Nia Moore has a lot of fond memories of The Challenge over the years, but her favorite involves late costar Diem Brown . “My most cherished memory, I would say, [is] in the airport before my season of Exes 2 . Diem, I didn’t know her [before the season],” Nia, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this month ahead of The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras premiere.
“She randomly walked up to me and she said, ‘Hey, girl, do you want to be my roommate?’ And I thought, ‘Why? How does she even know me? Why does she want a room with me?’ She saw me, and I was like, just in awe of her beauty and her light, and she pulled me in and made me her little sister.” While filming season 26 back in early 2014, Nia shared that Diem gave her “so much wisdom” as they hung out on the set. No one in The Challenge family knew that it would be Diem’s last time on the series.
She died in November 2014 at age 34 following a battle with ovarian cancer. The season was dedicated in her honor when it aired the following year. “We would sit by the pool all day, and she would tell me things about life, about love, about relationships, just about growth and taking your time being patient,” Nia reflected.
“And to know that those were her final moments.” Nia shared that no one on the cast knew that Brown’s cancer had returned at the time. Diem has been in remission several times.
After collapsing on set, Diem was taken to the hospital and later learned the cancer had metastas.