"I had never done sports"- The Challenge star Cara Maria reveals she doesn't know what she'd do if she weren't part of the show

The Challenge star Cara Maria Sorbello recently opened up about her transformative journey on the show, admitting she doesn’t know where she’d be today without it.

In a December 19 interview with Gold Derby, she reflected on being cast for her first season in 2010, candidly sharing insights about her past and how she initially felt unfit for the competition.

When Cara was first selected to be a part of The Challenge, she shared that she was bartending at a "fetish bar" in Hollywood, California. She then dived into her past and revealed that she had never played any sport and leaned more toward "arts and crafts."

"I had never done sports in my existence on this planet, alright? I'd done like cheerleading in 7th grade and I rode horses my whole life. I was an arts and crafts kid and a total weirdo," she said.

Coming into this competitive world, Cara added that she wasn't physically or mentally fit to be a part of it and had never been around big groups of people.

"Like I don't know where my life would be without The Challenge. I had no confidence, doubted everything I ever did... I was the last one picked for anything athletically," she continued.

Regardless, Cara managed to push through her barriers and expressed that she was thankful for what she had accomplished on the show and how she was able to prove herself.

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"I was able to let my guard down"- Cara Maria reflects on her The Challenge 40 journey

Cara Maria made her return to The Challenge franchise with season 40. She was part of Era II and managed to reach the semi-final.

During episode 17, which premiered on December 18, 2024, Cara was picked to compete in The Final Elimination arena game against Tori Deal. After a gruesome underwater elimination challenge, Tori emerged victorious and Cara had to leave the show.

After her elimination, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on December 18, Cara reflected on returning to The Challenge franchise and how it turned out to be a great season for her.

"This season, once Laurel left, I was able to let my guard down. Usually I'm always on hard defense, which is why people root for me because I'm always trying to survive. That's how most seasons go for me, in survival mode. How many eliminations do I have to go into? How many people are going to keep targeting me?" she said.

Cara continued that during the recent season, she was initially targeted by Johnny and Laurel. However, once Laurel was eliminated, she enjoyed her side of the house and appreciated the way the game was structured. She added that the format gave her plenty of opportunities "to just chill."

Reflecting on this season, she noted that, unlike previous ones, "the girls weren’t targeting the girls," which allowed her to let her guard down and truly be herself.

"That little birthday party they had for me an hour before I had to go into the elimination, it was just the sweetest thing. I really, really had a good time. I definitely feel like I won," she added.

Cara further noted that she didn't feel "used" by her fellow contestants and expressed her gratitude for the experience.

"Now, The Challenge is The Challenge and the game is the game, and then real life is real life. This doesn't need to be personal outside the show, and it's just brought a whole different sense of peace to me. It's a load off my shoulders and I'm just in a lot happier place," she concluded.

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The Challenge season 40 episodes are released every Wednesday on MTV.