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Anika Rashaun, Reality TV Star and Matchmaker, Dies at 34
Confirmed
In Short: Anika Rashaun, a reality TV star who appeared on 'The Real World' and 'The Challenge,' died on October 1 after a battle with breast cancer.
Anika Rashaun, a reality TV star who appeared on MTV's 'The Real World' and 'The Challenge,' died on October 1 at the age of 34 after a battle with breast cancer.
Rashaun, who was known for her vibrant personality and unapologetic authenticity, was a beloved figure in the reality TV community.
Her death was announced by friends on social media, with many expressing their grief and admiration for her.
Cyndi Rich, a close friend, 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.'
Rashaun's journey in reality TV began in 2016 when she appeared on 'The Real World,' where she was paired with her ex-boyfriend Will, creating a dynamic that was often described as 'oil and water.'
In 2017, she returned to the MTV universe for 'The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions,' where she continued to showcase her competitive spirit.
Rashaun later became a professional matchmaker, advice columnist, and dating coach, using her experiences to help others navigate relationships.
Her fiancé, Kyle Rehn, and friends like Theo King-Bradley, who appeared alongside her in both 'The Real World' and 'The Challenge,' shared heartfelt tributes on social media.
King-Bradley wrote, 'For Anika, I will love without limits, fly without fear, make more spontaneous decisions, and, most importantly, stop at nothing to help find a cure for breast cancer.'
Rashaun's battle with cancer highlighted the urgency of early detection and awareness, especially among young women.
In a post earlier this year, she expressed her frustration with the medical system, stating, 'That was one of the many failures she experienced within the medical system during her time battling cancer.'
Despite her mother having breast cancer years earlier, Rashaun was never identified as high-risk or advised to prioritize mammograms.
What's confirmed
- 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.
- Rashaun married her boyfriend Kyle Rehn on Valentine’s Day this year.
What's still developing
- 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.
- Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.
- Reality TV alums are mourning the loss of one of their own.
- In a Nov. 2025 post, the Real World star wrote, “99 days till I get to marry my person. This year has been everything but normal, so many ups and downs and changes we had to endure and work around, but I’m happy that the one thing that remained the same was our love for each other. I can’t wait to be your wifey…” PEOPLE has reached out to Rashaun’s representatives for comment.
- “I just thought that because I didn’t have a history of it, it would never happen to me, but look at us both sitting here right now,” Rashaun said.
- “You always kept it real with me and told me the s--t I didn’t want to hear which is why I always beyond respected you,” he wrote.
- “I’ve been doing everything else to keep my mind off the fact that you’re not here,” King-Bradley wrote alongside a photo of him and Rashaun on Instagram.