Cara Maria’s journey on The Challenge: Battle of the Eras came to an end in episode 17, which aired last week on December 18, 2024. In a water-based elimination task against Tori Deal, she was eliminated from the competition. Following her exit, Cara Maria opened up to Entertainment Weekly about her time on the show and shed light on some behind-the-scenes drama that didn’t make it to the final cut.
One of the incidents she discussed was the drama involving Johnny Bananas, Olivia Kaiser, and Theo Campbell. She revealed that Olivia and Theo, who had formed a close bond in season 40, had put their beds together on Era 1’s side for privacy. However, Johnny Bananas objected to their arrangement and created tension by insisting they couldn’t be on "that side of the house." This led to what Cara Maria referred to as "bed-gate," where there was a dispute over sleeping arrangements.
Cara Maria also recalled a moment where she, Tori, and Olivia eavesdropped on Johnny Bananas’ conversations, referring to them as "sermons." She described how they would make a human ladder to listen in on Bananas, with Michele Fitzgerald eventually storming in and confronting him about being overheard. Despite the heat and challenges of filming, Cara Maria expressed that the cast made the best of the situation, even jokingly referring to their living conditions as "Satan’s a**hole."
Reflecting on The Challenge season 40 as a whole, Cara Maria questioned the decision to bring 40 contestants on the show only to eliminate many of them in the first episode. She suggested that a reunion or an after-show for those eliminated early on could have added more depth to the season. Additionally, she proposed a twist where contestants would write down their elimination targets in secret, creating more suspense and paranoia within the group.
As she looks back on her time on The Challenge: Battle of the Eras, Cara Maria shared her thoughts on the experience and the dynamics within the cast. Despite her elimination, she remains a memorable figure in The Challenge franchise, known for her competitive spirit and willingness to speak her mind.
