Meet the Contestants of Amazing Race 16

[ynkefn]

During this season of Amazing Race, contestants will travel nearly 40,000 miles across five continents and eight countries. Eleven Teams start off by navigating through the congested streets of Los Angeles and, for the first time ever, must rely solely on public transportation to make their way to LAX. The Teams’ first destination lies in Chile where they will encounter one of the most daunting Roadblocks in the history of the series. In their ongoing battle for the one million dollar prize, Teams will participate in a grueling World War I reenactment in France, retrace the early days of the iconic rock group, The Beatles, and come face-to-face with one of the world’s most infamous villains.


Team #1: Daniel and Jordan
Brothers


Daniel Pious
Age: 24
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
Connection to your teammate: Brother
Current Occupation: Financial Advisor
Pet peeve about your teammate: He is very intense
Favorite hobbies: Watching and playing sports
Achievements: Being at the Winter Classic when the Bruins won in overtime
Lifelong to do list: Get a job with a major Boston sports team, get married, have kids and make them huge Boston sports fans
If I could switch places with someone: Theo Epstein (GM of the Red Sox)
Role Model/Hero: My dad and my grandfather
What are you passionate about? Boston sports
What would you do if you won the million dollars? I’d save and invest it.
People would be surprised to learn: That I really dislike traveling and it will probably be the most difficult part of the race for me
Favorite place you have ever visited: Fenway Park
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Staying under the radar and not rubbing the other teams the wrong way, and finding food that I like
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? Jordan always wanted to be on the Race because it was his #1 dream in life. All I really want is to make it far enough so Jordan feels as if his dream is achieved


Jordan Pious
Age: 22
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
Connection to your teammate: Brother
Current Occupation: Strategic Consultant
Pet peeve about your teammate: He hates to travel
Favorite hobbies: Tennis, New England Patriots, dancing to my own beat
Achievements: Graduating from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School with High Distinction in May 2009
Lifelong to do list: Travel the world, meet Tom Brady and start my own company.
If I could switch places with someone: I wouldn’t
Role Model/Hero: My parents. Their love for each other and our family, their work ethic, and the way they have supported me have really shaped who I am today. Also, Karen Rein, my best friend and life partner. She is what life is all about, love, happiness, and laughter
What are you passionate about? Tackling life challenges and chasing after new ones and Boston sports
What would you do if you won the million dollars: Save the money and use it to pay for my MBA
People would be surprised to learn: I was considerably overweight during a decent portion of my teenage years. I weighed 200 lbs and was only 5'1".
Favorite place you have ever visited: Israel
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Focusing our intensity and competitive spirits on the Race itself rather than on each other
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I want to create memories with my best friend and show my brother that there is more to our world than what we see at home

Team #2:Monique and Shawne
Moms/Attorneys


Monique Pryor
Age: 39
Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
Connection to your Teammate: Friend
Current Occupation: Mom/Attorney
Pet peeve about your teammate: She will go to great lengths for a bargain
Favorite Hobbies: Going to the spa, dancing with friends and spinning
Achievements: Having my kids and passing the New York Bar
Lifelong To Do List: Travel the world
If I could switch places with someone: I wouldn't. I'm very content with my life.
Role Model/Hero: Suze Orman, Tina Turner
What are you passionate about? Empowering women
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Buy my husband a membership to a golf club and save for my kids' education
People would be surprised to learn: I love to travel, but I get nervous during turbulence
Favorite place you have ever visited: Nairobi, Kenya (the Masai Mara)
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Following each others lead
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? Pushing myself beyond my physical and mental limitations


Shawne Morgan
Age: 39
Hometown: Bowie, Md.
Connection to your Teammate: Friend
Current Occupation: Mom/Attorney
Pet peeve about your teammate: When she says I'm acting like her mom
Favorite Hobbies: Traveling, connecting with other women looking to grow a business and living life to the fullest
Achievements: My growing relationship with God, passing the New York Bar exam, giving birth to my kids, marrying my husband, creating a successful wellness business and helping others earn additional income
Lifelong to do List: Raise my kids to be dynamic, kind and inspiring individuals, create generational wealth and visit every continent with my husband
If I could switch places with someone: Michelle Obama
Role Model/Hero: Marian Wright Edelman (champion for Children's rights)
What are you passionate about? My family, becoming a better person, creating generational wealth
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Pay off my law school debt, help my grandparents and invest in real estate
People would be surprised to learn: I'm uncomfortable with too much attention on me
Favorite place you have ever visited: Salvador, Bahia
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Knowing when to move on to the next challenge
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? Pushing myself to another level and to help other moms/women step out of the box and take risks

