Highlights
- The Real World: Austin cast members have gone on to lead full lives post-show, with many even staying in touch.
- Lacey runs a salon and tours for Living Proof, while Danny owns a construction company and Melinda hosts a podcast.
- Wes Bergmann became a The Challenge regular, winning and clashing with contestants, marrying his longtime girlfriend in 2018.
For many years, viewers across the nation watched MTV's The Real World, where seven strangers were "picked to live in a house and have their lives taped to find out what happens when people stop acting polite and start getting real," as frequently stated in the opening credits throughout most of its run.
In 2005, viewers were introduced to Lacey, Danny, Melinda, Nehemiah, Rachel, Johanna and Wes living in Austin, Texas for the show's 16th season. It earned high ratings and was later voted "Favorite Season" at the Real World Awards Bash three years after coming to an end, as many fans found it to be one of the most entertaining runs of the hit MTV reality show.
Below is a list of what all the cast members from the Austin season have been up to since the show finished airing nearly two decades ago.
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7 Lacey Hanmer (Née Buehler)
Life After Real World: Operates Tryst Salon and works for Living Proof
After The Real World: Austin concluded, Lacey Hanmer (previously Buehler) focused on her career aspirations. She opened a salon in 2007, and some cast members attended the grand opening.
Hanmer now operates the Tryst Salon, also in Tallahassee. In addition, she is also on the creative team for Living Proof, where she travels across the nation to teach hairstyling and cutting to those interested in the profession.
Hanmer briefly returned to reality TV on The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons in 2012, where she was the first to be eliminated alongside co-star Wes Bergmann.
She is now married and is a mom to two little girls.
6 Danny Jamieson
Life After Real World: Married and divorced costar Melina Stolp, got remarried, and works in construction
During his time on the show, Danny Jamieson fell in love with cast mate Melinda Stolp and they continued their relationship after filming. The couple married in 2008, though it didn't last as Stolp announced they were divorcing two years later on The Challenge: Cutthroat's season premiere.
Jamieson competed on a few seasons of The Challenge, where he clashed with Austin castmate Wes occasionally. He last appeared on Battle of the Seasons alongside a few of his previous costars and was eliminated alongside his ex-wife.
Since then, Jamieson has maintained a very low profile, as no public social media profiles of his exist. He did, however, get remarried in 2015 to his current wife, Danielle. Jaimeson is also the owner of a construction company in Boston.
5 Melinda Collins (Formerly Stolp)
Life After Real World: Married and divorced Danny Jamieson, got remarried, and became a podcast host
An aspiring dentist before she joined the cast on the well-known reality show, Melinda Collins (previously Stolp) worked as a dental hygienist in the years afterward, as well as competing on a few seasons of The Challenge from 2006 to 2012.
After divorcing Jamieson, MTV News reported that she remarried in 2016 and gave birth to a son three years later. She announced she was expecting a second child in early 2021, though unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage. A second son was born in October 2022.
Collins currently hosts the Blond Moments Podcast and competed on the second season of The Challenge: All Stars.
More recently, Collins has started a company, The Valerie. It is an event space that ground was broken on in October 2023 with an anticipated grand opening date of June 2024.
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Life After Real World: Became a DJ and yoga instructor
Similar to many Real World participants, Nehemiah Clark participated in a few seasons of The Challenge from 2006 to 2011. His Instagram account shows that he has kept in contact with several castmates from both shows, particularly remaining close friends with Austin co-star Wes Bergmann. The two have often worked out together and even lived together in Kansas City during the COVID-19 lockdown as they ventured into a filmmaking project.
After not appearing on The Challenge for a decade, Clark returned for its All-Stars spin-off in April 2021 and competed again in the second season alongside Melinda Collins.
Currently, Clark is a DJ who has ventured into the area of creating electronic sound baths for healing others as well as becoming a certified yoga instructor.
3 Rachel Moyal
Life After Real World: Became a mother and a research scientist
An Army veteran who served in Iraq before joining the MTV show, Rachel Moyal was known for being outspoken and unapologetic during her time in Austin.
After the show, Rachel Moyal competed in two seasons of The Challenge, winning The Gauntlet III in 2008.
Similar to Danny, she has kept things low-key and away from the reality TV world in the years after the show.
While Moyal's Instagram account remains private, she can be found professionally working as a Senior Clinical Implementation Specialist on the Implementation Platform at Ariadne Labs and a Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Moyal has not only worked in the medical field but has worked as an assistant professor teaching students at Albany Medical College as well.
2 Johanna Botta
Life After Real World: Moved to London, got married, and works in the entertainment industry
Shortly after the Austin season wrapped filming, Botta began dating co-star Wes Bergmann before calling it quits a few years later. Their relationship complications were showcased while competing together on a few seasons of The Challenge.
Botta eventually went on to marry Willem Marx and moved to London. The two had a son in January 2016 and later had a second.
As time went on, Botta remained involved in the media world by hosting and interviewing on shows and segments for VH1, Fuse, and NBC, which can be seen in her Instagram reel.
In addition, she dabbled in a few acting roles on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the British drama series McMafia. Currently, Botta is the host of The Download, a job she has had since 2022.
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Life After Real World: Became a long-time contestant on The Challenge
Bergmann became one of the most well-known contestants on The Challenge, having competed in 14 challenges (some of which he won or scored runner-up), as well as some of the show's spin-offs.
On the various seasons he participated in, he often clashed with contestants, particularly Chris "CT" Tamburello, whom he was ultimately paired and won with on the Rivals II season.
In 2018, Bergmann married his longtime girlfriend after proposing to her at a Kansas City Royals game two years earlier. The two welcomed a baby in September 2023.
Bergmann's Austin castmates attended the ceremony, except for Jamieson and ex-girlfriend Botta.
Bergmann just announced that he will be part of Season Two's House of Villians on E! and also the founder of The Blox, an entrepreneurial reality show in its tenth season.
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