Forget the merge—this Survivor moment is the one fans will remember. Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick, two unforgettable castaways from Survivor 45, just confirmed they’re a couple. But this isn’t just reality-TV romance—it’s a history-making love story. The pair, who never even competed on the same beach, revealed their relationship via a joint Instagram post, instantly becoming the first Black queer woman couple in Survivor franchise history.
The post, featuring a carousel of sweet selfies and a cheeky caption, read: “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!” It ended with the couple declaring their evolution: “From Players to Partners, from Castmates to Co-dreamers… Meet Survivor’s FIRST Black Queer Woman Couple.”
While Survivor is no stranger to LGBTQ players, this moment marks a particularly groundbreaking one for sapphic and Black queer visibility in mainstream reality television. Fans and alums were quick to flood the comment section with support. “HARD LAUNCH!!!” wrote fellow castaway Austin Li Coon, while iconic Survivor veteran Eliza Orlins chimed in, “So beyond happy for you two and for your love!!!”
Two Tribes, One Love
Sabiyah and Katurah’s Survivor journeys might’ve been on opposite sides of the island—Sabiyah repping tribe Lulu and Katurah fighting with Belo—but clearly their connection transcended tribes, torches, and strategy. Sabiyah was voted out early, on Day 7, while Katurah lasted all the way to Day 25, narrowly missing the finals. But it turns out neither the merge nor the game itself was necessary to win something real.
Let’s be honest—queer fans of Survivor have long craved more visible, authentic LGBTQ love stories, especially ones that represent the diversity within the community. This coupling brings together not only queerness but also Blackness, femininity, and reality-TV visibility in one dreamy power pairing.
As the show gears up for its 50th (!) season, featuring a cast of returning legends and even The White Lotus creator Mike White, this surprise romance might just upstage all of it.
The impact of this relationship is bigger than just Instagram likes or a CBS nod. In an era where queer visibility still battles tokenism and stereotype in mainstream media, the natural, joyful love between Katurah and Sabiyah is a breath of fresh, island air. Their union is not just sweet—it’s revolutionary. And it shows young Black queer women that their love stories belong in prime time, too.
Whether they’re building fire or breaking barriers, one thing’s for sure: this is the Survivor romance we didn’t know we needed—and the sapphic history we’re thrilled to witness.