Team #3: Jordan and Jeff
Newly Dating


Jeff Schroeder
Age: 31
Hometown: Norridge, Ill.
Connection to your Teammate: Newly Dating
Current Occupation: Salesman
Pet peeve about your teammate: She doesn’t think sometimes
Favorite Hobbies: Traveling, sports, outdoor activities and working out
Achievements: Graduating college
Lifelong to do List: Visit as many places I can around the world
If I could switch places with someone: A Heisman Trophy winner
Role Model/Hero: Alive: My father. Deceased: Walter Payton
What are you passionate about? My family
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Travel
People would be surprised to learn: That I played college football and graduated with a business degree from Aurora University
Favorite place you have ever visited: Western Europe
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Communicating with each other without bickering
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? To have an experience of a lifetime and get to learn more about our relationship


Jordan Lloyd
Age: 22
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Connection to your Teammate: Newly Dating
Current Occupation: Receptionist
Pet peeve about your teammate: He gets irritated easily
Favorite Hobbies: Swimming, playing tennis and socializing
Achievements: Winning “Big Brother” and graduating high school
Lifelong to do List: To be a dental hygienist, and to get married and have kids
If I could switch places with someone: Carrie Underwood
Role Model/Hero: My mom
What are you passionate about? Being with family and friends
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Buy a house by the beach
People would be surprised to learn: I'm a moody person
Favorite place you have ever visited: Cherry Grove in North Myrtle Beach
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Communicating
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)?Understanding each other


Stay tuned, more bios to come


thank you Reality Bites Back

[ynkefn]

Team #4: Louie and Michael
Detectives


Michael Naylor
Age: 45
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Connection to your teammate: Friends/Detectives
Current Occupation: Undercover Detective
Pet peeve about your teammate: He loves everyone
Favorite hobbies::Working out, running and lifting weights
Achievements: : Numerous awards in the field of narcotics enforcement
Lifelong to do list: Raise my children to be honorable, productive, loving and happy people. I would also like to write a book
If I could switch places with someone: Nobody, I am very happy with my life
Role Model/Hero: A father who stays with his family and teaches their kids to be happy, well accomplished people
What are you passionate about: Coaching Little League, New England Patriot football and Red Sox baseball
What would you do if you won the million dollars: Work less, spend more time with family and put my kids through college
People would be surprised to learn: That I will enjoy the Race whether I win or lose
Favorite place you have ever visited: Southern California
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: None
What did you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks): Completing the Race no matter what place we come in


Louie Stravato
Age: 47
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Connection to your teammate: Friends/Detectives
Current Occupation: Undercover Detective
Pet peeve about your teammate: He's a control freak
Favorite hobbies: Competing in power lifting competitions and Mixed Martial Arts
Achievements: The birth of my two sons, numerous awards for being a police officer and setting records as a power lifter
Lifelong to do list: To retire healthy, comfortable, and preferably wealthy
If I could switch places with someone: My dad
Role Model/Hero: My Dad. He has accomplished so much in life and is loved by his family, friends and peers. Though he lives in a lot of physical pain, he's always there to do whatever he can regardless of his condition
What are you passionate about? Life and living it to the fullest and teaching my children to do the same
What would you do if you won the million dollars? I would live comfortably and do a lot of traveling
People would be surprised to learn: My life is pretty much an open book, so I'm not sure I could surprise anybody
Favorite place you have ever visited: Germany and Singapore
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Keeping up with each other

