‘Naked and Afraid’ to Feature First Double Amputee (Exclusive)

After nearly 12 years pushing boundaries, Naked and Afraid will celebrate a first on its upcoming season.

The March 9 premiere kicks off with Mandy, the show’s first double amputee, taking on the survival challenge.

“Ten years ago, my life was changed forever,” Mandy says in a PEOPLE exclusive clip. “I have died three times and came back from that.”

Mandy was in a horrific accident that severed both of her legs, but since then, she has become the first female bilateral amputee to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Now, she wants to show “there is life after the unimaginable,” Mandy says in the clip. “My motto is: tell me that I can’t and I will show you that I can. I get to be the first person on Naked and Afraid with no f—-ing legs, and I think that’s pretty damn cool.”

On Naked and Afraid, Mandy will attempt to survive in the remote jungle and dense rainforest of Belize for 21 days, which she calls her “Everest,” with her partner Johnny. They will deal with heavy rains, swarms of mosquitos and little-to-no food and water along the way.

Naked and Afraid follows two survivalists — one male and one female — who meet for the first time when they take on the extreme challenge of enduring with no food, no water, no clothes and just one item of their choosing.

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In 2022, Shanika Malcom made history as the first Black female to survive 21 days in the Chiapas rainforest. Her partner gave up after 11 days.

“It means everything to me to have made history and to be an inspiration for others,” Malcom told Discovery. “My girls are super proud of me and I’m glad to be a living example to them and BIPOC girls everywhere. I’m also very proud of my strength and ability to persevere through this challenge. This might have been the most challenging 21 days of my life and I’m so glad I did it.”

The franchise introduced Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing in 2023, which sees all-star contestants compete for $100,000. Dan Link won the second season after previously coming in second in season 1.

“Sometimes, you don’t see yourself represented in the survival world if you’re a minority or a queer person,” the Hawaii resident and LGBTQ advocate told KHON2. “It makes you wonder if you belong. But being able to be an example for others is important.”

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Naked and Afraid premieres Sunday, March 9, at 8 p.m. ET on Discovery Channel with two new episodes. It will also be available to stream the next day on Max and Discovery+.