Justin Campbell
NEED TO KNOW
Brianna LaPaglia sat down with PEOPLE after competing on season 4 of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
The 26-year-old influencer, podcast host and reality star says she's "standing true to who I am" after getting vulnerable about her journey and public breakup last year
Amid her various endeavors, she's also relaunched her podcast, PlanBri Uncut
Brianna LaPagliais stronger than she looks.
The 26-year-old influencer, podcast host and reality star just successfully completed season 4 of Fox'sSpecial Forces: World's Toughest Test,and she sat down with PEOPLE to talk about her experience.
"What it's taught me about myself is how mentally capable I am of truly anything," she says. "I don't find myself saying 'I can't' anymore, which I did a lot on the show, and I don't find myself doubting myself as much, [either] which is really cool."
LaPaglia was subjected to numerous challenges — both physical and mental — while on the series, including "carrying 90 pounds of chains with a 30-pound backpack up a mountain in Africa in 100-degree weather," she recalls, and being "waterboarded in Morocco."
It was a moment of vulnerability, however, froman "interrogation" in the third episodethat LaPaglia says seemed to connect the most with audiences. The influencer opened up abouther breakupfrom country artist Zach Bryan in 2024, telling the show's Directing Staff agents that she "lost sight of myself" during that time and "just didn't want to be here anymore."
PETE DADDS / FOX
LaPaglia tells PEOPLE that while watching the episode back was "definitely tough," she's also really proud of herself.
"The amount of people reaching out and the messages I received after that episode and the people coming up to me in the street just talking about episode three specifically, I think it made it all worth it," she says. "And, it was very therapeutic for me in the same sense."
After their split last October, LaPaglia discussed her relationship with Bryan during an episode of theBFFs Podcast, claiming that Bryanemotionally abused her. LaPaglia also claimed that Bryan asked her to sign an NDA, offering her $12 million and a New York apartment to "not talk about the relationship."
A rep for Bryan did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment at the time. Bryan has never addressed the abuse allegations publicly.
When asked if she feels likeSpecial Forceshelped her reclaim her voice, LaPaglia quips: "I don't think I ever lost it because I never signed it," referring to the alleged NDA.
"So, I don't think any of this is reclaiming, really. It's just standing true to who I am and how I've always been online," she continues.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"This is Bri. This is who I was five years ago when I started on social media before I went through all of that, before anyone knew about that relationship," she explains. "So it's just me being who I am to the core, and that year and that dark place that I was in and that relationship, I wasn't me. So if anything, it's just me moving forward."
Jamie Pearl
In addition tocohosting the podcastBFFswith Josh Richards, the influencer has alsorelaunched her podcastPlanBri Uncut,this time as a solo endeavor after formerlycohosting with Grace O'Malley.
"It's such a safe place, not only for me, but for everyone that listens to it," she says. "It's definitely changed a lot than what it used to be — it's been through so many levels of silliness, through my partying era, through my college days, through TikTok, through relationships. It's just been so many different things, and now this is my favorite part or my journey that I've shared with the world of just being 26, going through everything I did publicly and just being an honest voice amongst so many that I think aren't right now in social media."
Justin Campbell
"I think it's hard to find people that are truly authentic through the good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly, and that's exactly what I wantPlanBrito be, and what it is. So it's been such a joy to bring it back."
BFFsandPlanBriare available wherever you get your podcasts.
Read the original article onPeople
