‘The Challenge’: Are Cara Maria Sorbello & Paulie Calafiore Still Together?
Cara Maria Sorbello is back for another season of The Challenge when Season 42 premieres on August 5. While she’s been on the last two seasons of the show, this is the first since Paulie Calafiore shared a major update about the pair’s relationship earlier this year.
Cara and Paulie first met in 2018 and quickly went through many ups and downs in their relationship. They did eventually get to a stable place, but where do they stand now? Scroll down for everything to know.
Are Cara Maria Sorbello and Paulie Calafiore still together?
No, Cara Maria and Paulie are no longer together. Rumors of their breakup began way back in June 2024 when fans noticed that she had unfollowed him on social media. However, he didn’t confirm the split until a March 2026 appearance on Zach Nichols‘ podcast.
Paulie said that the breakup stemmed from differences about what he and Cara wanted from the future. “I want marriage and kids. I want a family,” he insisted. “I feel like that was a big friction point, always. I started to feel within the relationship that she was just kind of kicking the can down the road.”
He said Cara was “never really honest” with him about not wanting kids. “I think she knows [if she told me that], I would have kind of sat there and been like, ‘Hey, well, you know what, love you also, but I’m gonna go because I want to start a family,'” Paulie continued. “She never said that, and I kind of had to figure it out on my own that she was just not really about that life.”
Paulie admitted he reached a “dark place” when he realized Cara might not want a family with him, which led him to “start pouring [himself] heavily into [his] work” to try to prove they could have financial freedom and independence even if they had a child.
He claimed that Cara told him she’d have a kid with him, but that Paulie would be raising the child himself. He also alleged that she mentioned the idea of bringing a third person into their relationship so Paulie could have a child with her.
Paulie revealed that he wound up “giving into [his] vices,” which he noted are “of a sexual nature.” He explained, “I do like to f**k. And I like to f**k a lot.” Ultimately, the relationship ended as he and Cara failed to get on the same page.
Still, Paulie confirmed that there’s “a lot of love” between him and his ex. “This is a tough one to talk about and kind of let go of because it’s almost like turning the chapter on something,” he admitted. “And this person’s been my best friend for seven years.”
How did Cara Maria Sorbello and Paulie Calfiore meet?
Cara and Paulie met on The Challenge: Final Reckoning in 2018. At the time, he was dating The Bachelor alum Danielle Maltby, and he and Cara insisted that nothing physical happened between them on the show, despite their flirty behavior.
When filming wrapped, Cara and Paulie started seeing each other, and while they were not exclusive, she was under the impression that he’d ended things with Danielle. At the same time, Paulie was in counseling with Danielle, leading her to believe he was repairing their relationship. It wasn’t until the end of 2018 that the women found out he was playing both of them.
In February 2019, Cara Maria confirmed she and Paulie were back together. They went on to appear on The Challenge: War of the Worlds and The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2 together, then took a break from the show before they both returned for Season 40 in 2024. At that point, they were still in a relationship.
Did Cara Maria Sorbello and Paulie Calafiore have an open relationship?
Yes, Cara and Paulie confirmed to Us Weekly in 2021 that they had an open relationship. However, they clarified that it was “invite-only,” meaning they agreed who they would welcome into the relationship together.
“We are honest with each other,” Cara explained. “We’re open about what our interests are. A lot of people will hide sexual fetishes or things they like to do because they’re afraid of scaring their partner off.”
They also made sure to set ground rules and boundaries. Paulie added, “You have to be OK with yourself. If she’s talking about somebody, I can’t sit there and be like, ‘Oh, my God, this guy’s got a better six-pack than me. He’s got a prettier face. Is she gonna leave me for him?’ And vice versa.”
The Challenge, Season 42 Premiere, Wednesday, August 5, Paramount+
