The Amazing Race: Who does Melissa Leong think will win the show?

The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition is approaching its finale as the 2025 competition narrows down to its final teams. With more than half the contestants already eliminated, speculation about the winner intensifies among fans and former participants alike. Recently eliminated foodie and Dessert Masters judge Melissa Leong has shared her thoughts on which team deserves the crown.

The celebrity version of the long-running adventure competition follows the same format as its original counterpart, but with a charitable twist. Famous faces race around the globe, tackling physical challenges and mental puzzles while carrying weighted backpacks. The winning The Amazing Race team earns a $100,000 prize for their chosen charity, adding extra pressure to an already demanding competition.

Leong entered the race familiar with several contestants, particularly co-host Steph Tisdell from Great Australian Road Trips. However, her pick for potential winners surprised even herself, social media personalities Luke and Sassy Scott, a duo she barely knew before filming began. Despite the difficulty of choosing favorites after bonding with all competitors, Leong offered insight into which teams stood out during her time on the show.

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Who is Melissa Leong’s favorite The Amazing Race contestant?

When asked who she's rooting for, Leong admitted the question posed a challenge.

"That's hard!" she told The Weekly.

Explaining:

"I have come to know and love each of them in very, very different ways."

Despite forming close bonds with multiple teams on The Amazing Race, she selected Luke and Sassy Scott as her top choice. The social media stars were initially strangers to her.

"I didn't know them at all. They were probably the team that I knew the least out of everybody going into it," she explained.

The competition transformed that dynamic completely. Leong and Luke now maintain regular contact, messaging at least once weekly. Their unexpected friendship highlights how the intense shared experience creates lasting connections among competitors. Leong also expressed admiration for Steph Tisdell's team, whom she knew before the race through their work together on Great Australian Road Trips. She praised their natural television presence despite this being their first reality competition.

"They are such superstars. This is the first time they've ever done TV and they've taken to it like ducks to water," Leong said.

She hinted at an early incident involving Tisdell's team that created protective feelings among fellow contestants.

"Especially given what happened very early in the competition, I think everybody has a special place for them. We feel very defensive and protective of them for many reasons."

Leong didn't elaborate on the specific incident, leaving viewers curious about what transpired during the initial episodes that united competitors in support of this particular team. The charitable component adds unique weight to The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition. Unlike the standard series, where contestants compete for personal gain, celebrity participants carry the responsibility of winning for causes beyond themselves.

This pressure compounds the physical demands of the race. Weighted backpacks slow movement during challenges, while the knowledge that charities depend on their performance creates mental stress. Every mistake or delay doesn't just affect personal standing, it potentially impacts organizations waiting for crucial funding.

The $100,000 prize represents significant support for winning charities, making the stakes higher than typical reality competition glory.

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What lies ahead in the competition?

While Leong picked favorites, she carefully avoided spoiling the outcome. Her comments suggest she knows the winner's identity but respects the show's confidentiality requirements.

She did offer one revealing detail: the eventual winners are "worthy" of their The Amazing Race victory. This comment implies the champions earned their prize through skill and determination rather than luck or controversy. With fewer than half the original teams remaining, the competition intensifies. Challenges typically grow more difficult as finales approach, testing even the strongest competitors' limits.

Leong's endorsement of Luke and Sassy Scott adds intrigue to their journey. Her transformation from complete stranger to weekly correspondent with Luke demonstrates the duo's ability to forge genuine connections, a trait that often benefits teams navigating high-pressure situations together.

Whether social media stars or television veterans ultimately prevail, Leong's insights suggest The Amazing Race viewers can expect a satisfying conclusion to this celebrity season.

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The Amazing Race airs Wednesdays on CBS and streams on Paramount+.