Anika Rashaun, the reality TV star who appeared and competed on MTV The real world And The challenge and later became a professional matchmaker, advice columnist and dating coach, who died on October 1 of breast cancer. She was 34 years old.
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 will love her and cherish these 16 years of memories forever.”
In a tribute to Substack, Rashaun’s friend Tiara Ramos wrote that Rashaun was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last summer. “My world already seems dull and blurry 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’m angry. I’m heartbroken. I’m devastated.”
Rashaun first appeared at age 24 on MTV. The real world of Seattle: bad blood in 2016 and, the following year, he returned to participate in The challenge: the invasion of the champions.
For The real world 2016-2017 “bad blood” season, during which Real world The housemates were eventually joined by people they considered enemies, Rashaun was paired with her ex-boyfriend Will. The synopsis for this season notes: “Ex-lovers Anika and Will go together like oil and water: The yin yang couple 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 native, moved to Los Angeles and, leveraging social media after hitting the show, built a lifestyle brand that would eventually include dating and dating advice. She remained cordial with Will, although she lost contact after the show.
In 2017, Rashaun returned to the MTV universe for The challenge: the invasion of the champions. She was eliminated in the third episode.
Theo King-Bradley, who appeared in both seasons of Rashaun on Real world And The challengeposted a tribute on Instagram (see below). “I did everything else to keep my mind off the fact that you’re not here. I’m really sad as hell ever since you heard about your passing. I’m sad that I didn’t get to see you one last time. But the last time and the last conversation we had together, I can cherish it and replay it in my mind to smile.”
After his passage on The challengeRashaun returned to her career as a 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.
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