Team #5: Carol and Brandy
Dating


Carol Rosenfeld
Age: 47
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Connection to your teammate: Dating
Current Occupation: Consultant
Pet peeve about your teammate: She's a biter
Favorite hobbies: Reading, the theater, art, architecture and travel
Achievements: Coming out, starting my own company
Lifelong to do list: Learn to play the piano, re-read all the classics, become a really good chef and a wine connoisseur
If I could switch places with someone: Diana Krall -- I'd like to know what it would be like to have that kind of talent
Role Model/Hero: Any strong, accomplished women, female writers, politicians, artists and musicians
What are you passionate about: My dog, equal rights, mountains and the ocean
What would you do if you won the million dollars: Travel
People would be surprised to learn: That I am shy
Favorite place you have ever visited: Paris
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Communication
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? Choosing to participate in the Race is very out of character for me so the fact that I am doing it is an accomplishment


Brandy Snow
Age: 40
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Connection to your teammate: Dating
Current Occupation: Actress
Pet peeve about your teammate: She is much more structured and schedule-oriented than I am, which at times limits a go-with-the-flow, spontaneous attitude
Favorite hobbies: Speaking Spanish, my dogs, traveling, cooking, music, art, hiking.
Achievements: I am an accomplished, independent, talented, creative and kind woman who is committed to constantly learning and growing
Lifelong to do list: Speak Spanish fluently, learn to dance the tango, create a charity that helps educate and offer better quality of life to children, leave a positive impact/imprint on the world, lead a life with purpose
If I could switch places with someone: No one
Role Model/Hero: I draw inspiration from too many people to list here
What are you passionate about? Integrity, honesty, intelligence, compassion, constantly striving to better myself
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Pay off debts, purchase a new car, start a direct sales children's educational game company with a portion of the profits going to fund a foundation 6villages throughout the world and participating in projects that better the community
People would be surprised to learn: That I'm bisexual
Favorite place you have ever visited: Mexico, Greece and sailing through the waters of the Caribbean
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: We will likely be competing against teams that are younger, stronger and faster than us which may be difficult and daunting
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? To challenge myself physically, mentally, emotionally and to discover the extent of my competitive spirit
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? To show my children that anything is possible as long as you put your heart and soul into it

Team #6: Brent and Caite
Dating Models


Brent Horne
Age: 28
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Connection to your Teammate: Dating
Current Occupation: Model
Pet peeve about your teammate: She is hard headed and can't take criticism
Favorite Hobbies: Sports and traveling
Achievements: My faith. I've been in some crazy situations and around some not-so-cool people and still stand my ground with my beliefs
Lifelong To Do List: Travel the world; have a fulfilling, rewarding and successful career; solve the mystery of who killed JFK; make a difference in someone's life; have a family; hit a hole-in-one and host my own show
If I could switch places with someone: Actually no one, I enjoy my life and who I am. I look forward to the journey that lies in front of me
Role Model/Hero: My Mom
What are you passionate about? My relationships and enjoying life! I never take a moment for granted
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Go on a vacation with my family and friends, give back to my parents and in some way better myself so that I could be in a position to help others
People would be surprised to learn: I'd rather give than receive
Favorite place you have ever visited: Grand Cayman
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: We are both "Type A" personalities and need to do some work on the way we communicate with each other
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I hope to build on the already great relationship I have with Caite and prove to myself and others that I have the strength and faith to endure the craziest of circumstances


Caite Upton
Age: 20
Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Connection to your Teammate: Dating
Current Occupation: Model
Pet peeve about your teammate: He picks his nose with tissue paper, throws it in the toilet and doesn't flush
Favorite Hobbies: Art, sports, modeling and acting
Achievements: Being able to overcome the embarrassment from the flub I made on national television during the Miss Teen USA pageant
Lifelong To Do List: To advance my career as an actress and model. I also want to complete my college career in art with a minor in business at UCLA
If I could switch places with someone: Nobody, I'm very content with who I am.
Role Model/Hero: Johnny Unitas because he continued to be a good person while in the limelight and was very headstrong, genuine and determined to achieve everything he put his mind to
What are you passionate about? My lifelong goals and dreams
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Buy a Maserati and a round of drinks for my friends. Hah
People would be surprised to learn: I'm very athletic and can pretty much beat every guy in anything. I am also an amazing artist
Favorite place you have ever visited: Montabaur, Germany.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: We both are headstrong and feel as if we are alpha males in the relationship. We will also need to do a better job listening to each other
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I hope to learn how to stay calm in tense situation

Stay tuned, more bios to come