“I know how to make pizza” — The Amazing Race star Ana reflects on a surprising edge that won them 1st position in the Italy leg

For Ana Towns and her partner, Jonathan, on The Amazing Race season 37, the Italy leg proved that sometimes the perfect challenge appears at the perfect moment. In a recent YouTube video posted May 7, 2025, on their channel The Road Less Traveled, Ana revealed the unexpected advantage that helped them secure first place during episode 9's pizza-making roadblock.

"You don't understand. Luck is an understatement. Like, we were just like, 'This is incredible,' because nowhere in my application did I write down that I used to work at Domino's. Nobody knows that I know how to make pizza," Ana explained.

The episode, which aired April 30, featured teams racing through Italy, where they faced various challenges, including crafting a pizza from scratch to earn a chef's approval. While other contestants struggled repeatedly with the task, Ana sailed through on her first attempt, giving her team a substantial lead that ultimately secured their victory in the leg.

This surprising twist highlights how contestants' hidden skills can suddenly become game-changing advantages in the unpredictable world of reality competition.

The Amazing Race’s Ana talks about the well-timed pizza challenge

The roadblock required contestants to create a pizza that met exacting standards.

Most teams found themselves frustrated by repeated rejections from the discerning chef. Carson notably struggled, nearly jeopardizing his team's position in the competition.

For Ana, however, the task felt familiar. Jonathan described it as being "in her wheelhouse" – an understatement given her undisclosed work history at Domino's Pizza.

The coincidence gave them a substantial advantage in this episode of The Amazing Race. Ana completed the challenge on her first attempt, while others needed multiple tries.

The YouTube video offered fans insight into how the challenge unfolded behind the scenes.

Ana revealed she actually missed part of the demonstration:

"By the time I had reached the pizzeria, the chef had already put the pizza in the oven while I was reading the additional information."

Despite this setback, her confidence remained high.

"It's one of those things that's-- It's like riding a bike, like, you just don't forget," she explained.

The production team had no knowledge of her pizza-making background.

"It wasn't until after the episode-- after we got home, that one of the producers, like, 'Hey, do you have any pictures of you playing guitar?'" Ana shared, referencing a similar coincidence where Jonathan's guitar skills helped with another challenge involving a mandolin.

Ana and Jonathan’s race to victory in Italy

After completing the pizza challenge on The Amazing Race, the pair still faced obstacles. Jonathan described the "long run" to the Pit Stop while carrying their pizza.

"Ana admitted she was 'groaning, moaning' trying to finish the leg," he recalled.

Despite their exhaustion, the head start gained from Ana's pizza-making proficiency proved decisive. They reached the Pit Stop first, winning the leg.

Ana summed up the experience with a sense of wonder:

"I just think it was magical."

This episode of The Amazing Race highlights how unexpected skills can suddenly become valuable assets in the competition.

Neither Ana's pizza-making experience nor Jonathan's musical abilities were factors the producers considered when designing challenges. The coincidences created what Ana called a "wild" advantage.

For viewers and future contestants alike, their experience demonstrates how The Amazing Race combines skill, strategy, and sometimes just plain luck. When preparation meets opportunity, even accidentally, the results can be game-changing.

As The Amazing Race teams continue to battle toward the final leg, this pizza-making moment stands as a reminder that in this global race, you never know which life experiences might suddenly become your winning edge.

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The Amazing Race Season 37 airs Wednesdays at 9:00 pm ET/PT on CBS and is available to stream on Paramount+ and Hulu.

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