Exclusive: 'The Amazing Race' "Former NFL Cheerleaders" Tiffany Chantell and Krista Debono talk (Part 2)

The Amazing Race's "Former NFL Cheerleaders" team of Tiffany Chantell and Krista Debono were eliminated during last Friday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's 27th season.


Tiffany and Krista became the eighth team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's eleventh Pit Stop at Nam Van Lake, home to Macau's famous Dragon Boat Race, in last place.

The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan told the girls they were "so close" to staying in the Race. They were disappointed about not making the Final 3, however, they were proud to have come so far and prove people wrong.

Below is the concluding portion of Tiffany and Krista's exclusive interview with Reality TV World. Click here to read the first half.

Reality TV World: Logan Fazio and Chris Gordon got U-Turned this season because Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop believed you girls when you said Chris and Logan had made up the story of you previously U-Turning the "Green Team." Chris and Logan sort of threw you girls under the bus but they were being honest, so... 


Krista Debono: Yeah. (laughs) that was definitely all me! So let me get this U-Turn story down. The "Texas Boys" promised whoever U-Turned the "Green Team" would get their [extra] Express Pass. So we were almost positive they were in front of us, so we were like, "You know what? Even if we have to waste a U-Turn, just put their name up because it's going to guarantee us an Express Pass," and that's it.

We weren't trying to U-Turn them. It wasn't like that. So, we didn't know that they have to give it up right then and there. So they didn't even know we used it. So then, later on, we're on the mat with the "Reporters" [Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta] and Phil slipped -- nobody knows this -- but he said, "Well, you girls can't use your U-Turn."

And we were like, "Oh my God! He just said it. Our cover is blown." So the "Reporters" passed that on and it went to the "Paparazzi" [Chris and Logan] and then it got to Justin and Diana as soon as we got there. So we walk into the train station, and now, we had just bonded with Justin and Diana, and we knew that there was a U-Turn coming up.

And in this game, you have to make smart decisions, like, "Did I want to lie to somebody that I just became close with?" But I kind of had to save ourselves, because you don't know how someone is going to react. He could've said, "Oh whatever. It's not a big deal," or he could've been annoyed and used [the upcoming U-Turn] as revenge, like, "They put us up, so I'm going to." So it was just a matter of being smart.

And luckily, I have a good poker face, and it worked out. So, I'm sorry to them that they got U-Turned, but I think it was other stuff too with the "Paparazzi." I know they were bugging a lot of people, and I think everybody was just kind of done with them too. So it was, like, double, you know? It's kind of what I did and what they did.


So, I think that either way, they probably would've wound up U-Turning [Chris and Logan], but I just felt like it wasn't the right place to tell them, especially on a U-Turn leg. You don't want to tell somebody you U-Turned them on a U-Turn leg! That's like asking to go home. So I just had to keep it to myself and, you know, we got the whole, "Oh my gosh, they are such liars!"

And I was like, "This is a game. This is what you have to do. I have to save myself; I have to save my team." So, that's what it comes down to, and I don't regret putting [Justin and Diana] up because we tried to get the Express Pass. Did it work? No. It failed. But hey, we tried. I don't regret it.

Reality TV World: You girls got very close to [Tanner Kloven and Josh Ahern] this season, and they had pointed out they had a weakness for skirts and pompoms. Was there any romantic interest there from your end -- either during or potentially after the show?

Krista Debono: We, (laughs). We love them. I mean, there was always that flirtation there. We're both, you know, young and we're attracted to each other. But they were so far away, so I don't know if a long-distance relationship is in the future. But we still talk to them every single day, and we love them to death. It's just all of our downtime was spent with them.

Tiffany Chantell: Yeah.


Krista Debono: We just got along with them so well. We have the same personality, the same age, we knew a lot of mutual people. Some people thought -- I remember when we were at the starting line, they were like, "Oh these two are definitely on a Blind Date!" I think they thought we were being set up, I don't know.

Tiffany Chantell: And I also feel like the relationship that we have with them, like, even all the other teams were like, "Are you sure you guys didn't know each other before this race?" They're like, "You guys look like you've been friends for years." It was just a bond that we had that no one else.

Krista Debono: People didn't believe us. We were like, "No, we really don't know them!"

Tiffany Chantell: I felt like they were us, but men. (Laughs)

Krista Debono: Yeah, they're like the male versions of us. So, it just worked. It just clicked. Maybe if they moved to New York or we moved to Dallas then we'll see what happens. (Laughs) In the future.


Reality TV World: At the time you got eliminated, were you thinking Justin and Diana had it in the bag since they made the Final 3 and which team were you rooting for to win?

Krista Debono: Honestly, I don't feel like Justin and Diana had it in the bag just because you never know.

Tiffany Chantell: At that point, just because of the incident that happened with Krista and I and Justin and Diana, you just never know whose game it is. Anything can happen, and that's why, like with the Final 3, it was just in anyone's hands.

Krista Debono: The thing is, with me, I was 100% "Reporters" all the way because we didn't really get the chance to get to know Justin and Diana on the Race. But then there's a part of me that watches them on the Race, and behind the scenes, they do always stick to their word. They're loyal people. They do fight; They do bicker.

But you've got to give it to them! They're good. So, I don't know, I'm kind of torn. During the Race, I was all for the "Reporters," but at the same time, just watching them on the show now, they kill it! So I don't know. What do you think, Tiff? I'm kind of torn, I don't know really.


Tiffany Chantell: It's just like what you're saying. Watching Justin and Diana on the TV and seeing everything behind the scenes that we didn't get to see...

Krista Debono: It's just different.

Tiffany Chantell: Justin's loyal. He always kept his word, and we always doubted that because we just knew him as him bickering and his attitude towards the Race. So that's why we always had a bad taste. But then when we watched the "Reporters," they were...

Krista Debono: The exact opposite!

Tiffany Chantell: Sneaky, yeah. And, you know, they were the ones who started the trouble with Krista and I using the U-Turn. They were the ones who told the "Reporters," and anything that ever came out of Justin's mouth, he always kept his word. And I felt like the "Reporters" never did.

Krista Debono: Yeah, I got to give them that.


To read the first half of Tiffany and Krista's exclusive The Amazing Race interview with Reality TV World, click here.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski