33 times Alabama won on reality TV shows (2024)

Alabama has a long, rich history on reality TV that dates back to 1992, when Birmingham’s Julie Oliver Gentry popped up on a fledgling series for MTV called “The Real World.” Since that time, hundreds of people from the state have appeared on a wide variety of shows, from competitions like “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” to booze-soaked romps such as “Floribama Shore” and “Party Down South.”

READ: Alabama is having a moment on reality TV, but it’s not the first time

Here are 33 times we’ve seen Alabamians become winners on reality TV, earning trophies, prizes and bragging rights on their chosen series. The list below is chronological, starting with Kefla Hare, a winner on “The Challenge” in 1999, and ending with Bryson McGlynn and Asher HaVon, 2024 champs on “MasterChef Junior” and “The Voice,” respectively.

Kefla Hare

Winner on “The Challenge,” 1999. The tough competitor from Foley made his debut on MTV’s “Road Rules: Down Under” in 1998. He returned to reality TV in 1999 for “The Challenge,” in a season also known as “Real World vs. Road Rules.” The six-person “Road Rules” team triumphed and shared a $50,000 prize. Challenges included a roller derby game, bungee jumping, a bed race, a boot camp and a money grab in an enclosed chamber. Hare (a teacher, coach and actor) also appeared on “The Challenge: All Stars” in 2024.

Ruben Studdard

Winner on “American Idol,” 2003. The Birmingham resident put his hometown on the reality map, winning “American Idol” during its second season. For his smooth R&B vocals, Studdard earned the nickname “Velvet Teddy Bear,” and bested Clay Aiken during a much-watched finale. Fans in his Studdard’s home state cheered, united and bursting with pride. A decade later, Studdard launched a personal health campaign on “The Biggest Loser,” shedding 119 pounds from his starting weight of 462 pounds.

Brad Cotter

Winner on “Nashville Star,” 2004. The Opelika native emerged triumphant on the second season of the USA network’s country singing contest. Cotter actually was eliminated in the early rounds, but he earned a wild-card comeback as the audience’s choice. His laid-back charm, talent and experience in the music world were key factors in the win.

Jennifer Gagliano

Winner on “Fear Factor,” 2004. The Birmingham native, a model and John Carroll Catholic High School alumna, displayed grit and determination in extreme stunts. She was suspended from a helicopter, trapped underwater and locked inside a body bag with roaches, worms and stink beetles. Gagliano endured everything, winning the $50,000 prize.

Brian Barrett and Mandie Granger

Winners on “Fear Factor,” 2004. The high-school sweethearts wrestled with a submerged limousine, slurped a bug-and-fish smoothie and dangled from the side of a 12-story building. Barrett (from Vestavia Hills) and Granger (from Homewood) won $50,000 in a couples’ edition of the show.

Taylor Hicks

Winner on “American Idol,” 2006. The grey-haired soul singer from Hoover stood out from the crowd, covered several pop hits and earned a devoted fan base with his shouts of “Soul Patrol!” Hicks was the second Alabama singer to earn the “Idol” crown, after Ruben Studdard’s win in 2003. Hicks bested Katharine McPhee for the title and sang his coronation ballad, “Do I Make You Proud,” amid a flurry of confetti. Hicks became a hugely popular figure who exuded Alabama pride, on and off the TV series. A decade later, he served as host of “State Plate,” a food and travel series on INSP.

Chad Granger and Lacey Moulton

Winners on “Fear Factor,” 2006. Moulton (from Vestavia Hills) and Granger (from Slapout) won $250,000 in the ‘’Psycho’' edition of “Fear Factor.” The Auburn University students outplayed two other couples in stunts that included catching Madagascar hissing roaches, eating camel spiders, escaping from straitjackets and blowing up the Bates Motel.

Angela Hacker

Winner on “Nashville Star,” 2007. The singer from LaGrange, near Muscle Shoals, put her best boots forward on this countrified version of “American Idol.” Along with her brother, Zac Hacker, she covered country hits each week, then received criticism and kudos from judges that included Randy Owen of Alabama. The Hackers went head-to-head in the finals. Angela won the top prize: A recording contract with Warner Bros. and a new Chevy Silverado.

