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The Challenge champion Ashley Mitchell currently holds the record for the most money won by a female. She recently acknowledged two-time winner and legendary competitor Cara Maria Sorbello as a player who “paved the way” for her and explained why she thinks the veteran is so “underrated.”

Shane Raines, Derrick Henry, Ashley Mitchell, Cara Maria Sorbello, Derrick Kosinski and Tony Raines attend The Challenge XXX: Ultimate Fan Experience
Shane Raines, Derrick Henry, Ashley Mitchell, Cara Maria Sorbello, Derrick Kosinski and Tony Raines attend The Challenge XXX: Ultimate Fan Experience | Lars Niki

Ashley Mitchell previously held the record for most money won in ‘The Challenge’

In 2014, Ashley Mitchell made her reality television debut on The Real World: Ex-Plosion but left after the second episode following numerous drunken outbursts.

Two years later, she competed in competition spinoff The Challenge: Rivals III partnered with former housemate and nemesis Cory Wharton. However, they failed to make the finals. She returned for Invasion of the Champions (2017) as part of Team Underdogs and won, taking home $121,250.

Mitchell briefly appeared in Dirty 30 but didn’t compete as she left early due to exhaustion. The Real World star returned for Final Reckoning (2018) and won again, this time alongside Hunter Barfield.

Faced with the option to share the million-dollar prize or keep it for herself, Mitchell chose the latter, making her the highest-paid cast member at the time. She has since competed in seven more seasons, finishing in the finals in one, but has yet to win another.

Mitchell eliminated early twice in ‘The Challenge 36’

Last season, the Real World star was the second female eliminated during Total Madness. Therefore, she returned for Double Agents seeking a better finish. She teamed up with champion C.T. Tamburello as they’ve run a final together and have several connections in the house.

However, Tamubrello rejecting Kam Williams for Mitchell came back to bite the team as she orchestrated a plan to get them thrown into elimination first.

Although Williams intended to blindside Tamburello, it ended up being a girls’ day, forcing an unexpected Mitchell to face off against Survivor champ and rookie Natalie Anderson.

The two-time winner went home first but returned a few episodes later when Anderson prematurely left the competition. However, only two weeks later, she found herself in the Crater with another strong female, “Killa Kam,” who eliminated her a second and final time.

Mitchell says Cara Maria Sorbello ‘paved the way’ for her

A follower asked Mitchell whom she considered the most underestimated winner, during a Feb. 2021 Instagram question and answer. The veteran named legendary player Cara Maria Sorbello because she became the first female solo champ with her Vendettas victory.

Additionally, Mitchell noted Sorbello won by herself, whereas she had a partner. A fan clipped her response and shared it to Twitter, commending the two-time winner for “supporting” other women and champions.

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The Real World star replied, “Cara definitely paved the way for females like myself and Jenny [West].” Sorbello holds several records, including the most elimination wins and most consecutive appearances in a final. Currently, Mitchell holds the career-long and single-season record for the most money won by a female player.

She’s also one of three female competitors who have won two seasons. Total Madness champ Jenny West, who Mitchell also named as a competitor inspired by Sorbello, seems poised to tie their records, if not break them. The Challenge 36 airs Wednesdays at 8/7 Central on MTV.

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