The Challenge’s Devin ‘Wouldn’t Change’ Breaking ‘No Dating’ Rule for Michele: ‘I Adore Her’

While filming season 40 of The Challenge Devin Walker broke his own rule about not getting into a relationship on the show – but he exclusively tells In Touch that he has no regrets about his decision to start dating castmate Michele Fitzgerald.

“I said it a thousand times – I know what I’m doing is stupid. Because I want to win the game, right? But I also want to spend time with Michele,” Devin, 35, says. “And for something to pull my head out of The Challenge, it’s gotta be pretty special. I adore her. I think she’s outstanding. And I wouldn’t change it. If I could have the win or have Michele, I’m picking Michele every time.”

Viewers got to see Devin and Michele’s relationship unfold on Battle of the Eras, but he points out that they were “friends for a long time” before that. “I had a girlfriend for the first … probably two or three years that we knew each other,” Devin explains. “And, you know, she had made it clear that there was interest there. And when I was single, we started kind of seeing each other.”

Devin also says he manifested his relationship with Michele before they were together. “I’m on record telling my mom – this is probably six months or a year after my last relationship ended – she was like, ‘Uh, Devin, do you think you’re ever going to even want to be in a relationship again?’ and I said to her – this was a while ago, I said, ‘If I have another girlfriend, it’s gonna be Michele.’”

The reality star says he and Michele, 34, “didn’t force” being together and confirms that he’s “happy with” where they are now.

The Survivor winner previously dated other men on The Challenge, including Faysal “Fessy” Shafaat and Emanuel Neagu, but all of those other romances ended badly. Luckily, Devin didn’t have to do much convincing to get her to try again.

“I didn’t convince her – she convinced me!” he laughs. “She said, ‘No, no, no, this time it’s gonna be different.’ I’m the one sitting here being like, ‘Hey, uh, your track record’s not too great with boys on this show.’ And she’s like, ‘No, no, no, we gotta give it the old college try. One more shot.’ I mean, I didn’t take much convincing, let’s be realistic. But she knows how to comb my hair, put a couple cold cans in a cooler … and anything’s possible.”

Meanwhile, Michele previously told People that she “fought” the relationship with Devin “a little bit” at the beginning. “But when you’re stuck in a castle and there’s a Prince Charming, you just have to,” she added. “He’s always been somebody who I just get along really well with.”

Devin and Michele went public with their relationship in May after filming for season 40 of The Challenge wrapped. Devin was eliminated from the show during the Wednesday, October 16, episode, but Michele is still in the running to win the season.

The Challenge airs on MTV Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.