‘I’m still not taking any sh, but I’m playing to win,’ she says.
“I may be a little bit more open, emotionally.
There is maybe an element of more growth,” she tells EW.
Credit: Riccardo Giardina/MTV
“But you’re going to get the same person that you’ve known.
I’m still not taking any sh, but I’m playing to win.
Old girl’s still got it!”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What inspired you to come back toThe Challengenow, after four seasons off?
ANEESA FERREIRA:That check, girl!
And that I had two functional ankles.
I’ve been going to physical therapy for a while, like five days a week.
I started CrossFit, was feeling good.
It was perfect timing.
It was awful for me.
At first you’re just kind of in shock.
So I just wanted to come back and be like, Im still here!
What have you learned from how your recent seasons ended up that changed how you played this season?
Living in a bunker really put things into perspective too, because it just sucks.
It was just so shy that I just didn’t really care.
If you went home you were like, oh yes, I get a toilet.
And if you stayed you were like, okay, now I can play for this money.
But I played it like I always do.
I listen to everything that’s going on.
So I just keep that in mind when I play.
Have you been watching the seasons you havent played?
But its really hard to not be a judgy viewer.
There were a lot of new people, so that threw me off a little bit.
Oh my God, Melissa, 1,000 percent.
I’m really happy that I got that time to spend with her.
I really am grateful that she could change my mind about her.
[Laughs] Without telling you too much!
About time people get scared.
You don’t understand, I cried inside.
I also totally, totally expressed that on the outside.
I was so happy.
See, I’ve been in like 18 eliminations.
And yeah, sometimes I deserve it.
Other times I feel like they should have just left me out.
Nobody gets these freebies.
You’re going to have to prove yourself.
It’s not fun to have to go in and over and over again.
What were your preseason alliances you had going into this season?
I went in with Nany.
I knew Jenna was going to be there.
But Nany was like my number-one girl.
I knew that was somebody who, regardless of anything, I was going to have her back.
And I knew she would have mine.
I was excited, though, to have her there.
What was it like reuniting with him in the game?
We have come such, such, such a long way in our friendship.
We really respect each other.
That’s what it comes down to.
I think this show really shows that time can heal anything.
I’ve seen him grow up before my eyes, which has been really nice.
It’s definitely easier to be in a house where you have somebody who knows you like that.
What can you tease about some of the relationships well see causing drama this season?
Well, I would never call them relationships.
[Laughs] Theyre interesting, Ill say that.
It makes for some really interesting television.
Theres a lot of unexpected stuff and cringeworthy moments.
It makes for a good season.
I had my work cut out for me when I went in there.
Things are going to surprise people.
The Challenge: Total Madnesspremieres Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