Haymes Snedeker

Winner on “Big Break X: Michigan,” 2008. The Fairhope golfer, a top-rated amateur, teamed with Ole Miss pal Bernadette “Bernie’' Luse for a show on the Golf Channel. They won the championship. Prizes included a spot in a PGA Tour event for him and Mobile’s LPGA event for her.

Liz Davis

Winner on “P. Diddy’s Starmaker,” 2009. The country singer and former Hoover resident bested 13 other contestants on “Starmaker” and won a contract with Bad Boy records. According to Davis, the deal later fell through. She returned as a 2012 competitor on “The Voice” and secured a spot on Blake Shelton’s team. Davis strutted her stuff and made it to the top 20.

James “JT” Thomas Jr.

Winner on “Survivor: Tocantins,” 2009. The Samson native and Mobile-area cattle rancher triumphed on “Tocantins” and won $1 million. He lost a tooth in the process. Thomas’ nice-guy reputation and down-home charm helped him to secure a return appearance on the show, as part of the hero team for “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” in 2010.

Committed

Winner on “The Sing-Off,” 2010. The six-man team from Huntsville’s Oakwood University won NBC’s a cappella competition, besting Nashville’s Street Corner Symphony. The prize package: $100,000, a trophy and a Sony recording contract. The troupe’s self-titled debut album came out in August 2011.

Olivia Ward

Winner on “The Biggest Loser,” 2011. Ward and her sister, Hannah Curlee, both University of Alabama graduates, were underdogs on the show. At a total weight of about 500 pounds, they were the smallest team in the weight-loss competition. Curlee, a human resources rep, and Ward, an opera singer, used determination and mettle to beat the other teams. Then they faced off for the finale. Ward defeated her sister by a margin of three pounds. She won $250,000.

Chris Hastings

Winner on “Iron Chef America,” 2012. Hastings, one of Birmingham’s best-known chefs, challenged celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a high-pressure contest on the Food Network. The co-owner of Hot and Hot Fish Club trained intensively for the culinary throwdown, and was ready to whip up five dishes when the mystery ingredient was announced. (It was sausage.) “I want to live or die, win or lose, competing against the best,” Hastings said. He won, beating extreme odds.

Justin Wood

Winner on “I Survived a Japanese Game Show,” 2008. The Trussville resident endured crazy stunts, such as spinning in a baby crib, jumping on a wall in a sticky suit and running in a maze while wearing wet sponges. Success! Wood earned the $250,000 top prize.

Wade Jones

Winner on “Redneck Island,” 2012-2013. Five Alabama people dug their toes into the sand and staked a claim on Season 2 of this wacky reality show, which was inspired by the popularity of “Survivor.” Jones, of Alexander City won the competition. His bio on the show described Jones as “a redneck of all trades.” His prize on the show: $100,000. Another Alabamian, Justin Campbell of Ashville, made it to the final three. Contestants also included Eliza Weber of Leeds, Nick Honea of Albertville and Lisa McCreless of Pinson.

Kettle n’ Spouts

Winner on “Food Court Wars,” 2012. This culinary team had plenty of soul, dishing out shrimp and grits for a series on the Food Network. Perkins & Sons Hot Doggery was the opponent. Kettle n’ Spouts won the cook-off, earning business space (and a year’s free rent) at Huntsville’s Madison Square Mall.

Anthony Battaglia

Winner on “The Amazing Race,” 2013. The Huntsville Havoc hockey player teamed with his brother, Bates Battaglia, on the CBS adventure show. They won the $1 million prize, competing in challenges that ranged from bog snorkeling in Ireland to water skiing in crocodile-invested waters in Africa. “We’re fans of the show, and we’re athletes,” Anthony said. “We thought ‘we can definitely win this thing.’ We were pretty humbled when we got there. It’s a lot harder than it looks.”

Cara Thompson

Winner on “Chopped,” 2013. Thompson, a Huntsville native and sous chef at Miami’s SushiSamba, created some winning dishes with chicken, mushrooms, dried sea cucumber, duck tongue and other ingredients from a mystery basket. She bested three competitive chefs — all runners-up on previous episodes of the Food Network series — and pocketed the $10,000 grand prize.

