Q: Now, I have to ask you, what are your thoughts on Bear and your relationship with him now?

Ashley: The whole thing with Bear is that he had been trying to push my buttons all day, well, no, he was pissing me off, all-season actually. He is the loudest person in the house. He is the last person to go to sleep, and he is the first person to wake up. This man does not sleep. He also isn’t afraid to wake you up in the process of getting to and from bed. So I had already yelled at him once before it happened. Honestly, when it did happen, I didn’t even know who did it or what was going on. I was just scared. All the smoke got in my mouth, I was struggling to breathe, and all I thought was that I was literally dying and going to kill someone. I’m happy I didn’t swing on him, but my reaction itself was absolutely ridiculous. I wish I had better control of my emotions. I’m sure the wine didn’t help. Bear is someone who can get on my last nerve (laughs hard).

I mean, I like him, he’s funny. I love him as a person in small intervals. I can deal with him for an hour, but after that, he needs a time out

Q: In this game, you had a tough time because you had a massive target on your back. Do you ever feel like there is some resentment from other cast members, like Johnny, about the fact you are the all-time money winner in Challenge history? In a short span, you took a record and a win that people have devoted their entire lives towards.

Ashley: Honey, what do you think? People’s skins have turned green! Everyone is nice on the outside, but people just hate it. They want to take credibility away from my win, and they have deep-seated issues about it. I think they like me as a person, and I wish they could get over it and just understand that I’m loyal, personable, and don’t worry about my wins or bank account (laughs).

Q: One of my favorite aspects of your game is that you are underrated and know how to play it to your advant-

Ashley: You know what? I was good at playing the “I’m underrated, I don’t workout” card. Then last season, Tori blew my game up by saying I was the strongest girl on Team USA. Someone was like, “Ashley, you gotta give it up; nobody thinks you’re weak anymore.” I tried to argue that uh, I’m a little weak, but I wasn’t able to convince them, haha.

Q: Going on, in the vote for elimination, it felt like the relationship between you and Dee fell apart. What’s the status between the two of you now?

Ashley: Walking into that house, I knew I wasn’t in an alliance with Dee because she told me Jenny was her #1, and I knew Tori was her #2 because Jordan told me. I didn’t mind because she has to think for herself. We’re still really good friends. I try to take the game out of it, and we’re text messaging right now. The game is a game. She wanted a Red Skull, and she knew my head wasn’t in the game. I was also feeling butthurt about a lot of different things. She knew it was a good time to get me when I was emotionally low.

Q: Watching the elimination it kind of felt luck-based-

Ashley: OH, HONEY. I did not want to say it. But yes, yes it was (laughs).

Q: Especially watching, it was the luck of the draw as to which vase had a token in it at all. Not to take away from Dee, but I was wondering, “maybe Dee is running faster,” but overall, it didn’t seem like much of a difference.

Ashley: Yeah, we were going at the same pace. I was knocking a lot of vases down. I’m a believer in the law of attractions. Both of the seasons I won, I knew I was going to win. For some reason, I just wasn’t feeling good, and my energy level wasn’t there. Even though we were going at the same speed, I felt so behind the whole time. The Challenge Gods were not with me this time, but that’s okay. She is my friend, and I’m glad she got her Red Skull, and now she can make it to the final.

Q: Do you think the Red Skull twist is doing the opposite of its intent? To me, you’re not someone who coasts in the game because you play the social and political game skillfully. Yet, watching this season, I understand someone can put themselves in elimination after winning the daily to earn their Red Skull, but that doesn’t stop them from getting put in the next week. The Red Skull doesn’t give immunity to the player. Is it working at all?

Ashley: That’s the double-edged sword of it all. Another thing that dampened my spirits is that even if you get the Red Skull if people know you’ll be good in the final, they’re going to keep throwing my ass in there till I go home. So you want to get the Red Skull when it’s easier in theory still. TJ also did a number on us. He reiterated that the game wasn’t about politics, so my social game plans were out the window.

Q: Watching the daily challenges, I feel like people can coast more than ever because it’s tribunal or bust.

Ashley: That’s true. I’m ready for the Tribunal to be gone as a whole. I hate the tribunal.

Q: My last question. In a half-decade, you’ve been on about 10 Seasons of the Challenge (including spinoffs). You were part of an all-time famous alliance, are the all-time money winner, 2x Champion, and have a better resume than players that people consider “Legends,” how does that feel looking at the broad view?

Ashley: Don’t get me emotional; you know I’m a crybaby. I don’t even think about things like that usually as I have my head focused on the next challenge, how I can be better, both competition wise and as a person. Going on these shows really makes you grow in so many ways. Hearing you list all that makes me feel like you know what you’re talking about! I feel so grateful for MTV allowing a little girl from the middle of nowhere to live this dream of a life. Honey, I hope in the next five years, my records double and triple. You know my bank account will, haha.