Survivor 45 players make queer history by announcing relationship

Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick, both of whom appeared on the 45th season of CBS smash Survivor, have revealed their relationship – and made history.

Though they never competed on the same beach during their season, Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick have proved that the sapphic desire to find a girlfriend transpires material problems like TV shows or being stranded on separate desert islands.

Taking to Instagram 22 June to announce their relationship with a joint post, Topps and Broderick shared an adorable series of snaps and an equally adorable caption celebrating the pair’s status as the first Black queer female couple from the Survivor franchise.

“On Survivor, we both struggled with fire… I couldn’t make it and she went a week without it,” the caption reads.

“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.”

The pair have been congratulated by fans and fellow Survivor alum alike. Austin Li Coon wrote, “HARD LAUNCH!!!” Eliza Orlins, who appeared on two separate seasons of Survivor, commented, “SO BEYOND HAPPY FOR YOU TWO AND FOR YOUR LOVE!!!! So glad you’re now sharing this with the world! Love you both!!!”

Teeny Chirichillo, a Survivor 47 player who came out as trans earlier this year, also added, “You know I’m so obsessed”.

Topps and Broderick, who both appeared during 2023’s Survivor 45 in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, were designated different tribes to start; the Lulu and the Belo, respectively.

Though Broderick didn’t make the merge, being voted out second on Day 7 of the season, Topps fared better, being eliminated on Day 25, just before the final of Survivor 45. Topps became the 8th jury member of the series.

Survivor is about to have its 50th season, with a cast of all-returning campmates vying to become ‘sole survivor’. Its cast includes Mike White – the creator of smash satire The White Lotus.

Survivor 50 will premiere in spring 2026.

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