CBS has formally announced the identities of the 11 teams who will be competing on The Amazing Race's seventeenth season, which will premiere with a special 90-minute episode on Sunday, September 26 at 8PM ET/PT.
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Like all previous The Amazing Race editions, the members of the 11 teams -- which include three former beauty queens -- competing on the show's seventeenth installment have a pre-existing relationship with one another. Three teams are dating couples, three more teams consist of family members, and five teams are friends or co-workers.
The Amazing Race's seventeenth season covered 32,000 miles and included visits to four continents and 30 cities. Several locations were visited for the first time in the reality franchise's history -- including Bangladesh, Ghana and the Arctic Circle.
In addition, the new season will feature a twist in which the team that finishes first during the Race's initial leg will receive "a surprise, game-changing advantage," according to CBS.
The Amazing Race's seventeenth season was filmed earlier this year and began in Gloucester, MA in late May. Local eyewitnesses spotted the teams boarding local fishing boats that took them across the small seaport's harbor. Once there, The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan began the Race and the teams scrambled to drive themselves to Logan International Airport in Boston, where they boarded flights to England.
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The 11 teams competing on The Amazing Race's seventeenth season -- and their CBS-released bio information -- are:
"Home Shopping Hosts" Brook Roberts and Claire Champlin
Brook is a 27-year-old home shopping host and former Miss Oregon from San Diego, CA. Claire is a 30-year-old home shopping host from Reno, NV.
"Dating Couple" Nick DeCarlo and Vicki Casciola
Nick is a 26-year-old bartender from Henderson, NV. Vicki is a 26-year-old hair stylist from Henderson, NV.
"Best Friends" Ron Kellum and Tony Stovall
Ron is a 45-year-old director and choreographer from Los Angeles, CA. Tony is a 42-year-old University of Arizona doctoral student from Tucson, AZ.
"Father/Son" Michael Wu and Kevin Wu
Michael is a 58-year-old software consultant and content creator from Sugar Land, TX. Kevin is a 20-year-old student and Internet entertainer from Sugar Land, TX.
"Newly Dating Couple" Chad Waltrip and Stephanie Smith
Chad is a 26-year-old operations manager from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Stephanie is a 23-year-old hair stylist and former Miss South Carolina from Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
"Doctors/Friends" Nat Strand and Kat Chang
Nat is a 31-year-old doctor from Scottsdale, AZ. Kat is a 35-year-old doctor from Santa Monica, CA.
"Father/Daughter" Gary Ervin and Mallory Ervin
Gary is a 53-year-old entrepreneur from Morganfield, KY. Mallory is a 24-year-old former Miss Kentucky from Lexington, Ky.
"Ivy League A Cappella Singers" Connor Diemand-Yauman and Jonathan Schwartz
Connor is a 22-year-old Princeton University student from Chesterland, OH. Jonathan is a 22-year-old Princeton University student from Cranford, NJ.
"Dating Couple" Jill Haney and Thomas Wolfard
Jill is a 27-year-old hair stylist from Marina Del Ray, CA. Thomas is a 30-year-old ad sales director from Marina Del Ray, CA.
"Birth Mother/Daughter" Andie DeKroon and Jenna Sykes
Andie is a 43-year-old stay-at-home mom from Atlanta, GA. Jenna is a 21-year-old University of Georgia student from Athens, GA.
"Beach Volleyball Partners" Katie Seamon and Rachel Johnston
Katie is a 23-year-old beach volleyball player from Rahway, NJ. Rachel is a 24-year-old beach volleyball player from Moorestown, NJ.
About The Author: Steven Rogers