When Shawn Johnson East staggered across the finish line of the final obstacle in the Moroccan desert, she didn’t just complete a TV show—she became one of only two people out of 18 celebrities to survive Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 4. The season, which premiered on Fox on September 25, 2025, at 9/8c, ended with a quiet triumph: Johnson East and Gia Giudice were the only contestants to complete all nine grueling episodes filmed across Morocco’s unforgiving desert terrain. Everyone else cracked—physically, mentally, or both.
The Desert Didn’t Care Who You Were
This wasn’t a reality show about fame. It was a military-style endurance test disguised as entertainment. The Directing Staff—retired Special Forces legends Rudy Reyes, Mark 'Billy' Billingham, Jason 'Foxy' Fox, and Jovon 'Q' Quarles—didn’t soften their approach for celebrities. No red carpet. No makeup crews. No safety nets. Just sand, sweat, sleep deprivation, and the constant, crushing reminder: no guts, no glory. The contestants arrived in pairs: two married couples (Andrew East and Shawn Johnson East; Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker) and a mother-daughter duo (Teresa Giudice and Gia Giudice). But here’s the twist—they competed as individuals. No teamwork. No backup. No excuses. That’s what made it brutal. One wrong step, one panic attack, one missed rep, and you were out.Who Made It—and Who Couldn’t Handle It
The list of withdrawals reads like a who’s who of fame crumbling under pressure. Brittany Cartwright quit in Episode 1. Teresa Giudice followed in Episode 2. Eva Marcille was disqualified in the same episode after violating a safety rule. Jussie Smollett, returning to Fox six years after his controversial firing from Empire, medically withdrew in Episode 3. Johnny Manziel and Landon Donovan both quit after hitting their physical limits in Episodes 4 and 5. And then there were the two who didn’t quit. Shawn Johnson East, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, didn’t have the bulk of a soldier—but she had discipline forged in years of Olympic training. Her husband, Andrew East, former NFL long snapper, didn’t make it past Episode 6. But she kept going. Alone. No family support. No team. Just her will. Gia Giudice, daughter of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, was the unexpected standout. A podcaster with no athletic pedigree, she showed up with zero expectations—and left with a medal no trophy room could match. She didn’t just survive. She adapted. She learned to breathe through panic. To push through the screaming voice in her head that said, you can’t.The Psychological Toll
The most telling moment came early in the season, when Brianna LaPaglia, a podcaster from Boston, screamed into the camera: “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe!” That moment wasn’t edited for drama—it was raw. And it wasn’t isolated. Nick Young, former NBA player, admitted he was “stuck” during a rope climb. These aren’t people unused to pressure. They’re used to applause. But in the Moroccan desert, applause doesn’t exist. Only silence. And exhaustion. The Directing Staff didn’t offer comfort. They offered truth. “You think you’re tough because you’re on TV?” Billingham told one contestant. “Toughness is what you do when no one’s watching. And right now? No one’s watching.”Why This Matters Beyond TV
This season didn’t just test bodies. It tested identity. What happens when your fame means nothing? When your Instagram followers can’t carry your pack? When your reality TV persona collapses under 12 hours of forced marches in 110-degree heat? The answer, for most, was collapse. But for Johnson East and Giudice? It was transformation. Their success isn’t about winning a TV show. It’s about proving that resilience isn’t about strength—it’s about persistence. About showing up when every muscle screams to stop. About choosing to move forward when the only reward is not quitting. And that’s why this season will be remembered—not for the drama, but for the quiet, unglamorous victory of two women who refused to let their limits define them.What Comes Next?
Fox has not yet announced whether Special Forces: World's Toughest Test will return for Season 5. But with Season 4 breaking viewership records among adults 25–54, renewal seems likely. If it does, expect more high-profile names—and perhaps a new twist: former contestants returning as mentors. For now, Johnson East and Giudice have earned something no trophy can give: the respect of the men who trained them. And that, more than any screen time, is the real victory.Frequently Asked Questions
How many people completed Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 4?
Only two out of 18 contestants completed all nine episodes: Shawn Johnson East and Gia Giudice. Every other contestant either voluntarily withdrew, was medically withdrawn, or was disqualified. The show’s difficulty level is intentionally extreme, with less than 10% of participants ever finishing across all seasons.
Why were contestants allowed to compete in pairs if they had to go it alone?
The pair arrivals—like the Easts and the Giudices—were designed to heighten emotional stakes. Contestants knew their loved ones were nearby, but couldn’t help them. This psychological pressure tested whether they could separate personal identity from relationships. It forced them to confront whether their motivation came from personal pride or the need to prove something to someone else.
Where was Season 4 filmed, and why Morocco?
Season 4 was filmed entirely in Morocco, chosen for its extreme desert conditions that mirror U.S. Special Forces training environments like the Mojave Desert. The terrain includes rocky plateaus, sand dunes over 100 feet high, and temperatures exceeding 110°F—ideal for testing endurance, navigation, and mental resilience under conditions that mimic real combat zones.
Did any contestants have prior military experience?
None of the 18 celebrities had active or veteran military service. The closest were athletes like Eric Decker and Landon Donovan, whose professional sports careers required discipline, but not combat training. The show deliberately selects non-military celebrities to emphasize how ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges.
What happened to Jussie Smollett during the season?
Jussie Smollett medically withdrew in Episode 3 after suffering severe dehydration and muscle spasms. His return to Fox after his 2019 legal troubles drew significant media attention, but his time on the show was brief. The Directing Staff confirmed he was not given special treatment and followed protocol like every other contestant.
Is there a pattern to who succeeds on this show?
Yes. Past winners and finishers share three traits: mental toughness over physical strength, ability to manage fear under pressure, and consistency in small daily tasks—like proper hydration or sleep discipline. Olympians like Johnson East and disciplined performers like Giudice thrive because they’re used to routine under stress. Big personalities or loud competitors often burn out fast.
