Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his partner Brent Ridge, known to television audiences as “The Fabulous Beekman Boys,” took home the $1 million prize as they crossed the finish line on CBS’ “The Amazing Race” season finale on Sunday night, and celebrated with a big, primetime TV kiss.
Purcell and Ridge are only the second, openly gay couple to win the reality show, which took them across three continents, nine countries and more than 25,000 miles, in its 21st season.
CBS
Purcell and Ridge, who hadn’t won a single challenge all season and often struggled just to stay in the race, remained calm and steady while the other teams got frazzled, a strategy that led them to finish first in the final challenge.
“We never, ever thought we would hear you say those words to us,” Ridge told host Phil Keoghan when he declared them the winners.
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“We were underdogs, and what I hope this proves to people — whether they’re a minority or they’re out of work or they’re losing their house or whatever — if they just keep going and keep working as hard as they can, people will help, and at some point you will win, added Kilmer-Purcell.
The final two minutes of the race can be seen here:
Chippendales Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis finished second, and Texans Trey Wier and Alexis “Lexi” Beerman finished third.
Purcell and Ridge appear in their own reality show, “The Fabulous Beekman Boys,” which chronicles the couple’s trials and tribulations as novice farmers. The series aired on Planet Green (seasons 1—2), and can now be seen on the Cooking Channel (season 3).
In season four of “The Amazing Race,” then partners Reichen Lehmkuhl and Chip Arndt became the first out couple to win the race.
