Cara Maria Sorbello Navigates Love and “Clones” on MTV’s Revolutionary Dating Show

MTV’s groundbreaking new series, Game of Clones, introduces a fascinating social experiment designed to help its beloved reality stars find their ideal romantic partner. The premise is as unique as it is intriguing: each celebrity contestant is presented with a lineup of seven individuals who strikingly resemble their ultimate celebrity crush. This innovative approach aims to strip away the initial physical attraction hurdle, allowing the stars to delve deeper into personality, compatibility, and true connection. Among the eagerly anticipated contestants gracing the screen in the upcoming season is none other than The Challenge veteran, Cara Maria Sorbello. Known for her fiery spirit and formidable competitive streak, Cara Maria chose the charismatic actor Jason Momoa as the blueprint for her dream man. However, as any seasoned dater knows, finding “the one” involves far more than just a striking resemblance. Cara Maria faces the exhilarating and undoubtedly challenging task of sifting through seven distinct “Jason Momoa clones,” each possessing unique traits and personalities, to determine who genuinely aligns with her on a deeper, emotional level. This journey promises to be a captivating exploration of attraction, identity, and the quest for love in an unprecedented reality television format.

In an exclusive interview with HollywoodLife, Cara Maria candidly shared her initial reactions and profound insights into the show’s unconventional setup. “At first, I looked at everyone…and it was overwhelming,” she revealed, capturing the essence of the surreal experience. “You walk in and everyone is dressed exactly alike, and it’s like you’re in an alternate universe. It’s a visual overload that truly challenges your perceptions.” She elaborated on the sensory experience, describing how the identical appearances initially created a sense of disorientation. “Imagine stepping into a room where every potential suitor looks almost identical to your ultimate fantasy – it’s a lot to process. Your brain immediately tries to find differences, but the uniformity is staggering.” Yet, beyond the initial shock, a more nuanced understanding began to emerge. “Once you get over that shock, you start seeing the subtle differences in each person and their personalities,” Cara Maria explained, highlighting the show’s genius in pushing contestants past superficial judgments. “Is there something weird about them? Are they dry and boring or totally out there in left field? It’s a real interesting learning experience, for sure. You quickly realize that while the faces might be similar, the souls are entirely distinct.” For Cara Maria, Game of Clones wasn’t just another reality show; it was “literally a dream come true.” Unlike her previous experiences on The Challenge, where elimination looms large, this format offered a refreshing change of pace. “It gave me the chance to finally be on a show without fear of being eliminated myself,” she shared, emphasizing the unique pressure-free environment that allowed her to focus solely on the pursuit of love.

While Cara Maria is currently in a committed relationship with her Challenge co-star, Paulie Calafiore, her participation in Game of Clones occurred when she was very much single and open to finding love. She approached the opportunity with genuine enthusiasm and a hopeful heart. “I was very open to meeting someone,” she confirmed, reflecting on her mindset during filming. “The concept itself was incredibly appealing. Everybody was selected to look a way you wanted them to look, so that took out all of the annoying groundwork for me.” This aspect, she noted, was a significant relief, particularly for someone with her public profile. “Normally, dating involves so much preliminary vetting, especially when you’re a reality TV personality. You wonder if people are interested in you or your celebrity. Here, that initial filter was handled, which was fantastic.” The experience felt almost tailor-made for her, creating an environment ripe for genuine connection. “I had a whole room of men who wanted me — there’s no other girls and no competition. It was like Christmas!” she exclaimed, painting a vivid picture of the unique dating landscape she found herself in. “It was such a cool idea, and I was excited to do it.” The absence of rival contestants and the certainty of mutual interest created a truly rare and empowering dating scenario, allowing Cara Maria to focus on evaluating personalities rather than battling for attention.

Cara Maria’s journey within the MTV family is extensive, beginning with her debut on The Challenge: Fresh Meat II in 2010. Over the past decade, her life has unfolded largely in the public eye, a circumstance that profoundly influences her romantic pursuits and made her an ideal candidate for Game of Clones. “I haven’t dated anyone outside of a TV world since before I was 23 years old,” she explained, highlighting the unique trajectory of her adult relationships. “I’m 32 now.” Her career as a reality television personality has intrinsically linked her personal and professional life, creating a distinct dating landscape. “When I first started doing The Challenge, I met my boyfriend, Abram [Boise], and we dated for five or six years,” she recounted, detailing her significant past relationship. “That was a major part of my early adult life, and it all played out on television.” After their breakup, she briefly dated another TV personality, Kyle Shore, also met through her reality TV connections. “Then I met Paulie,” she continued, bringing her dating history up to the present. This consistent pattern underscores a fundamental challenge for stars like Cara Maria: integrating back into “normal” dating proves incredibly complex. “I don’t know how the real world of dating even is!” she admitted, voicing a sentiment many public figures can relate to. “What am I going to do…go on Tinder? Like how does that work, if the person swipes on me and recognizes me, or if they don’t, their friends or something is going to.” The inescapable nature of public recognition creates a significant barrier to traditional dating methods. “There’s no escaping that,” she asserted. “Every interaction is potentially scrutinized, every date could become public knowledge. It’s a constant pressure.” For Cara Maria, navigating the dating world within the controlled environment of reality TV, despite its own dramas, paradoxically offers a sense of predictability and understanding that the ‘real world’ lacks. “It’s easier to date in my reality TV world,” she concluded, a statement that speaks volumes about the unique realities of being a long-standing public figure seeking genuine connection. The inherent challenges of privacy, authenticity, and public perception make shows like Game of Clones not just entertainment, but a viable, and perhaps even preferable, pathway to love for those whose lives are always under the microscope.

Beyond the individual stories, Game of Clones offers a fascinating psychological twist on the dating show genre. By presenting contestants with multiple versions of their ideal physical type, it forces them to quickly move past superficial attraction and focus on the deeper, often overlooked qualities that forge lasting bonds. For Cara Maria, choosing Jason Momoa as her celebrity crush was likely driven by a combination of his rugged good looks, powerful screen presence, and perhaps an adventurous spirit he embodies. The show then challenges her to discern which of these “clones” truly possesses the inner qualities she values – humor, kindness, intelligence, shared interests, and emotional depth. This process of intentional discernment highlights the show’s intent to explore whether a pre-conceived ideal can truly translate into a compatible partner. It begs the question: once the initial visual spark is replicated sevenfold, what truly makes one clone stand out from the rest? The answer, as Cara Maria’s journey suggests, lies in the subtle nuances of personality and interaction. This innovative approach promises to deliver not only compelling television but also a genuine exploration of what it means to find love in a world increasingly shaped by curated images and idealized perceptions. The much-anticipated series, Game of Clones, is set to make its grand debut on Feb. 21 at 9:00 p.m. on MTV. Alongside Cara Maria Sorbello, an exciting roster of other prominent MTV personalities will also be embarking on their unique quests for love. This lineup includes the charismatic Pauly D, the outspoken Kailyn Lowry, the fierce Nicole Zanatta, the strategic Kam Williams, the competitive Derrick Henry, and the ever-popular Leroy Garrett. Each of these stars will bring their distinct personalities and relationship expectations to the format, ensuring a diverse and entertaining journey as they navigate the complexities of dating their celebrity crush’s lookalikes. Viewers can look forward to a blend of romance, drama, and unexpected insights into the human heart, all under the unique lens of this groundbreaking MTV production.