Paulie Calafiore is officially living his truth after being eliminated on The Challenge: USA.
The 34-year-old DJ, known for appearing on a slew of reality shows over the years, admitted during an interview with from GLAAD Anthony Allen Ramos that, “I’m bisexual.”
He admitted that he felt a sense of guilt that it took him so long to acknowledge his sexuality.
“I really had to change my perspective and say, ‘Well, you know, there might be other people out there who are going through the exact same thing… and maybe this is what they needed to hear and see and do.” it yourself,” the former Big Brother 18 contestant stated, reflecting on why he chose to come forward about himself.
Hoping his confession might help others, the New Jersey-born reality TV star commented, “Maybe there’s a younger version of me out there somewhere who gets to see this and[says]’You know what?’ I don’t have to pretend to be this because I’m an athlete.’
The Truth Will Set You Free: Paulie Calafiore came out as bisexual after his exclusion from The Challenge: USA today; seen on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen
Role Model: The Big Brother contestant hoped his confession could help others in similar situations; seen in 2018
While Paulie technically came out during the GLAAD interview, he alluded to the truth about his sexuality during his final appearance on The Challenge: USA.
Speaking to another contestant, the muscular television personality said, “I came through athletics, so that forced me to repress who I was, sexually.” I didn’t know if I was attracted to women, attracted to men, or if it was just something energetic.”
Known for his many blowout fights during his time on various reality TV competition shows, the drama-prone Challenge contestant added, “I’d say, I have to prove I’m the most alpha human in the world.”
That toxic alpha male mentality came into play during his time on Big Brother Season 18, where he regularly clashed with his roommate Natalie, who didn’t approve of the way he flirted with girls in the house to get votes.
Crediting Ariana Grande’s brother Frankie (who was another Big Brother housemate) and fitness trainer Shaun T as positive influences as he further opened up to USA weekly, Paulie added: ‘They really got me started. They knew it much earlier than everyone else.’
He has also received support from his bisexual girlfriend of five years, Cara Maria Sarbello, who also competed on The Challenge.
“I didn’t need to have those conversations like, ‘What do you mean (you’re bisexual)?’ It was just kind of understood. She understood,” Paulie revealed.
The former Ex On The Beach contestant also confessed that he relied on journaling when he felt old negative feelings resurfacing during his time on The Challenge: USA.
Don’t judge a book by its cover: The controversial Big Brother contestant revealed that hiding his sexuality led to negative feelings about himself
Not here to make friends: Paulie had a reputation for being a bit of a classic reality TV villain before admitting what made him so aggressive
Happier than ever: The fitness influencer credited his girlfriend and Frankie Grande for helping him finally accept his identity
After working on himself by journaling and looking inside, Paulie realized that, “When it went on for two seasons (without me being asked to participate in (The Challenge), I thought, ‘(I ) something has to change, like now. And thank God I did.”
He felt a newfound sense of clarity from his experiences, saying, “I wish I had lasted longer (on The Challenge: USA) but the growth and the change in mindset has been everything to me.”
The fitness guru (he has nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram, where he regularly posts workout-related videos) made it clear that living his “truth” was the only way for him to heal.
“I want people to understand me so I[can]just be my true self and really just let that shine through,” he explained.
Adding that no matter what happens from now on, “just know that I’m staying true to myself.” And I think that’s the only thing we can do in life.’