Jann Robinson

Winner on “The Job,” 2013. The Mountain Brook caterer and culinary consultant competed on the debut episode of this career competition. For her composure, Southern hospitality and tenacity, she won an assistant manager position with The Palm, a restaurant group based in New York City.

LeeLee Wiginton

Winner on “Cutthroat Kitchen,” 2013. The co-owner of Huntsville restaurant Lyn’s Gracious Goodness cut her finger during filming, but won her episode of the Food Network reality series. She bested three other chefs on “Wham Clam Thank You Ma’am,” preparing a patty melt, clams casino and ice cream.

Hunter Bell

Winner of “Fashion Star,” 2013. This University of Alabama graduate teamed with her roommate to create the Hunter Dixon line of women’s wear. Bell, based in New York City, aimed to impress celebrity judges such as Jessica Simpson and Nicole Richie on the NBC reality show. She also hoped to place her clothes in major department stores. Her win resulted in $3 million in orders for capsule collections in Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Express stores

Gina McDonald

At-home winner on “The Biggest Loser,” 2013. The Hoover lawyer aced her battle of the bulge, losing 46 percent of her body weight as a contestant on the NBC series. Although she didn’t win the grand prize, McDonald earned the at-home prize of $100,000. “The most important thing is how I feel on the inside and how healthy I am now,” she said. “I ended up exactly where it was meant for me to end.”

Riley Green

Winner of “Redneck Island,” 2016. The Jacksonville native and his partner‚ Becky Andrews, went home with $100,000 after competing on Season 4 of the CMT reality series. Green’s bio for the CMT reality show said: ‘Riley labels himself a ‘career drinker.’ In college, he attempted to befriend all of the cops to avoid arrest for public intoxication. Riley started singing and playing guitar just to get the attention of girls, and now he has so many girls he can’t keep track of them.’” During the series, competitors were stranded on a deserted island while completing offbeat physical and mental challenges to avoid elimination. Green later forged a successful career as a country singer-songwriter and won the 2020 ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year.

Noah Galloway

Winning mentor for “American Grit,” 2016. Galloway, an Army veteran and double amputee, inspired viewers with his grace, good humor and grit on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2015. Partnering with Sharna Burgess, the Birmingham-area resident earned the third-place spot in the competition, mastering difficult routines and displaying admirable strength. In the process, he became a real-deal American hero. One year after his stint on “Dancing,” Galloway served as a mentor on “American Grit,” a reality series that asked competitors to face daunting physical and mental challenges based on military training. Two members of his team, Clare Painter and Mark Bouquin, tied for first place. Galloway, as mentor, shared in their win.

Jordan Fisher

Winner on “Dancing with the Stars,” 2017. Fisher — an actor singer and Birmingham native — was charming, upbeat and humble on the show, as well as an excellent dancer. This made him an immediate frontrunner, and it was no surprise when Fisher took the Mirrorball trophy with his pro partner, Lindsay Arnold, celebrating amid a flood of silver confetti. Fisher and Arnold made an ideal team, executing difficult choreography and cheering each other on throughout the season.

Anthony L. Williams

Winner on “Project Runway All Stars,” 2018. The third time was the charm for Williams, a Birmingham native and fan favorite on reality TV. He specialized in creating sculptural dresses and ladylike gowns, but came in fifth place during his first go-round on “Project Runway” in 2010. Williams grabbed the spotlight, however, with his witty comments and snappy comebacks. He returned to the franchise 2012 and 2018 for “Project Runway All Stars.” In 2018, Williams designed a seven-piece collection that earned him $100,000, a trip to London, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine and more.

