Anika Rashaun, the Reality TV star who appeared and competed on MTV’s The Real World and The Challenge and later became a professional matchmaker, advice columnist and dating coach, died October 1 of breast cancer. She was 34.
Rashaun’s death was announced by friends on social media. Cyndi Rich wrote on Facebook, “Anika shined so bright. Being close to that light as one of her closest friends was a true blessing. She is a vibrant soul. I’ll love her and treasure the 16 years of memories forever.”
In a Substack tribute, Rashaun’s friend Tiara Ramos wrote that Rashaun was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last summer. “My world already feels dulled and blurred without her,” Ramos writes. “The urge to pick up the phone and FaceTime her is a reflex I can’t shake. Knowing the pain her husband, her parents, her loved ones, and her community are feeling right now makes me sick. I am angry. I am heartbroken. I am devastated.”
Rashaun first appeared at age 24 on MTV’s The Real World Seattle: Bad Blood in 2016 and, the following year, returned to take part in The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions.
For The Real World 2016-2017 “bad blood” season, in which Real World housemates were eventually joined by people they considered nemeses, Rashaun was paired with her ex-boyfriend Will. The synopsis for that season notes, “Ex-lovers Anika and Will go together like oil and water: The yin yang pair dated for three years, and during that time Anika was constantly annoyed that Will couldn’t match her dominance.”
After the season ended, Rashaun, a New York City native, moved to Los Angeles and, building on the social media following she attained through the series, built a lifestyle brand that would eventually include matchmaking and dating advice. She remained cordial with Will, though lost touch after the show.
In 2017, Rashaun returned to the MTV universe for The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions. She was eliminated in the third episode.
Theo King-Bradley, who appeared in both of Rashaun’s seasons on Real World and The Challenge, posted a tribute on Instagram (see it below). “I’ve been doing everything else to keep my mind off the fact that you’re not here. I’ve genuinely been sad as hell since hearing you passed. I’m sad I didn’t get to see you one last time. But the last time and conversation we had with each other I can cherish and play it back in my mind to smile.”
After her stint on The Challenge, Rashaun returned to her career as dating coach and lifestyle podcast host. According to her Instagram, she attended school to become a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Rashaun married her boyfriend Kyle Rehn on Valentine’s Day this year. Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.