competing with her surfer husband Adam Dirks.
Here’s the full list of cast members from CBS, which includes pro wrestlers Brooke Adams and Robbie E. Strauss:
Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks: Married Surfers from Princeville, Hawaii
Kym Perfetto and Alli Forsythe: Urban Bike Racers from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Amy DeJong and Maya Warren: Food Scientists from Madison, Wisc.
Lisa Thomson and Michelle Thomson: Realtor Sisters from Miami, Fla.
Michael Ward and Scott Strazzullo: Firefighters from Boston, Mass.
Brooke Adams and Robbie E. Strauss: Dating Pro Wrestlers from Houston, Texas and Woodbridge, N.J., respectively.
Tim Tsao and Te Jay McGrath: College Sweethearts from Pasadena, Calif.
Isabelle Du and Dennis Hour: Model and Accountant, respectively, from Tustin, Calif.
Keith Tollefson and Whitney Duncan: Engaged Couple from Nashville, Tenn.
Misti and Jim Raman: Married Dentists from Columbia, S.C.
Shelley and Nici Porter: Mother/Daughter from Detroit, Mich.