NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — Anika Rashaun Walker Rehn, the reality television personality known for appearing on MTV’s “The Real World: Bad Blood” and “The Challenge,” has died at 34 after battling stage 4 breast cancer.
Rashaun died Oct. 1, 2026, according to tributes shared by friends. Her death became publicly known Friday, Oct. 23, as former castmates and loved ones remembered the television personality, dating coach and entrepreneur.
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Her longtime friend Tiara Ramos said Rashaun was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in the summer of 2025. Ramos described the diagnosis as a shock and reflected on their friendship, which spanned more than two decades.
“Anika Rashaun Walker Rehn was part of my life longer than she wasn’t,” Ramos wrote in a Substack tribute. “She was my mirror: the good, the bad, the ugly, the really ugly. She wasn’t just my friend. She was my other half. If you knew me, you knew her.”
Another close friend, Cyndi Rich, also paid tribute to Rashaun on Facebook, remembering her as a vibrant person whose presence brought light to those around her. Rich said she would treasure the 16 years of memories they shared.
Rashaun first appeared on MTV’s “The Real World: Seattle: Bad Blood” in 2016. The series brought together roommates whose past relationships and conflicts shaped the season. She later competed on “The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions” in 2017.
Beyond reality television, Rashaun built a career as a dating coach and professional matchmaker. She also worked toward becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist and used her public platform to discuss relationships and her experience with cancer.
Ramos said Rashaun’s mother had previously battled breast cancer, but her friend had not been identified as high-risk or advised by her doctors to prioritize mammograms. Ramos described that experience as one of the failures Rashaun encountered while navigating the medical system. The claim reflects Ramos’s account and has not been independently established by the available reporting.
Before her death, Rashaun spoke about the importance of breast cancer awareness, particularly among younger women. She encouraged women not to assume they were beyond risk and urged them to pay attention to their breast health.
Rashaun married her partner, Kyle Rehn, on Valentine’s Day in February 2026. Friends remembered her for her loyalty, kindness, adventurous spirit and the deep connections she built with those around her.
Harlem, New York, was identified in reporting as Rashaun’s hometown. Her work on MTV brought her to audiences nationwide, while her friends’ tributes highlighted a life that extended far beyond reality television.
Google Maps: Harlem, New York (hometown context; the location of her death has not been publicly confirmed in the available reports).
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