First look: CBS announces ‘The Amazing Race’ cast

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Valentine’s Day will bring us the 16th season of ‘The Amazing Race’ and a gift to fans that is as sweet as chocolate.
Remember Miss Teen South Carolina who became a YouTube sensation in 2007 with her memorable, rambling answer to the question: Why can’t one-fifth of Americans locate the U.S. on a map? Her name is Caite Upton, and she and her boyfriend are one of the 11 teams that will travel 40,000 miles around the world in the hopes of winning $1 million. Among those competing against them are CBS reality veterans and newly dating ‘Big Brother’ contestants Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder.

The season kicks off Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Here’s the rest of the cast in no particular order:

Team # 1

Caite Upton
Age: 20
Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Occupation: model/actress

Brent Horne
Age: 28
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Occupation: model/advertising

Relationship: dating/models

Team #2

Louis Stravato
Age: 47
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Occupation: undercover detective

Michael Naylor
Age: 45
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Occupation: undercover detective
Relationship: detectives

Team #3 Steve Smith
Age: 57
Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.
Occupation: Professional baseball coach/World Series champion coach

Allie Smith
Age: 23
Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.
Occupation: marketing

Relationship: father/daughter

Team #4
Jeff Schroeder
Age: 31
Hometown: Norridge, Ill
Occupation: salesman

Jordan Lloyd
Age: 22
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Occupation: receptionist
Relationship: newly dating

Team #5
Monique Pryor
Age: 39
Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
Occupation: attorney

Shawne Morgan
Age: 39
Hometown: Bowie, Md.
Occupation: attorney
Relationship: moms/attorneys

Team #6
Jet McCoy
Age: 30
Hometown: Ada, Okla.
Occupation: cowboy

Cord McCoy
Age: 29
Hometown: Tupelo, Okla.
Occupation: pro bull rider

Relationship: brothers/cowboys

Team #7

Adrian Davis
Age: 40
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Occupation: medical sales

Dana Davis
Age: 39
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Occupation: market manager

Relationship: high school sweethearts/married

Team #8

Jody Kelly
Age: 71
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
Occupation: personal trainer

Shannon Foster
Age: 22
Hometown: Georgetown, Texas
Occupation: healthcare outreach contract analyst
Relationship: grandmother/granddaughter

Team #9

Carol Rosenfeld
Age: 47
Hometown: Los Angeles
Occupation: consultant

Brandy Snow
Age: 40
Hometown: Los Angeles
Occupation: actress and voice-over artist

Relationship: dating

Team #10
Dan Pious
Age: 24
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
Occupation: financial advisor

Jordan Pious
Age: 22
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
Occupation: strategic consultant

Relationship: brothers

Team #11

Joe Wang
Age: 42
Hometown: El Segundo
Occupation: software salesman

Heidi Wang
Age: 37
Hometown: El Segundo
Occupation: stay-at-home mom
Relationship: married

— Maria Elena Fernandez (follow me on Twitter @writerchica)

Video: ‘The Amazing Race’ cast. Credit: CBS