Exclusive: Paulie Calafiore Reveals Unforgettable Challenge Experience, Unveils Masterful Strategy!

The 34-year-old Challenge veteran, Paulie Calafiore, is set to make a comeback on season 2 of The Challenge: USA. Despite his experience in reality TV competitions, Calafiore admitted to feeling anxious about joining the cast, comprised of previous contestants from popular shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother.

"The biggest fear I have every time I come back after a long break is, like, 'Do I still have it?'" he exclusively shared with We ahead of the announcement for Season 2 on Tuesday, July 11th. "And as soon as you finish the first day, you're like, 'OK, yeah, I still have it... I can still keep up with the younger generation they're bringing in here nowadays.'"

Calafiore expressed his excitement and disbelief about the opportunity to compete against renowned stars from well-known CBS reality shows. These stars include Tyler Crispen, Tiffany Mitchell, Monte Taylor, Alyssa Snider, Faysal Shafaat, Josh Martinez, Ameerah Jones, and Alyssa Lopez, all of whom have also appeared on Big Brother. It is worth mentioning that Calafiore himself previously participated in Big Brother 18 in 2016.

Despite tough competition in the upcoming season, which airs on CBS starting Thursday, August 10, Calafiore entered The Challenge: USA with the determination to stay composed. "My mindset going into this season was to acknowledge the two wolves we all have inside us, and to choose to nourish the peaceful one," he shared with Us. "Although the other wolf was constantly tempting me with doubts and distractions, I remained focused on my goal this season."

Calafiore, who last appeared on War of the Worlds 2 in 2019, revealed that his strategy for the season was to observe the dynamics between the cast members and see who was aligning with whom. Given the presence of several competitors who had previous connections from past shows, he already had an idea of which people would be working together.

When it comes to his own alliances, Calafiore shared that he was incredibly close to having his ultimate ally – his brother, Cody Calafiore – compete alongside him. He expressed his anticipation for the day they would be on a season together, mentioning that they were very close to securing Challenge: USA contracts.

Paulie mentioned that when he and his 32-year-old brother Cody finally have the opportunity to compete against each other on a show, it is uncertain which Calafiore brother will emerge as the victor. "Part of me wants to boast about my own skills, but I have to admit, he's actually quite talented," he expressed.

Both brothers have previously participated in Big Brother, with Cody being crowned the champion of season 22 in 2020. Sharing his thoughts on The Challenge: USA, Paulie mentioned that this particular season had moments reminiscent of Big Brother due to the presence of closed doors within the house.

Courtesy of Paulie Calafiore/Instagram

"In all the Challenge seasons I've participated in, none of the rooms had doors. However, this season was different – not only were there doors, they were closed, creating a constant sense of exclusion and the fear that conversations were happening without me. The entire house was on edge."

Alongside Paulie and other former Big Brother contestants, the second season of The Challenge also features familiar faces from previous seasons such as Wes Bergmann, Tori Deal, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, Amanda Garcia, Jonna Stephens (formerly Mannion), and Cory Wharton. Joining them are Michaela Bradshaw, Cassidy Clark, Michele Fitzgerald, Chanelle Howell, Sebastian Noel, Chris Underwood, and Desi Williams, who are all known for their appearances on Survivor. Additionally, The Amazing Race personalities Luis Colon and Dusty Harris will also be participating. Catch the premiere of Season 2 of The Challenge: USA on Thursday, August 10, on CBS.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi