Christy Carlson Romano finally reached her breaking point on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, exiting in Wednesday’s episode after enduring weeks of grueling challenges. But what makes her departure even more surprising? She outlasted 10 other contestants—many of whom were former Olympic athletes, including Nathan Adrian, Landon Donovan, Marion Jones, and Jordyn Wieber. Talk about unexpected!
“I would think that nobody could have thought that me and Kyla Pratt would've made it as far as we did,” Romano said in an interview with EW. “We surpassed Olympic medalists, and I think that's insane to think about.”
Romano, best known for her role as Ren Stevens on Disney Channel’s Even Stevens (2000-2003) and as the voice behind the beloved animated character Kim Possible, wasn’t exactly the one fans expected to see hanging in there this long. Yet, against all odds, she and fellow Disney alum Kyla Pratt fought through challenge after challenge, proving they had serious grit. Pratt, famous for voicing Penny Proud on The Proud Family, exited just before Romano, making the actress the 11th recruit to leave.
Seeing Pratt go was tough. “It was heartbreaking,” Romano admitted. “When I saw her walk down to the boat on the first episode, I jumped for joy. I was trying to play it cool and quiet, but then I saw her, and my inner child came out. There’s just something about growing up with somebody as a young performer—it’s a sisterhood.”
And that sisterhood ran even deeper. Romano also had past ties to another Disney Channel icon, Hilary Duff. In 2002, she starred alongside Duff in Cadet Kelly, playing the strict and ruthless Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone. When the show aired a clip of her saying she’s “good at turning on and being a leader” because of her Cadet Kelly role, Romano clarified that the quote was re-edited. “They kind of re-edited that,” she noted, explaining that while she isn’t in touch with Hilary, she does occasionally cross paths with her sister, Haylie Duff, in Austin.
However, Romano has stronger feelings about another of her past roles—Kim Possible. She firmly believes that the crime-fighting, world-saving teenage heroine is long overdue for a reboot. And honestly, she’s not wrong! The character’s resilience, wit, and leadership set an empowering example, and Romano credits Kim for inspiring her throughout the intense competition.
“Kim Possible was really important to me, not as much Cadet Kelly,” she explained. “With KP, she always said, ‘You can do anything.’ She would take adversity, and she’s the most resilient person out there. She makes it fun, she has jokes, but she also knows when to get serious. She’s an expert leader. She takes care of others. And so I think I actually was harnessing more of my Kim Possible than I was Cadet Kelly.”
That resilience was put to the test in Special Forces. Romano had to face some of the toughest, most terrifying challenges imaginable—jumping off bridges, being buried alive, and even experiencing simulated drowning. The psychological and physical toll was immense. “I’ve broken out into hives,” she revealed. “I can only say I’ve never broken out into hives before.”
Despite the hardships, Romano remains deeply connected to her fellow recruits. She and Pratt, along with the rest of the cast, have a group text chain where they continue to support and encourage each other. “I think because we had this unique experience, it tied us so much closer together,” she said.
So, while she may have left the show, Romano walked away with more than just bruises—she gained a newfound respect for her own strength, a deeper bond with her fellow recruits, and maybe even a bit of that Kim Possible spirit still kicking inside her. And who knows? Maybe one day, she’ll get to say What’s the sitch? all over again in a much-anticipated reboot.
Login