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It is often the larger-than-life (Survivor's Rupert) or just the large (American Idol's Ruben) personalities that make a reality show successful. But for The Amazing Race, it took Charla Faddoul — four feet of moxie, primary-colored ensembles, and a cast-iron stomach (caviar! ostrich eggs!) — to transform the Emmy-winning series into a hit five seasons in. One of 2004's most memorable television moments was Race's first episode, in which Charla carried a 55-pound side of beef on her back (literally) and her partner Mirna (figuratively) in a challenge in Uruguay. ''The bones were sticking in my back, the blood was dripping down my body, it smelled in the 90-degree weather,'' recalls the 28-year-old sporting goods store manager, who is hoping to parlay her Race stint with Mirna into ''a Paris Hilton--Nicole Richie-type show.'' ''There were moments on the race when I thought, 'Oh my goodness, am I over my head or am I humiliating myself?' But at least I know I put my heart into it.'' And warmed our cold reality-loving hearts in the process.
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