Inside: USA Episode 1 Recap: Contestants enter the competition, aiming for the $1 million grand prize

Inside: USA premiered on Netflix on September 21, 2025. The latest reality show features 12 creators as the contestants entering the competition.

While the contestants live under the same roof, they would have to pay for everything, from snacks to showers and more. They would go through "ruthless challenges" and "secret missions" while in the show.

The first episode introduced the 12 contestants. Later, they went through the first challenge. For that, each pair had to answer two questions while going through unexpected activities.

Netflix describes Inside: USA Episode 1 as:

"Twelve creators enter the house with their eyes on the prize: a whopping $1 million. But as they settle in and start to spend, the balance shrinks."

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Inside: USA Episode 1 Recap: 12 Contestants enter the show, after which they go through the first unexpected challenge in pairs

The first episode of the Netflix reality show started with the show hosts Valkyrae and Fanum. The two revealed how they gathered the "biggest faces" on the internet and put them "under one roof." They would be there for seven days while competing for one million dollars.

Inside: USA then introduced 12 contestants who joined the competition show:

1. Sketch, 26: Streamer,
2. Bre Tiesi, 33: Reality Star,
3. Alissa Violet, 28: Influencer,
4. Jay Cinco, 23: Rapper,
5. Max Fosh, 29: YouTuber,
6. Fannita Leggett, 26: Creator,
7. Ekin-Su, 30: Reality Star,
8. Dwight Howard, 39: NBA Legend,
9. Sydney Thomas, 21: Influencer,
10. Mark Estes, 25: Influencer,
11. Zach Justice, 29: Content Creator,
12. Aisha Mian, 24: Internet Personality.

Further fans witnessed Sidemen - a group of 7 men, which the show described as:

"In case you were wondering who the seven guys are that just walked in, we are the Sidemen, the biggest YouTubers in the UK. We've been making videos for the last ten years, which has taken us to some pretty crazy places.

The Sidemen joined forces with Netflix to create what they call the "best reality show" in the world. Soon, they met the 12 contestants and welcomed them. They revealed that "everything" would cost them money, and only one of them would win the prize pot. They also welcomed the show hosts, Valkyrae and Fanum.

Soon, the Inside: USA contestants were notified about The Store's opening. They all rushed to see what they could purchase. One of them randomly ordered chips after which, with the majority of votes, they ordered sofa cushions worth $10,000.

A few of them also noticed a countdown timer in the gym area. While the rest of the contestants were casually chatting, two of them went to The Store and ordered chips. Later, everyone was notified about their meals. However, some of them said they didn't like it. A few of them also ordered meal upgrades, for which they received three burgers and fries from The Store.

Soon, they were notified to head to the challenge area, where they learned about the first challenge of Inside: USA:

"This is Insider dating. Two Insiders will be paired up and seated at a restaurant table. In front of them is a menu each. Each menu contains two questions. In order to complete the challenge, they must truthfully answer the questions."

They also had an option to quit by pressing a red button. However, doing so would cost them $10,000. While answering the questions, contestants went through various activities. This included waxing their legs, eating super spicy hot sauce on the chips, keeping their hands in a box with scorpions, crabs, ice baths, and more.

The challenge result was:

1. Round 1: Alissa and Sketch: Won,
2. Round 2: Dwight and Aisha: Won,
3. Round 3: Zach and Jay: Won,
4. Round 4: Ekin-Su and Bre: Ekin-Su failed (-$10k), Bre won,
5. Round 5: Sydney and Mark: Won,
6. Round 6: Fannita and Max: Won.

After the challenge ended, Inside: USA contestants went back to the living area. Soon, they learned their spendings and the remaining amount. It was $941,100. Later, when the timer in the gym area ended, the phone rang. Sketch received it, and he was instructed to go to room 19. He saw a card which said:

"You must choose one of the Insiders to be eliminated tonight. Make your choice, then gather the housemates in the living room and reveal your decision."

He notified everyone about the same and gathered everyone in the living room. However, the episode ended before Sketch revealed his decision.

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Netflix now streams the first four episodes of Inside: USA.