Katurah Topps & Sabiyah Broderick: The first Black queer female couple on ‘Survivor’

“Survivor” has been on the air for 20 years and has garnered seven Emmy Awards for CBS, but just this summer Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick became the show’s very first Black queer couple.

Back in 2023, “Survivor 45” delivered a dramatic season full of raw emotion featuring Katurah and Sabiyah, two of its standout contestants. It’s hard to believe, but the women’s paths never crossed on-camera on the show. Sparks were not ignited until after the cameras stopped rolling.

They met on the plane ride to Fiji where the season was filmed, but didn’t really become friends until they started talking until after filming ended.

Their off-screen historic romance went public during Pride month on June 22, 2025. It has added a triumphant dimension to the “Survivor” legacy that is resonating far and wide. Their joint Instagram post observed, “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.”

Skillful underdog
Katurah Topps, a 35-year-old civil rights attorney from Brooklyn, entered the reality show competition with a quiet intensity that belied her strategic prowess.

From the Belo tribe, she quickly established herself as a skilled social chameleon, navigating alliances with charm. Her feud with returning player Bruce Perreault was a highlight, showcasing her ability to negotiate risks to eliminate threats, even at the cost of her own game.

Katurah’s willingness to step out of her comfort zone shone through when she shared her past growing up in a religious cult, an authentic moment that connected with viewers and cast mates alike.

Her journey to the final four was a testament to her staying power. Despite aligning with the dominant Reba Four, Katurah’s last-minute decision to renege on a deal with Jake O’Kane to blindside Dee Valladares backfired, and she lost to Jake.

Katurah didn’t play a perfect game, but it made for compelling television and earned her a spot as the eighth jury member and long-time fan favorite.

Charismatic trailblazer
Sabiyah Broderick is a 29-year-old trucker and former Marine from Jacksonville, North Carolina. She soon became known for bringing positive energy to the ill-fated Lulu tribe, considered one of the worst tribes in “Survivor” history.

Lulu’s string of losses put Sabiyah in a tough spot early on. Yet, she emerged with resilience and strength, and helped tribe mate Emily Flippen to truly shift her perspective and become a fan favorite.

Sabiyah is remembered for her bold attempt to melt a hidden immunity idol, a move that defined her as one of the most creative cast members, but it ultimately did not help her.

She was voted out within the very first week, saddening viewers who recognized her potential. Her vibrant, memorable personality and adventurousness would be very much missed that season.

Although her presence on the reality series was very brief, it was definitely impactful. Sabiyah is perhaps best remembered for leaving behind her black shirt and shoes, soon to be adopted by Katurah who wore them throughout the season for warmth and inspiration.

This poetic gesture was the only hint that perhaps a deeper bond was brewing between Sabiyah and Katurah and was destined to actually happen.

Converged paths
While Katurah and Sabiyah never co-starred in a scene on “Survivor 45,” their paths converged after filming during a trip with the entire cast to Cape Cod. What began as daily phone calls and friendship had deepened into romance by August 2024.

Sabiyah proposed to make it official on January 20, 2025, a huge source of joy. This marked the start of their relationship. Their joint Instagram announcement, complete with beach holiday and romantic dinners, celebrated their love as they marked this milestone as the reality show’s first Black queer female couple.

In addition, the famous couple released a video of themselves performing (lip-synching) the popular song “Your Love is My Drug” by Kesha to celebrate their enduring relationship.

The groundbreaking couple’s visibility is proving to inspire others to live authentically. Online support for the couple has gone viral online from both fans and “Survivor” alumni like Austin Li Coon and Eliza Orlins. The show’s official Instagram featured a heartfelt “Happy Pride.”

Watch Katurah Topps and Sabiyah Broderick on CBS’s ‘Survivor 45,’ streaming on Paramount+.
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