The Amazing Race Season 34 premiered on September 21 on CBS and Paramount+ at 10 pm ET. The intensely competitive series features 12 teams, including Big Brother alums and couple Claire Rehfuss and Derek Xiao. Claire and Derek face stiff competition in their bid to emerge as winners of the new Amazing Race season. However, the couple has a large and supportive fanbase thanks to their experience in reality television. Here is all you need to know about The Amazing Race Season 34’s Claire and Derek.
Claire Rehfuss And Derek Xiao Are Quite Famous
The Amazing Race season 34 is not Claire and Derek’s first stint in reality television. The couple starred in Big Brother season 23, where they had strong finishes. Derek finished 10th after suffering eviction thanks to Head of House Sarah Beth Steagall’s orchestrated plan to backdoor him. Meanwhile, Claire finished eighth.
Derek also participated in The Challenge: USA. However, he didn’t make it to the show’s finale as he was eliminated in the sixth episode.
They Are Lovers
Claire Rehfuss and Derek Xiao are a strong team in The Amazing Race season 34 because they are not just teammates but lovers. The lovebirds did not date during their time in the Big Brother house. However, they struck a strong bond and began a relationship in the show’s jury.
Last year, Derek revealed he liked Claire in the house and knew she was his type from week one. However, he did not explore their relationship beyond friendship for some reason. Since confirming their relationship, the lovebirds have grown from strength to strength but will have their friendship tested while navigating the challenges in The Amazing Race season 34.
Derek And Claire Prepared Ahead Of The Show
The couple knows they face strong competition from the other teams in this season’s The Amazing Race. Hence, they prepared adequately ahead of the premiere. In an interview with Us Weekly, Derek detailed his and Claire’s preparations. He said:
A post shared by Claire Rehfuss (@clairerehfuss)
However, Claire revealed that their initial preparations suffered a setback because Derek had to leave for The Challenge: USA. Due to that development, Claire and Derek used the month between The Challenge: USA and The Amazing Race as a crash course to prepare.
What Are Derek And Claire’s Chances Of Victory?
Derek and Claire must be at the very top of their game to have any chance of emerging victorious in The Amazing Race season 34, which has a strong contingent of participating teams.
However, the couple has a good chance of doing excellently thanks to their experience in reality television competitions. Also, Derek’s participation in The Challenge: USA will come in handy and help him and his beautiful partner to navigate some of the tough courses they will face. The couple’s fans will have a better idea of their chances as the season progresses.
Who Will The Claire Rehfuss And Derek Xiao Face?
Derek and Claire will battle 11 other teams in The Amazing Race season 34. The other teams include former NFL coach Rex Ryan and golf enthusiast Tim Mann, long-lost twins Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert, and childhood sweethearts Abby Garrett and Will Freeman. Others include engaged couple Aastha Lal and Nina Duong, recently married couple Glenda and Lumumba Roberts, and married couple Michelle Burgos and Luis Colon. Ballroom dancers Aubrey Ares and David Hernandez, father-daughter duo Linton and Sharik Atkinson, and brothers Marcus and Michael Craig also make up the cast. Finally, NFL cheerleaders Quinton Peron and Mattie Lynch and motivational speakers Rich Kuo and Dom Jones complete the season’s cast.
Where To Find Claire Rehfuss And Derek Xiao?
Besides watching Claire and Derek on The Amazing Race season 34, fans can catch them on social media. The 25-year-old Derek, a startup founder, frequently updates his Instagram page with photos and videos of himself and his friends. Claire is also very active on Instagram, where she regularly shares pictures of herself and Derek, among other activities.
A post shared by Derek Xiao (@derekxiao_)
What Is The Amazing Race Season 34 Prize Money?
If Claire Rehfuss and Derek Xiao emerge victorious in this season’s edition of The Amazing Race, they will walk home with the $1,000,000 grand prize available for grabs.
The couple is highly-favored by many to win the grand prize. They began the season in the best way possible by winning Leg 1 and $2,500 each. The lovebirds must continue in the same vein up to Leg 10 to write their names in The Amazing Race history books.
With how the season premiere went, viewers are guaranteed much excitement and have much to look forward to as it progresses.
