Carly Lawrence from Too Hot To Handle season 2 was one of the final three contenders, but the blonde bombshell ultimately lost to Marvin Anthony in the controversial finale. Marvin may have left the retreat with Melinda Melrose as his girlfriend, but some fans think that Carly deserved to take home the $55,000 prize money. She may have had some ups and downs during her time at the resort, but she arguably showed the most personal growth, which was ultimately the whole point of the retreat. Fans are already looking forward to season 3.
Carly quickly became enamored with Chase DeMoor upon the group's arrival at the resort, but the relationship went sour when he failed to give her the affection she kept asking for. She moved on to a relationship with newcomer Joey Joy, while Chase started flirting with Tabitha Clifft. As the retreat neared its end, Lana named Carly as one of the three cast members who had a chance to win the prize money, along with Marvin and Cam Holmes. The remaining seven players voted for the winner, and Marvin won with four votes. Cam took the other votes, leaving Carly in third place.
Marvin, who won the prize money, was hot and cold with Melinda most of the time. He immediately started flirting with Melinda when they arrived, but as soon as Christina Carmela joined the group, his attention was diverted. Later, Marvin and Melinda committed the worst rule break of season 2 by having sex, costing the group $20,000. He did finally decide to ask Melinda to be his girlfriend on their final date but then allegedly ghosted her before a trip to Mexico, which they'd planned to take together. This left fans wondering how much he had really learned from his THTH experience.
Carly Lawrence Made More Progress Than Marvin Or Cam
Cam, one of the final contenders, did show significant progress while he was at the retreat, in terms of the relationship he developed with Emily Miller. The two shared undeniable chemistry from the get-go, but Cam struggled to break his old habit of leaving a relationship once it got serious. He needed to learn how to commit to Emily. He also resisted temptation twice. Cam didn't kiss Christina on his date with her, and he walked out of the bathroom when Tabitha invited him to join her in the shower. Cam asked Emily to be his girlfriend on their final date, and their relationship has continued to grow after the show.
Carly Lawrence Had To Deal With Heartbreak
Despite Cam's progress, Carly was the contestant who overcame the most struggles. She fell hard for Chase, although he wasn't very affectionate towards her. When Carly tried to talk to him about it, he immediately ditched her and went after Tabitha, giving her the attention Carly craved. Not only did Carly have to deal with a broken heart, but she also had to watch Chase and Tabitha flirt, and even share a bed together.
Lana Sent The Group To A Communication Workshop
By the time Lana sent the group to a communication workshop, Carly was ready to let Chase know how she felt, and she didn't hold back. He represented all of the guys that she'd dated before who had hurt her, so getting her feelings out in the open was cathartic. It provided the closure she needed. This experience helped put her in the right frame of mind to pursue a relationship with Joey, who she said was "nice." He was unlike any guy she'd ever dated before.
Carly was able to move past her heartbreak and emerged a better woman afterward. She gained confidence and communication skills and figured out which type of man she should date. This type of growth was the point of the retreat and precisely what Lana wanted, making Carly the Too Hot To Handle contestant who should have won. The model, who recently hit 1 million followers on Instagram, doesn't regret her time at the resort. "It was a good experience, it was fun, and I would definitely do it again."
Source: Complex