MTV's The Challenge Spotlight: Evelyn Smith

The greatest female challenger of all-time.

By Dylan DeckardPublished 7 months ago • 5 min read

Evelyn Smith / Photo by MTV

Evelyn Smith is the best female competitor MTV’s The Challenge has ever seen. She had a 5 year run on the show from 2006–2011 and was one of the main characters in each season she was on besides her first season of Fresh Meat. On Fresh Meat she was the first partnership eliminated but that was more due to her partner than her. I’m going to deep dive into her entire career and write about what could have happened if she never retired after winning Rivals in 2011.

Info:

Original Show: The Challenge: Fresh Meat

Debut: Fresh Meat

Seasons: 7

Fresh Meat
The Inferno III (1st)
The Gauntlet III (2nd)
The Island (1st)
The Ruins
Fresh Meat II
Rivals (1st)

Daily Wins: 25
Eliminations Record: 6–3

Summary:

Evelyn only did 7 seasons of The Challenge, but she won 3 of them. Her debut came on Fresh Meat where she was partnered with Danny from Real World: Austin. Danny still has never won an elimination and they were the first eliminated from the season. She got put with a rookie on a season where half the cast was rookies. It would have been interesting to see how she would have performed with a vet or even a rookie like Wes Bergmann. She came back two seasons later on The Inferno III and she got to the final and beat the Good Guys to win the final. She should have won her second challenge on The Gauntlet III but after Eric “Big Easy” Banks couldn’t finish the final the Vets team didn’t stand a chance. The Island was Evelyn’s season as she was apart of the main storyline for the majority of the season. This is also where she gave her iconic line about Johnny Bananas, Kenny Santucci, Derrick Kosinski, and Paula Beckert’s alliance. Evelyn went onto to win 2 face-offs and was a part of the winning team as Bananas, Kenny, and Derrick picked Evelyn over their ally, Paula. The Ruins and Fresh Meat II were not her best work as she threw an elimination for her best friend Kelly-Anne Judd on The Ruins and didn’t have the best partner on Fresh Meat II and lost an elimination to Carley Johnson and Landon Lueck. Evelyn’s last season was Rivals where she was brought back together with Paula Beckert. Evelyn and Paula were the team to beat the entire season as they were running the house and only had to go into one elimination when they lost a daily challenge. Cara Maria Sorbello and Laurel Stucky were competition in the final but Evelyn and Paula got the job done.

What if Evelyn Never Retired?

Evelyn is currently tied with Veronica Portillo and Rachel Robinson for the most championships won by a female challenger. They all have three but Evelyn realistically could have a lot more. If “Big Easy” doesn’t go out in the final then she wins The Gauntlet III and if she didn’t give the elimination win to Kelly-Anne on The Ruins none of the other girls would have been able to beat her. Evelyn realistically could have been a 5-time Challenge Champions with wins on The Inferno III, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Ruins, and Rivals. Instead, she retired as a 3-time Challenge Champion. What about the seasons after she retired though?

Exes: No — They could have used Brooke LaBarbera as an ex but Brooke would not have helped Evelyn get to another championship.
Battle of the Seasons (2012): No — The veteran teams were taken out early as there were more rookies cast on this season.
Rivals II: Maybe — Emily Schromm and Paula Beckert were the team to beat this season but if Evelyn was partnered with Johanna Bota from Real World: Austin they would have made it difficult for them.
Free Agents: Maybe — In my opinion nobody was beating Laurel this season.
Exes II: No — Didn’t have an ex.
Bloodlines: No— I’m not sure if Evelyn has any brothers, sisters, and/or cousins that are athletic and would be interested in coming on the show. I do think this was Cara Maria and Jamie’s season though.
Rivals III: Yes — This was Bananas and Sarah’s season as the competition wasn’t as great, but if Evelyn was partnered with Derrick Kosinski or even Bananas I think she wins this season.
Invasion of the Champions: Yes — She would have come in later and Camila already beat her biggest competition, Laurel. She would have destroyed the final.
Dirty 30: Yes — At this point, Evelyn would have 5 championships and would be a huge threat so I can see people taking shots at her but she probably would have worked with Camila and Cara Maria and they both go to the final. If Evelyn takes Tori’s spot in the final I think it is close between Camila, Cara Maria, and Evelyn.
Vendettas: Maybe— Cara Maria got to the final without going into elimination. Evelyn would have killed that final and it would have been close between her and Cara Maria on the puzzle.
Final Reckoning: Maybe — Depends on who her partner is.
War of the Worlds: No — Turbo and Theo had this season.
War of the Worlds II: Maybe — She would probably pick Cara Maria and Paulie’s side over Jordan and Tori since she is close to Cara but the final purge is tricky.
Total Madness: No — I think Jenny wins this season vs anybody. She was in the zone the entire time.
Double Agents: Maybe — The vets were targeted early but I think Kaycee and Kam are the only female competitors this season that could have taken her out.
Spies, Lies, & Allies: It depends on the relationships she would made over the years.
Ride or Dies: She had a good chance is partnered with Wes Bergmann.
Battle of the Eras: Yes.

There is a chance that Evelyn becomes a 7-time Challenge Champion if she never retired with the championships coming from….

The Inferno III
The Island
Rivals
Rivals III
Invasion of the Champions
Dirty 30
Battle of the Eras

Where is Evelyn Now?

Evelyn as a lawye / Photo by Above the Law

Evelyn retired in 2011 and became a lawyer. She graduated from Harvard Law School and is now working in politics in Maine. She is 33 years old which is the same age as Cara Maria so she can realistically return if she wants but I don’t think she wants to return. She was recently called for season 40 (Battle of the Eras) and production even tried to get KellyAnne Judd to persuade her but it didn't work.

Where Evelyn Ranks All-Time on My Greatest Female Challengers of All-Time?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dylan Deckard is a content creator, podcast host, and blogger. He talks about reality TV, Grey's Anatomy and more. Please click the links below...