Fan-Favorite ‘Survivor 45’ Castaways Confirm They’re Dating in Historic First

Over the decades, countless couples have found love while competing on “Survivor.” To date the list includes couples like “Survivor: South Pacific” alums Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson, who have since gotten engaged and competed on “The Amazing Race” Season 25 as a couple, as well as Joe Anglim and Sierra Dawn Thomas, who tied the knot in 2019 after competing together on “Survivor: Worlds Apart.”

Most notably, Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano met his now-wife, Amber Brkich, while competing on “Survivor: All Stars.” While the couple originally appeared on separate seasons, Mariano proposed to Brkich during the live finale of “All Stars,” where Brkich was ultimately named the season’s “Sole Survivor.” Known lovingly as “Survivor”’s first “power couple,” Mariano and Brkich got hitched in 2005 and welcomed their daughters, Carina, Isabetta and Adeline, in 2010, 2012 and 2014, respectively. 

The latest “Survivor” castaways to find romance on the show were Season 45 alums Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick, who revealed their relationship to fans in a June 22 Instagram post. 

Katurah and Sabiyah go From ‘Players to Partners’

“On ‘Survivor,’ we both struggled with fire…I couldn’t make it and she went a week without it,” wrote Katurah, captioning a series of photos of the newly-minted couple. “But what we’ve built together? That’s a fire that finally lit itself.”

Katurah Topps/Instagram

Unlike other stars who kindled their relationship on the show, Katura and Sabiyah only started to fan the flames of their romance once Season 45 had ended. Though both women appeared on the 2023 season, they were initially designated to different tribes, and Sabiya’s Day 7 elimination kept their paths from crossing post-Merge, where Katurah eventually became the 8th member of the jury after she lost the infamous Final Four fire-making challenge. 

Throughout the competition, Katurah was vocal about her experience living as a Black queer woman in America. Now, just in time for Pride month, the fan-favorite player is part of the first-ever “Survivor” couple consisting of two Black queer women. 

“From Players to Partners, from Castmates to Co-dreamers…Meet ‘Survivor’s FIRST Black Queen Woman Couple,” wrote Katurah announcing her relationship with Sabiyah. 

Katurah Opens Up About how her Historic Relationship Began

Speaking on how her historic relationship with Sabiyah began, Katurah told Out, “Our first meeting was on a trip to Cape Cod with our cast after filming…before our season aired. We’d talked on the phone for a bit [prior to the trip], but this was the first time we saw each other in person and the true beginning of our friendship.”

CBS/Getty

“We realized that our friendship – being ‘besties’ who talked every single day – was turning into something more last fall, around August 2024, and we decided to explore it casually. But, by January of this year, we knew we needed to make it official,” she added, revealing that Sabiyah asked her to be her girlfriend on January 20. 

As to why they waited so long to go public? Katurah explained that the announcement coincided with her six-month anniversary with Sabiyah, adding: “Plus, it’s Pride Month.”

“After making sure our foundation was solid, we’re finally ready to share this love with the world,” Katurah concluded.