Another Amazing Race

We’ve cheered on Ernie & Jeena, Jacqueline & Aubrey, Marc & Rovilson, Terri & Henry, and Geoff & Tisha. Now, let’s brace ourselves for the newest reps of the Philippines in season 3 of the Amazing Race Asia: Jess & Lani and Richard & Richard! Could it be the season for the perrenial finalist Filipinos? Well, as we’ve consistenly seen in the Amazing Race, both in the North American and Asian editions, anything can happen.

This season’s contestants are, once again, a mix of beautiful and lively people. Majority of the contestants have had their fifteen minutes or more of fame in their home countries. As always, there are beautiful actors in the mix.

Sunaina & Dimple are actresses and travel buddies from India. They’re both successful TV stars, with Dimple starring in a popular soap and Sunaina in a medical drama. The two friends have always wanted to join The Amazing Race Asia. To prepare for their stint, they watched previous TARA episodes, underwent physical training, and tapped into previous travel experiences that took them to over 20 destinations.

The second team from India, Sahil & Manas, are also TV personalities. Sahil is described as an aspiring actor, while Manas was once part of India’s version of the reality show The Bachelorette. They’re cousins who act more like brothers. In the pilot episode of TARA, one of them, I forget which, even spilled that they lost their cherries in the same place, at the same time. TMI, but okay.

The first father-daughter team to join TARA, Natasha & Hussein, are from Indonesia. Natasha works as a legal admin, while her father is an educator. Oh, did I mention that Natasha is also a former beauty queen who was Miss South Jakarta 2007? The two have lived all over the world, so traveling isn’t really new to them. What I’d love to see, however, is the Asian father-daughter dynamics, if there’d be any at all.

Another beauty queen from Indonesia is half of Team Nadine & Hilyani. Nadine is Miss Indonesia Earth 2009, while her equally beautiful BFF Hilyani, with whom she competed to be cover girl position for a magazine, is a television presenter who started her career as an MTV VJ. They swear to look good for the whole duration of the show. But of course they will. That’s part of the contract.

A lovely intellectual couple from Malaysia, husband and wife Ivan & Hilda will surely give everyone a run for their money. Ivan, a university lecturer, is originally from Hungary. Hilda, a researcher, is considered has royal blood. But those aren’t what make this team formidable. What does? They do parkour, judo, and jiujitsu—which have given them command over their strength and mental discipline.

The second team from Malaysia, Ethan & Khairie are friends caught in their own quarter-life crisis. They’re out to have the adventure of their lives. And they just might kill each other doing it. Expect a lot of fighting!

Michelle & Claire from Singapore are also showbiz personalities. Michelle is an actress, while Claire is a singer. They make up the youngest team ever. Michelle is 22, while Claire is 21.

A boyfriend and girlfriend team from Hong Kong, Allan and Wendy are both actors. The lady is also a beauty queen who was crowned Miss Hong Kong 2006. They’re using The Amazing Race as their gauge of where to take their relationship, he said. Should they get married? Should they split up? They will know with their dynamics as a competing couple in The Amazing Race. Oooh.

Jess & Lani from the Philippines aren’t really from the Philippines, but have been living here for years. They’re best friends, with Jess being a tattoo artist and Lani a model. They’re dubbed as party girls. I’m crossing my fingers they reveal more brains beyond the TV packaging. They seem like a fiery pair to watch.

The second Pinoy team Richard & Richard also hail from foreign shores but have Filipino blood. Richard Hardin is a professional basketball player; Richard Herrera is an actor. They’re both athletic and both really cute and sassy. I’m thinking it could be a repeat of Marc & Rovilson. Or not. I mean, who can replace Marc & Rovilson?

We’re up for exciting times on The Amazing Race Asia. Go Philippines!

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