Kelsey Barnard Clark

Winner on “Top Chef,” 2019. Clark, the executive chef and owner of KBC in Dothan, bested two other contestants in the finals. Along with Eric Adjepong of Washington, D.C., and Sara Bradley of Paducah, Kentucky, she visited markets in Macau, China, and prepared a four-course meal for the judges. As the season’s champ, Clark received $125,000, a prize package and bragging rights. She also won the title of fan favorite, determined by viewer votes, and received an additional $10,000. Clark’s love of Southern cooking was evident as she tackled challenges for the show. In the finale episode, for example, her first course for the judges was cornbread and buttermilk in honor of summers in the South. Clark even brought her grandmother’s cast iron pans to China. However, she also seemed to relish working with exotic ingredients in a foreign locale, combining Southern food traditions with the ingredients and flavors of Macau.

Trinity the Tuck

Winner on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” 2019. The Birmingham native was victorious on the fourth season of “Drag Race All Stars,” sharing the title with Monét X Change. The two received $100,000, a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame and a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics. Gorgeous, smart, funny and ready for anything, Trinity was a standout on “Drag Race” from Moment One. This queen quickly became a fan favorite with eye-catching and polished looks, a quick wit, snappy comebacks and a willingness to get silly in skits such as Snatch Game, where the queens lampoon celebrities. Trinity first appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2017; won “All Stars” in 2019 and returned to “All Stars” in 2022. Trinity also popped up on “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” in 2020, as a mentor for Loni Love.

Hannah Brown

Winner on “Dancing with the Stars,” 2019; winner on “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” 2023. Brown, a Tuscaloosa native and “Bachelorette” star, polished her dance skills with the help of pro partner Alan Bersten. The couple displayed ample versatility. performed the tango, salsa, cha-cha, rumba, paso doble, quickstep, samba and more. But her time on DWTS was far from a blithe sail to the finals. Although she was never up for elimination — declared safe each week when the results were announced — Brown was on an emotional roller-coaster. Her rehearsals and performances often were accompanied by tears, confessions of vulnerability, sparks of frustration and other expressions of raw feeling. As a result, viewers were highly invested in her journey on the show. “I’m honestly grateful for the journey not being easy,” Brown said after winning the Mirrorball Trophy, “because I’ve learned a lot about myself.” Four years later, Brown returned to reality TV with gumption and grit, winning “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” alongside an Olympic gold medalist for soccer, Carli Lloyd.

Kayla Hardin

Winner on “Top Chef Amateurs,” 2021. Each home cook appeared on a single episode and had one shot to win the weekly $5,000 prize. Hardin, a Montgomery resident, teamed with Eric Adjepong, a professional chef and “Top Chef” alum, creating a dish that offered a twist on traditional lasagna. Hardin took the lead; Adjepong offered help and support. As the victor, Hardin earned $5,000 and bragging rights. “I am just amazed and it’s a beautiful feeling,” she said.

Bryson McGlynn

Winner on “MasterChef Junior,” 2024. Bryson, 12, from Auburn-Opelika, is a skillful grillmaster and home cook. He triumphed on Season 9 of the FOX series, earning kudos from all four celebrity judges and the respect of finicky chef Gordon Ramsay. Bryson aced a three-course meal in the finals, preparing a a savory appetizer with prawns and hush puppies, a Wagyu steak that Ramsay called “utter perfection” and an elegant peanut butter mousse cake. Bryson’s prize package included $100,000, fancy kitchen appliances and a sleek trophy. He’s the first cook from Alabama to score a win on “MasterChef Junior.” “It’s always been a dream just to try to get on this show, making it on the show is a big accomplishment, and making it to the finale felt amazing,” the boy said in an interview with AL.com. “Now, winning is crazy.”

Asher HaVon

Winner on “The Voice,” 2024. The soul singer from Selma is the first Alabama contestant to score a win on the NBC reality series during its 13-year history. His coach, Reba McEntire, championed her protege throughout the season, and the two shared a big hug when HaVon was announced as the winner. HaVon was widely regarded as a frontrunner during his season, turning in standout performances that ranged from a powerhouse cover of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” during the Blind Auditions to a passionate rendition of “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men during the Top 9. Another impressive moment was HaVon’s cover of “Titanium” in the Playoffs, which prompted John Legend to compare HaVon to the late, great Whitney Houston. HaVon will receive a recording contract, according to an NBC press release, along with the season title, a trophy and bragging rights.