Becoming the latest reality TV couple to follow in the footsteps of former Survivor and The Amazing Race contestants Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano, Ray Whitty and Yolanda Brown-Moore, who finished third in Wednesday night's broadcast of The Amazing Race 9's finale, got engaged on live television during their Thursday morning appearance on CBS's The Early Show program.
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"I think the race was, I mean, it was a once in a lifetime experience and I mean, you got to hang out with hippies and frat boys but, most of all, sharing the race with Yolanda," Ray began. Then, rising from his chair on the outdoor platform on which The Amazing Race 9's final three teams were sitting, he grabbed Yolanda's hand and continued. "I would have not been here if it wasn't for you and you're like everything I've dreamed of my whole life." "Will you marry me," he added as he got down on one knee and produced a ring.
After a crying Yolanda replied 'Yes,' Early Show staffers wheeled in some cake and champagne and Phil led The Amazing Race 9's entire cast in a toast to the newly engaged couple. As the morning show segment ended, a still surprised Yolanda was expressing her amazement that seemingly everyone but her had known of Ray's obviously pre-arranged plan.
Since Rob's live Survivor: All-Stars finale proposal (conducted before Survivor host Jeff Probst had revealed whether he or fellow Final 2 finalist Amber had won the show's $1,000,000 prize), at least three other former male reality stars have followed Rob's lead and proposed on live television (although unlike Rob, none of them were proposing to soon-to-be millionaires.)
After finishing second on The Amazing Race 5, Colin Guinn proposed to race partner Christie Woods during their own similar post-finale appearance on The Early Show. Earlier this spring, The Biggest Loser 2 winner Matt Hoover proposed to Suzy Preston, who finished third on the second edition of the NBC reality weight loss show, during a joint appearance on NBC's The Today Show morning program.
