Love, Strategy, and Representation: The Remarkable Journey of Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick
Survivor has always been a game of strategy, resilience, and social savvy—but for Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick, the endgame brought something no one saw coming: love. The Survivor 45 castmates have officially hard-launched their relationship, becoming the first-ever Survivor couple made up of two Black queer women.
What began as a fleeting impression on a plane to Fiji has evolved into a heartfelt, history-making romance—one that’s not just defying reality TV conventions, but also breaking new ground in LGBTQ+ and Black representation in pop culture.
The First Spark: A Glimpse Before the Game
Their very first sighting of each other came even before the cameras rolled—on the flight to Fiji to film Survivor 45. At the time, Katurah Topps was focused on the fierce game ahead. Sabiyah Broderick was preparing herself for the chaos of island life.
Despite the proximity, fate had other plans: the two were assigned to different tribes—Topps to the Belo tribe and Broderick to Lulu—which meant their on-screen interaction during the season was minimal. In fact, Broderick was voted out just seven days in, before the game had a chance to bring them together on camera.
Ironically, just a day after Broderick’s exit, Survivor switched up the tribes—placing Topps directly into the now-vacant Lulu camp. Their story was already becoming poetic, even if no one saw it yet.
After the Game: Where Real Connections Begin
As with many Survivor seasons, the deeper relationships tend to blossom once the game ends. The cast of Survivor 45 planned a post-show reunion in Cape Cod before their season aired. It was there, during a casual trip with their fellow castaways, that Katurah and Sabiyah finally had the chance to bond face-to-face—beyond strategy, beyond competition, beyond camera crews.
They’d already talked on the phone. But that trip marked what Topps calls “the true beginning of our friendship.” It wasn’t yet romantic, but it was real.
Over the months that followed, their connection grew stronger. What started as best-friend-level banter turned into something deeper around August 2024. And by January 20, 2025—a day full of political tension across the U.S.—Sabiyah brought a little light into the world by officially asking Katurah to be her girlfriend.
“On Survivor, We Both Struggled With Fire…”
On June 22, during Pride Month and just two days after celebrating their 6-month anniversary, the couple made it official to the world via a joint Instagram post. With a carousel of warm, romantic pictures and videos, they declared their love with a clever nod to their Survivor experience:
“On Survivor, we both struggled with fire. I couldn’t make it, and she went a week without it.
But what we’ve built together?
That’s a fire that finally lit itself. 🔥
From Players to Partners, from Castmates to Co-dreamers…
Meet Survivor’s FIRST Black Queer Woman Couple.
#SurvivorLoveStory #GrillMasterAndHerGirl #OutwitOutlastOutlove #Pride #WLW #BlackLove #RealityTV”
It was more than a relationship update. It was a declaration of visibility and joy, a reclaiming of space in a reality TV world where queer love stories—and especially Black queer love stories—are far too rare.
Who They Were on the Island—And Who They Are Now
Both women stood out on Survivor 45 for their dynamic personalities and unfiltered honesty.
Sabiyah Broderick, a truck driver from Locust Grove, Georgia (later based in Jacksonville, North Carolina), was known for her drive, sense of humor, and love for painting, basketball, and date nights that involved great food. She also wasn’t afraid to speak her mind—listing “laziness” and “I-can’t attitudes” among her top pet peeves.
Katurah Topps, a civil rights attorney from St. Louis who moved to Brooklyn, New York, radiated strength and purpose. She listed her hobbies as hot yoga, dining in beautiful locations, and—powerfully—“countering systemic racism.” Her pet peeves? “Slow walkers, slow talkers, and people who ooze privilege.”
While they may have missed the chance to connect as allies in the game, it’s evident that the real win came afterward: building a relationship rooted in friendship, trust, and shared values.
Representation That Matters
In a show that has spanned over 40 seasons and hundreds of contestants, Katurah and Sabiyah’s relationship marks a cultural milestone. They are the first known Survivor couple consisting of two Black queer women—and they are choosing to be visible at a time when visibility is everything.
Their story isn’t just cute—it’s meaningful. It challenges the norms of both reality TV and mainstream romance. It’s a celebration of intersectional love in a landscape where LGBTQ+ couples, especially women of color, often go unseen or unrecognized.
By choosing to hard-launch during Pride Month, and with intention and joy, they’ve carved out a space that’s both personal and political.
Final Reflection
Survivor may be a game built on blindsides, alliances, and immunity idols—but for Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick, the real story began after the torches were snuffed. From strangers on a plane to friends on a cast trip to partners navigating love in the public eye, their journey is a testament to timing, trust, and authenticity.
In the end, they didn’t need a million dollars to win. They just needed each other. And in doing so, they’ve won something far more rare: a relationship rooted in representation, resilience, and real love.
#Outwit #Outlast #Outlove
